Berlin's Philharmonie Concert Hall has purchased a dig-Eq system from LA Audio. The famed acoustics of the hall(s) can now be fine-tuned and tailored to different performances at the touch of a button. The unique acoustic properties of the Philharmonie make it suited to a wide range of music, and over the years the management have diversified from orchestral works into opera, jazz, world music and other genres. It is for these that the venue?s PA system comes to the fore and this is where the power of the digEQ system from LA Audio comes in.

The digEQ is a 24-bit digital signal processing suite comprising the DPF3103 two-channel master unit, the DPF3103S dual-channel slave unit, and the DPF3103R remote controller. The Philharmonie?s configuration has a single master unit controlling no fewer than 16 slaves, along with two remote controllers. One of the latter has been specified as an RF wireless model, which allows chief sound engineer PeterGross and colleagues such as audio technician Kai Mielisch to venture out into the auditorium while a rehearsal is in progress, make adjustments to equalisation (EQ) parameters from different parts of the hall, and hear the results in real time. The digEQ system offers, among other things, dual-channel graphic and parametric equalisation; simultaneous shelving equalisation with selectable slope and variable high- and low-pass filters; and simultaneous compression/limiting and gating. The remote controllers offer instant access to all parameters, and there are 98 nameable memory locations for end-user configurations, complete with instant recall and compare functions. Control via MIDI from a PC or Mac computer is also possible, while there are options for digital delay and real-time analysis (RTA). 

Prior to the digEQ's arrival, Gross and Mielisch had been using a PC-based platform for fine equalisation adjustments, but were rarely satisfied with the results it delivered. They're happier now that they've reverted to a stand-alone device. 'One of the main reasons for choosing the LA Audio solution,'comments Gross, 'was the ability to take the remote all around the auditorium and make adjustments to the PA. You listen, you alter something, and then you hear the effects - instantly.' As the Philharmonie gears up for another varied season of performances, its position as one of Europe?s premier art-music venues has been cemented by the arrival of some innovative new technologies. When opera returns here later in the year, the choir will be located outside and their contribution 'piped' in, all under the control of the LA Audio digEQ system. '