The centre would be capable of hosting live dance and music events (including a 60-piece symphony orchestra), theatre and international conferences. The ability to telecast and webcast these events live to all their campuses and offices worldwide was a further pre-requisite.
In addition to live performances, the 1,400-seat auditorium also had to be able to play back movies on a giant screen in 2K digital format and in regular 35mm, with 7.1 digital sound.
MRH Digital Systems response to this brief was chosen. It proposed a combination of mission-critical QSC Audio SR and networking solutions, as part of an entire multimedia integration. MRH also suggested that the customer opt for two independent solutions for the cinema and PA requirements. Poncho Gopinadhan, of MRH, said: “We advised that one very noticeable fact would be that the speech of the actors in a film would appear to be coming from elsewhere rather from the mouth of the actor [from a conventional PA system]. All other competitors advocated one solution for both the requirements.
“QSC components comfortably fulfilled both remits operating as two stand-alone systems.”
Working alongside consultant Jal Mistry and chief architect Hafeez Mistry, MRH proposed a QSC’s flown ILA line array system, driven by PowerLight amps, as being best able to handle a range of concerts — from Indian classical to hard rock — and theatre events where speech intelligibility was vital.
The system design was masterminded by QSC Audio’s product application specialist, Santiago Alcalá. Two sets of amplifiers were required — one for the FOH speakers and one for the delay system to the balcony. Instead of traditional balanced wiring between the two racks MRH Digital opted for a CobraNet system. “Also, by harnessing the power of the QSContol.net networked audio platform we had complete supervision of the system,” said Gopinadhan.
QSContol.net was provided for room EQ via a wireless network, allowing the in-house or visiting sound engineers to walk around the venue with seamless control over the complete system.  In addition, the installers provided a selection of unobtrusive NAC-100 local controllers, installed on the network to allow presets, room modes etc to be flipped through. 
Finally, for constant system monitoring MRH Digital also installed a fixed computer on the network, using QSCreator to develop an error reporting GUI — enabling levels, faults, amp temp, loads, etc to be close-monitored.
For the FOH PA system, two hangs of the 8 x WL2082-I are complemented by 4 x WL115-sw subwoofers flown behind.  For additional bass reinforcement 2 x WL218-sw enclosures have been flown in the centre, while up at balcony level MRH Digital have deployed a further two hangs of 4 x WL2082-I. 
The system is driven in 4-way configuration, with PowerLight PL325 amplification used for the highs, PL340 for the mids and lows and PL380 for the subs.
Processing and monitoring for the complete system takes place in the two QSC Basis devices, and via QSControl.Net.  Completing the PA configuration are powered HPR 122i’s, which are used as floor monitors and fit well into venues such as this due to their versatility.
Turning to the dedicated cinema system, MRH were convinced that QSC’s SC-434 four-way, screen channel loudspeaker system would be the best solution. This features the latest co axial technology, which is designed to ensure a much smoother response and better imaging of the HF frequencies. “Due to its design — which does away with multiple horns — there is no cancellation of frequencies resulting in better intelligibility,” says Gopinadhan.
Three QSC SC-434 systems were specified and three QSC SB 7218 dual sub-woofers, along with no fewer than 52 QSC SR 110B surround speakers, which are used around the auditorium.
Powering the three stage speaker systems and rear surrounds in the balcony and lower stall are eight DCA 3422 dual-channel cinema amplifiers, while a pair of DCA 3022 dual-channel amplifiers run the left and right surround speakers in the lower stall. Finally, five DCA 2422 dual channel amplifiers power the left and right surround speakers in the balcony and the three sub woofers, while a QSC DCM 30D takes care of the digital crossover and booth monitor functions.