Inn Vision Multimedia carried out an AV overhaul for the much-loved Prince Regent in Brixton, as part of an ongoing roll-out from Urban Pubs and Bars Limited.
Inn Vision Multimedia Limited has its roots in the 1980s and 1990s as Ron and Anthea Gwinnett started a partnership installing systems in pubs and clubs. One of the highlights of this period was the supply of VHS tape video jukebox systems to Whitbread brewery through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. As new technologies emerged, the company took on AV installations for Greene King, getting involved in early Laser Karaoke systems.
In 1999, Ben Gwinnett joined Inn Vision Multimedia and at the same time, the team undertook extensive training with Bose Professional, becoming more conversant in the new technologies available and sound system physics.
Digital systems have enabled the company to offer more ergonomic AV control on iPads, excellent HD distribution options and almost limitless audio capabilities via Dante.
More recently, Ron and Anthea Gwinnett retired and the mantle was taken up by Ben and his wife Timea.
Ben, now Company Director, explains, “Our vision for the future is to retain the small business we have because our customers like the strong relationship we form that only a small company can deliver.”
With such a strong track record, Inn Vision Multimedia has been able to deliver for high-profile businesses such as Urban Pubs and Bars, P&O Ferries, Oakman Inns, Greene King (Head Office), TGI Fridays, Punch Taverns and Tom Kerridge.
The Prince Regent
For this project Ben explains that the Prince Regent in Brixton was part of an ongoing roll-out from Urban Pubs and Bars. He says, “Having worked since their creation in 2014, alongside the owners and their teams to deliver 60+ sites around London, we have created a premium system design and concept for AV that they are happy with. We have developed the specification over time to work with new technologies such as iPad control and stacked HDBaseT matrices.”
Ben adds, “The original brief was to provide two 55in TVs on the ground floor and two 65in TVs on the first floor with HD input plates on BaseT. The media is two Sky Q boxes. The sound system needed to be background on the ground floor and DJ-capable on the first floor.”
‘Background’ is a difficult thing to nail down for AV designers, underlines Ben. Most customers have no concept of background vs foreground. Ben reveals, “Urban Pubs and Bars like to have a premium speaker that retains intelligibility and quality at low levels but has the performance capabilities to be turned up to a foreground level on occasion. Most of the brief stayed as is; however one of the 55in TVs was moved and a 65in put in its place. We left some extra cabling in to allow for additions and amendments, so this wasn’t an issue.”
Time not on your side
Given the short closure periods on refits in the pub industry, Ben is keen to point out that there is little time for error, while careful planning is essential. The first fix lasted two days and saw the cabling go in. This needed to be concealed in voids or trade areas. The second fix was two days and involved the installation of all hardware and the rack build. Finally, there was one day for commissioning and getting the system ready for handover to the General Manager and Openings Team.
Ben notes, “The HD system is controlled either on a tablet or through IR remotes. It is all specified to deliver 4K where required. There are four sources: two Sky Q boxes set on the uControl software app to be controlled at each TV and two HDMI wall plates on BaseT that transmit to the MHubS. Audio is taken in stereo from the optical output on the Sky boxes. This delivers audio with minimal delay to the sound system. We chose the HDAnywhere infrastructure as it is the best for a simple user interface in our opinion.”
The sound system is controlled by a Bose ESP880A interfaced to the same tablet as the HD matrix. Analogue cabling to the Powersoft Quattrocanali 2404DSP units delivers high-quality sound to the Martin Audio CDD5 and CDD8 speakers mounted on Powerdrive pan and tilt wall brackets. This ensures clarity and response at all volume levels.
Ben also points out, “The ControlSpace Remote, used to control the sound system, is backed up by a CC-64 control centre from Bose to protect against Wi-Fi dropout and tablet theft etc. We like the ControlSpace Remote app as it is easy and quick to program and easy and reliable to use for the customer. It enables presets and full audio control as required.”
Project highlights and partners
Now the system is up and running, Ben says, “The client and I really like the tablet control service. Incredibly powerful, fast and easy to use, it makes a complicated interface simple.”
He also highlights the partnerships that made the project possible, including George Mundy, Trade Sales Manager at One AV, for the supply of HDAnywhere/MHubS, Steve Barton, Installed AV Channel Manager at CUK Audio for the Powersoft part of the system and Georgia Rackham, Account Manager at Midwich Group for the supply of the Samsung TVs.
Also involved in supporting the team was HomeVision Services for the satellite dish installation, Bose hardware, B-Tech brackets, Aten transmitter wall plates and Netgear for Business. Wayne Juggins, Commercial Director at Leisuretec sourced the Martin Audio speakers for the project and Paul Rutter, Director at Powerdrive Drum Company supplied the Powerdrive speaker brackets.
Essential Kit List
Audio System
- Martin Audio CDD5 BGM Loudspeaker x 14
- Martin Audio CDD8 DJ Loudspeaker x 4
- Bose CC64 ESP 88 Control Centre x 2
- Powerdrive WMA60 Pan/tilt brackets x 18
TV System
- Samsung 65AU800 Commercial LED TV 55in
- Samsung 65AU800 Commercial LED TV 65in
- Samsung 65AU800 Commercial LED TV 50in
- Btech XRWALLT mount 3
- Btech BT8226 swing arm mount
- ATEN VE2812 wall plate x 2
- ATEN VE811R Receiver
Rack Electronics
- HDAnywhere MHUBS HDMI Matrix, HDBaseT 8×8
- Bose ESP-880A
- Netgear GS116PP 16 port PoE switch
- Bose CC-PSI control space power supply
- PowerSoft Quattrocanali 2404 DSP x 3
- Apple iPad
System Rack
- Excel 42U system rack
- 6PDUAS 6 way power distribution rackmount with anti-surge x 4
- Videk 926 7VS-6 6-way sequential start PDU