Knockout Concert Sound At Knockdown Center
The Knockdown Center in Queens, New York housed a 120-year-old glass factory that later became a manufacturer of bifold door frames, hence the name. Now, L-Acoustics is a venue for concerts and art shows, helping to modernize some of Queens' most iconic venues.
Much of New York's manufacturing heritage can be found in the Maspeth neighborhood of Queens, where 19th-century factory and warehouse buildings still stand, even as the surrounding neighborhoods are rapidly transforming. It's no surprise that as neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Greenpoint have abandoned their manufacturing-era roots for the siege, this multi-ethnic enclave is becoming home to a growing number of cutting-edge, suburban-style events. Rave and techno concerts in recent years
Knockdown Center is the center of many. It has hosted concerts by bands such as LCD Soundsystem, Louie Vega and Hot Chip, as well as art shows and events such as comedian Eric Andre's 40th birthday party. And now the brick walls of the Knockdown Center sound as modern as they do vintage, thanks to a new L-Acoustics integrated concert sound system designed and installed by Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group.
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"We've been waiting a long time for something more substantial," Knockdown Center Marketing Director Danielle Martin-McCormick said of the new L-Acoustic system. "Especially with a very busy schedule that covers a huge range of genres, including a lot of electronic music that needs a really bright sound, and world-class, pop and metal artists that need a different kind of influence." In addition to a very diverse program of shows, the Knockdown Center is also designed to host a wide range of events of various scales. "Sometimes it's 3,200 people, sometimes 1,800 and even less than 1,000," he said. “So the new platform has to be something that covers the whole spectrum. It cannot mar the big show or dominate the small one.”
The new L-Acoustic system achieves just that. The original system consists of 14 K2s arranged in a left-to-right matrix with two A15s on each side for charging. Additionally, seven K3s per side and two A15s per side are placed as time-delay speakers in the main room. These, along with four A15 speakers and four Kara II front speakers, become the primary sound system when a small portion of the room is used for an event. This reconfiguration required only the removal of the KS21 underwater system and the installation of a Kara II forward fill; The rest of the configuration is done using the LA Network Manager software and P1 processor presets. The combination of LA12X and LA4X powers the entire system with a set of X12 speakers used as wedge monitors on stage.
"It's a challenging space because there's so much show potential with the brick walls, the floor, lots of wood and iron beams, etc.," explains Daryl Moore, head of audio entertainment for Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group. “Beams also have a lot of gaps where sound can get lost. Juggling this with the need to adapt to events and shows of varying scale was quite a challenge. Fortunately, L-Acoustic Systems was more than adequate to meet all of these needs.”
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Anthony Fishetto, CFO of Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group, said the L-Acoustic system made sense as a business proposition for the Knockdown Center because the venue needed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate a wide range and scale of events. "The competition has become much more competitive and they want to book as many different events as possible, so the sound system has to be able to handle it all," he says. "The way we designed and implemented the system allows us to handle everything from large music concerts to more intimate arts events, and each event gets the sound it needs." He added that the P1's efficient processing helps keep sound inside the listener and away from reflective surfaces, providing quality coverage.
The first flight of the wild L-speaker system took place on July 29, when Outlier took to the venue with performances by DJ Bonobo and Jack Green, Romero, O'Flynn and Juan McLean. "The first Knockdown Centers show covered a huge range of styles with new gear and the sound was all about them," says Moore. "Bands and artists loved the sound."
Knockdown's Martin-McCormick agrees. "The K2 delivers great sound that's clean and precise," he says. “I think that with the diversity of our programs and genres, and the diversity of event sizes, which is both a challenge and an advantage, our new PA can accommodate everything we do here. This allows us to give artists and audiences the best possible experience."
