Banfield Funeral Home of Orlando, Florida, was recently ruined by Hurricane Irma in September 2017, but has since been rebuilt and now features Ashly Audio processing and amplification fixtures.
Local A/V integration firm Xtreme Installations designed and installed the modern sound reinforcement system in the new building.
“Banfield went from an old-school, low-fidelity PA system to a super modern system, with all of its conveniences,” explained Travis Bilskie, president of Xtreme Installations.
Inputs to the new system include a pair of Shure wireless microphones, music input sources, such as a 1/8-inch jack, and audio-for-video input sources, such as HDMI and VGA. Those inputs feed an 8×8 Ashly ne8800m Protea matrix digital processor, which in turn feeds a two-channel Ashly nX1502 multi-mode amplifier (150W per channel) and a four-channel Ashly nX754, rated at 75 Watts per channel into a High-Z or Low-Z speaker. The amplifiers power JBL Control-Series in-ceiling loudspeakers and JBL Control HST-Series surface-mount loudspeakers.
The system covers four zones: two separate zones in the chapel, a zone in the front foyer and hallway, and a zone in the viewing room. Xtreme Installations configured the system with a camera in the chapel and a large-screen television in the viewing room to handle overflow from the chapel during big services. Importantly, he gave Banfield’s non-technical staff an easy way to operate the system: an Ashly FR-8 network 8-channel remote fader pack custom-programmed to provide input volume adjustments on the first four sliders and master volumes for the zones on the other four sliders.
“We partner with Ashly Audio for several reasons,” said Bilskie. “The quality of their products is excellent. Once we install and program an Ashly system, we never have to go back and touch it. The fact that most of their product line, including the ne- and nX-Series, is manufactured in the USA may be part of the reason. In addition, their technical and purchasing support staff is very thorough and responsive. For example, when I ordered the ne8800 for Banfield Funeral Home, I didn’t realize that I needed an optional card to provide it with mic preamps. When I found out, I called Ashly and they overnighted the correct card so that we could finish our installation and make our deadline!”
