Improved Sound Systems at the Diverse Cerritos Center for Performing Arts Installed by DiGiCo
The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, nestled in the heart of its eponymous Californian city, boasts a spectacular 6,000-square-foot performance space. This versatile venue, run by the city itself, offers a unique, adaptable seating arrangement. A series of moving seating towers, mobile chair wagons, multiple floor lifts, and movable ceiling panels, combined with a flexible stage design, allow the performance space to morph from a 1,800-seat arena to a 900-seat recital hall to an 800-seat proscenium theater. In pursuit of updating its aging front-of-house and monitor consoles in 2024, this dynamic venue installed a pair of new Pulse software-equipped DiGiCo Quantum338 mixing consoles.
One 112-input Quantum338 has found its home at the 18x8.5-foot house mix position, centrally located in the Orchestra seating area, in front of the venue's balconies and on a variable-height lift. This diagrammatic setup includes associated audio equipment, all resting atop an air-castered wagon for hassle-free movement in the event a visiting artist decides to bring their own console. "DiGiCo is nearly always at the top of every contract rider we ever lay eyes on," said Tom Hamilton, the operations manager and technical director at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.
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The monitor world, now graced with its own Quantum338, can be found at stage-left in every possible configuration of the room. The consoles share a pair of 56-input SD-Racks, both boasting 32-bit Stadius mic preamps, and everything operates on an Optocore network loop.
The concept for the twin DiGiCo desks came from Jon Bullock, who, freshly christened as the Cerritos Center's head audio specialist, has been a part-timer in various audio-related roles at the center since 1998 and at Downtown Los Angeles' Orpheum Theatre for the last 21 years. With a history of piloting that venue's SD12 console under his belt and extensive touring experience, Bullock championed DiGiCo when the opportunity arose for an upgrade at the Center.
"I mix on just about every console around when you're on the road," Bullock shared. "I get acquainted with four main brands in my travels, but I've always had a soft spot for DiGiCo's format and adaptability. The workflow is remarkably flexible, yet the layout remains consistent across all their models. It doesn't matter which DiGiCo desk I sit at; I'm instantly at home. That uniformity of operation translates to easier training for my colleagues Kerry Dowling and Matt Adams at the Cerritos Center, too."
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The Quantum338's flexibility matched perfectly with the Cerritos Center's capacity to shape-shift as often as its performances. "It's truly beneficial when we alter our theater's setup," Bullock explained. When the configuration of the theater changes, the latter's PA configuration also adjusts somewhat. The console's ease of configuration enables it to handle these alterations gracefully.
In terms of management, the Quantum338 helps the venue project itself as a tech-savvy destination to the touring industry. "We aim to book the most contemporary artists we possibly can," Bullock said. "And young touring acts are increasingly on DiGiCo's riders. Even if they're touring with their own gear, they're comforted to see DiGiCo on our house equipment list, knowing they've landed in the right place."
Enrichment Data:The DiGiCo Quantum 338 mixing console is a favored choice for modern venues, thanks to numerous key features that make it suitable for diverse performances:
- Powerful Processing and Flexibility:
- Advanced processing power and adaptability to handle a wide range of performances, ensuring precise sound control.
- User-Friendly Interface:
- An intuitive user interface and a large touchscreen display for effortless navigation.
- Versatile Control:
- Supports remote control capabilities via DiGiCo's software and integration with other systems like Waves SuperRack.
- Extensive Connectivity:
- Offers multiple I/O ports for seamless integration with varied audio equipment and peripherals.
- Reliability and Redundancy:
- DiGiCo consoles are known for their robustness and redundancy features, ensuring reliable audio outputs during live performances.
- Integration with Other Systems:
- Can be integrated with other DiGiCo systems, such as the Quantum 5 and 225, for a comprehensive audio setup.
- Supports integration with third-party software and hardware, like Waves SoundGrid, expanding audio processing capabilities.
- The versatile DiGiCo Quantum338 mixing console, installed at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, complements the venue's adaptability by offering a user-friendly interface and powerful processing that cater to diverse performances, thereby enhancing its standing as a tech-savvy destination for contemporary artists in the lifestyle and entertainment sectors.
- With features such as extensive connectivity, remote control capabilities, and adaptability across various audio equipment, the DiGiCo Quantum338 console, stationed at the heart of the 6,000-square-foot performance space, is instrumental in facilitating a seamless transition between the venue's diverse configurations, aligning with other technological advancements at the center to bring an immersive experience to the audience, blending perfectly with the city's thriving entertainment scene and the evolving nature of the performing arts.
