Prosound implements fibre backbone for SA stadiums

Audio and lighting company, TDC Prosoud, has implemented digital redundant fibre link networks to finalize the stadium sound infrastructure required for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, including upgrades from analogue systems to fully digital networks for the existing stadiums such as Loftus Versveld in Pretoria.

“Years ago, the sound systems in the African stadiums were used primarily for announcements, now all infotainment around it is very important. For Loftus, we had to replace a total analogue system with a fully digital solution consisting of a fully redundant fibre link with a brand new control room and voice evacuation capabilities”, said Grant Scott, Head Systems Engineer at Prosound, in an interview with ITNewsAfrica.com.

According to Scott, the sound network digitalization was necessary to meet FIFA’s specifications and make sure redundant systems are in place to avoid sound interruptions and failures.

The specifications include evacuation and crowd control measures that require clear, distinctive speech, grounds paging, match commentary, music playback for entertainment, advertisement or jingle playback, post-match speeches and also controlled enhancement of temporary sound systems for non-sport related events.

The upgraded features for the 2010 matches at Loftus stadium consist of a redundant system that alternates 2 channel sounds in case one of the speakers fail, to preserve the sound at all times, at every corner of the stadium, a new voice evacuation system on all inside corridors with a spare amplifier change and a couple of Phoenix speakers.

“Budgets were very tight, every stadium was tendered individually by each municipality. We reused 90% of equipment available from the minor upgrade we did two years ago and redesigned the whole thing. Before, there was an analogue solution with long cable runs, now everything is a digitized system with fault recognition and fibre backbone”, commented Scott.

The company used a configuration comprising of Peavy MediaMatrix audio processors, Electro-Voice and dynacord loud speakers, Midax mixing consoles, Electro-Voice microphones, Crest power amplifiers and HP ProCurve servers and switches.

Prosound has done sound system designs and upgrades for Johannesburg’s Soccer City and Coca-Cola Ellis Park, Cape Town’s Green point, Nelspruit’s Mbombela, Bloemfontein’s Free State, Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay, Loftus Versveld in Pretoria, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg and Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane.

The sound company has been involved in the industry for over 35 years and has supplied and installed audio systems for venues such as the Wanderers in the 1970s, Ellis Park in the 1980s and the original upgrade at Loftus Versveld in 2004.

From 2003, Prosound upgraded 90% of the stadiums in South Africa. The company was actively involved in the 2006 bid for the ten 2010 contracts, winning nine out of ten.

Established in 1973, with branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, Prosound is a lighting and audio design, supply and installation company operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company offers broadcast and studio services and implements advanced computerized sound control and processing, networked audio, digital matrixing and digital signal transmission for live concerts, music shows, theaters and stadiums.