The Nevada Theatre in Nevada City, CA, is much more than a local stage; it serves a National Historic landmark and a regional arts Mecca. With over 160 years of history, the venue famously had to pause its original construction when news arrived that President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated. Today, it remains a prestigious hub for culture, hosting more than 240 performances a year including theater, musical concerts, comedy, and film.
As the theatre’s schedule grew more diverse, the previous audio system struggled to keep up. Jack Burke, a member of the Board of Directors and a veteran front-of-house engineer from the Seattle Opera House, led the search for a modern solution.
“The system was much older,” recounted Burke. “It was really inadequate for what the theatre needed.” He noted that the previous setup failed to provide proper coverage for the audience: “Oftentimes you couldn’t make out the words from the performers.”
The theatre’s board eventually upgraded to the 64-channel Allen & Heath Avantis digital mixer for its versatility and processing power. Their console also features the dPack processing package, which gives engineers access to advanced processing and compressor models. “The Avantis covers all of those performances beautifully,” said Burke. “Especially with the dPack.”
Burke also looked toward the future when making the decision, by opting for a console that offers expandability. “For now, we rarely need more than 32 inputs in that theater,” said Burke. “But if we ever do, this new console can handle it easily.”
The physical design of the board was also a major factor, as the theatre sometimes needs to move the mixing position between the balcony and the main floor. “By using digital DX168 stage boxes, the crew no longer has to haul heavy analog snakes,” notes Burke. “You just run a cat cable, and you’re off and flying.”
The choice has also streamlined operations for guest engineers. Since the three largest venues in Nevada City and Grass Valley area all feature Allen & Heath consoles, the local talent is already well-versed in the system’s layout. “The people that work around here are well familiar with the Allen & Heath digital architecture,” said Burke. “It’s rough to walk into a gig and have to learn a completely different console right then.”
In addition to user familiarity, the Avantis provides the processing power needed to run entire shows, including monitor mixes, from a single front-of-house position. The dPack upgrade plays a vital role here, by offering emulations of classic compressors and reverbs. “The engineers have their choice,” said Burke. “They are not limited to the standard processing in the board.”
The impact on the audience and performers was felt the moment the system went live. “Since we’ve put in the new system,” said Burke. “They just rave about it.” The clarity provided by the Avantis ensures every patron has a premium experience. “I could hear every word,” said Burke. “And it sounds the same in every seat in the house. There’s just no downside.”
