MARTIN AUDIO WPC HELPS BELLA LIVE TRANSFORM SYDNEY’S LARGE-SCALE EVENTS SCENE
Sydney recently opened its doors to the much-anticipated Bella LIVE, a new live music and events venue set in the City’s Hills district.
Following a multi-million-dollar transformation of a 1,029m² storage warehouse space, by operators, Momento Hospitality, Bella LIVE aims to become a cultural hub for Sydney’s Northwest region.
The hi-tech infrastructure is based around a market-leading optimised Martin Audio Wavefront Compact (WPC) line array, supplied by the manufacturer’s Australian distributors Total Audio Group (TAG) and installed by Vestec Electro, who were responsible for the entire AV integration.
Set within the Bella Vista Hotel precinct, the venue’s advanced technical specification reflects the operators’ desire to redefine the Hills entertainment landscape by hosting major national and international tours, as well as emerging and local talent.
The scope of the audio coverage extends from the 10 x 8-metre stage across a 17.5-metre bar, and into VIP booths, while two fully appointed green rooms also meet rider standards.
With 8-metre-high ceilings and a capacity approaching nearly 2,000 the venue has been designed by Archebiosis Architects, to blend sleek, modern style with an industrial warehouse vibe. It can flex effortlessly between a headline DJ set, stand-up comedy night, major sporting event, or significant corporate event.
Vestec Electro conducted the site-wide installation under the project management of Mark Vesic and Nev Hanna, while TAG — under the guidance of technical director Anthony Russo — played a significant role in the audio design, with their system solutions and engineering (SSE) team deploying Martin Audio’s DISPLAY visualisation software and EASE modelling. Russo, in turn, engaged leading acousticians Gilfillan Soundwork, whose team conducted on-site measurements and computer modelling to optimise the room acoustics and reduce the long reverberation time, which led to a system of 36 massive bass traps throughout the room.
Challenged with meeting the operators’ exacting, rider-compliant sound reinforcement requirements, TAG’s design team then developed a solution based around hangs of 12 Martin Audio WPC line arrays (six per side) combined with eight Martin Audio SX 218 dual 18in subwoofers, all powered by Martin Audio iKon iK42 DSP four-channel amplifiers in 2-box resolution. The hangs were flown in custom rigging frames from the trusses, enabling the factory-fit fly frame to be deployed with ease.
Russo recognised that WPC would provide sufficient SPL and headroom to handle full-house nights, boosted by Martin Audio’s electronic steering capability and enhanced pattern control to further mitigate this reverberant environment.
Extensive CAD modelling made bass control crucial, he emphasised. Traditional left and right stacked setups would cause the usual power-alley issue, and thus the final solution was a horizontal arrangement of the subs in a continuous line beneath the stage. This enabled the individual steering of each cabinet, leading to better low-frequency summation and overall performance. To minimise energy emission from the subs at the rear, top, and sides, 100x 30 Kilo sandbags were placed on top (and around) the cabinets.
To reinforce the main system and VIP booth areas, a delay system comprising 10 Martin X15s and six SX212 subs was installed. And to further meet rider requirements, a foldback system comprising seven Martin Audio LE 200 high-powered wedges and an SX118 subwoofer was supplied with two iKon iK42s, enabling an eight-send monitor mix for the main stage.
This is networked and processed over a Dante network with analogue backup to a Q-SYS system backbone and is complemented by an equally high-spec performance lighting and video array as part of this highly advanced AV package.
Consistent with top performance spaces, Vestec installed a comprehensive house and stage data and analogue patching system, including a 48-channel concert splitter and multiple tie lines. This setup enables the space to manage live events and any broadcast or recording needs.
The venue has already hosted major global acts, including Snoop Dogg, Will Sparks, NE-YO, Lil Jon and Wiz Khalifa — full testament to its experienced on-site team and their cutting-edge design.