Manahatta Nottingham — Integrated bar audio and lighting system

Project name: Manahatta Nottingham. Requirement: Integrated bar audio and lighting system. Pro Technical was engaged to provide a permanently installed AV system that delivered consistent background music, clear speech for announcements and the ability to support DJ performances and small events. The brief required discreet hardware to preserve sightlines in a busy hospitality interior and a single point of control at FOH for both audio presets and lighting scene recall. Documented scope included site surveying, CAD speaker-placement drawings, structural mounting design, a single central DSP and rack build, amplifier selection, lighting control integration, full cabling, commissioning and a handover package with staff training.

Site survey records identify specific constraints that shaped component selection and system architecture. Low ceilings above parts of the bar reduced options for large, vertically expansive loudspeakers. Substantial exposed brick and glazed surfaces were noted as increasing high-frequency reflections and affecting speech intelligibility. Back-of-house space was restricted, limiting rack depth and the number of separate enclosures that could be installed. Operationally, the venue required multiple audio modes (ambient, busy, event), accessible preset recall at FOH with option to lock presets during trading, and a lighting system capable of scene recall linked to audio states.

Design choices follow the documented constraints and objectives. To minimise visual impact and mounting loads in low-ceiling areas, Pro Technical specified low-profile RCF loudspeaker elements referenced in Nottingham-area project records (RCF HDL and Compact M-series) together with compact subwoofers. Limited rack depth and service access resulted in a consolidated central DSP architecture: a single DSP with dedicated outputs per zone reduced the physical footprint and simplified remote preset management. Zoning was introduced (main bar, terrace/side seating and a service/plant feed) to allow independent level control and EQ for differing acoustic conditions and usage scenarios. Lighting was integrated via a Chauvet-capable control panel at FOH and a networked DMX output from the AV rack; scene triggers were designed to be callable from FOH and by logic outputs from the DSP presets. To preserve audio network stability, lighting control devices were specified to run on a dedicated VLAN or separate DMX wiring to avoid interaction with audio streaming or clocking systems.

Installed systems as documented: RCF HDL series loudspeakers; RCF Compact M-series loudspeakers; low-profile subwoofers; central DSP with zone outputs; rack-mounted amplification and mains distribution. The architecture used a single central DSP handling EQ, delay, limiting and named presets, with dedicated outputs feeding the zone amplification. Speaker terminations used industry-standard connectors and front-accessible patching to simplify servicing. Critical audio runs were specified as AES/analog pairs to leave a clear migration path to fully digital audio in future.

Installation followed a staged, low-disruption programme recorded in site documentation. Work began with final CAD and structural checks and prefabrication of rack assemblies and bespoke speaker brackets where required. Installation was phased and scheduled to minimise trading disruption, with out-of-hours work used for the most intrusive tasks. Risk controls recorded for the project included structural load calculations for speaker fixings, pre-routed cable looms to reduce on-site rework and RF/EMC checks for wireless microphones and control links. Racks were built with tidy cable management and front-accessible terminations to permit rapid module swaps.

Commissioning comprised measurement-led tests and the production of documented presets. Tests included pink-noise coverage mapping, frequency sweeps, speech intelligibility checks and SPL mapping across the defined zones. DSP configurations were set up with EQ, delay, limiter thresholds and named presets for 'ambient', 'busy' and 'event' modes; limiter settings and measurement reports were exported and included in the handover. Preset recall was made accessible from FOH with the option to lock presets during trading. Commissioning also included verification of lighting scene recall via the Chauvet-capable control interface and verification of network segregation to ensure lighting control traffic did not affect audio streaming or clocking.

Handover deliverables documented for Manahatta Nottingham included as-installed wiring and rack elevation diagrams, labelled patch schedules, DSP preset files and backup configuration exports, a FOH quick-start guide and a recommended spares list (speaker transducers and inline fuses). Pro Technical left racks with tidy cable management and front-accessible terminations and supplied training sessions covering day-to-day operation and basic fault-finding. Maintenance recommendations recorded in the project file included annual visual inspections of speaker fixings and grilles, acoustic re-tuning if interior layouts change, and a firmware/patch cycle for DSP and networked devices. Options for remote support or a Pro Technical maintenance contract were offered and signposted to the company’s Service & Repairs information.

Delivered items, as documented: an integrated bar audio and lighting system with zone-based DSP control; installed RCF HDL and Compact M-series loudspeakers with low-profile subwoofers; rack-mounted amplification and a central DSP with named presets accessible at FOH; Chauvet-capable lighting control with pre-programmed scenes callable from FOH and linked to audio presets. Commissioning reports and exported limiter settings were supplied to the client. The project completion date recorded in project evidence is 01/10/24.

Services provided or recorded in project scope: site surveying and CAD speaker-placement drawings; structural mounting design and bespoke bracket fabrication; central DSP configuration and rack build; amplifier selection and shallow-depth rack integration; lighting control integration with Chauvet-capable interface; full cabling, labelling and front-accessible patching; measurement-led commissioning and export of configuration backups; FOH training and handover documentation. Pro Technical signposted ongoing options including annual inspections, acoustic re‑tuning and maintenance contracts via its Service & Repairs offering.