Our customer, the University of Exeter – the Falmouth University and Penryn Campus is a large site, set in 100 acres of countryside, close to the waterside town of Falmouth in Cornwall. For some time, specific areas of the site had been plagued by smoking outside of some buildings and entrance ways. Despite efforts by the site services and health teams with instruction and local signage, the problem persisted. An audio based smoking deterrent system was considered as a different option and an additional media in helping to enforce non smoking policy.

Abletek have had previous experience with installing similar audio smoking deterrent systems at other education and healthcare settings.

Audio Applications

• Local Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
• Smoking Deterrent System
• ‘On Demand’ button triggers

Audio Specification & Technologies

• 100v line, high impedance
• Audio Message Player
• Traditional audio used throughout

Project Details

Our project installation works were coordinated through the site services and campus buildings control authority. A number of functional and technical capabilities and options was discussed considered. In the end, a simple manually operated (wall push buttons) smoking deterrent system solution was decided and installed. Meaning when staff or the site security team recognised problem smokers, they would manually press the wall button/s to active playback of the pre-recorded smoking deterrent audio message file.

The ‘system’ was pre-built at the Abletek workshop. The integrated message player / amplifier was housed within a secure wall enclosure – DIN rail terminals and disconnects were also installed within the enclosure to provide speaker cable connections. The system and speakers were delivered to site for a co-op installation with the customer supporting electrician.

Google Natural Text to Speech (TTS) was used to create the project audio message files. Specialist audio processing software was then used to fine tune and create the resulting MP3 audio files.

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Ormiston Meridian Academy is a co-educational secondary school located in the Meir area of the City of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. This large education site had an existing audio system in place, but was problematic, overheating and was lacking in capability required by the client.

We were contacted initially to assess the existing audio system problems and to survey for improvements and extension of audio coverage to additional rooms/areas of the academy.

Our survey results and summary report was provided to the client – discussing fault rectification to speaker line circuits, swap-out and upgrade of the main system equipment (relocate from under desk location to near by IT comms room). Capability and functional improvements by specification and installation of an IP based Audio Matrix.

Audio Applications

• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
• Message Playout and Mass Notification
• Back Ground Music (BGM)

Audio Specification & Technologies

• 100v line, high impedance
• IP Audio Zone Matrix
• IP Audio Player (BGM)
• IP Audio Message Player (messages playout)

Project Details

The existing audio system was found to be overloaded (from genuine speaker loading and also faults). Faults were identified and rectified.

The existing audio system location was installed below the main reception desk – with limited access, air flow / cooling. Our recommendation was to move all of the existing outgoing zone speaker line cables to a new location within a nearby IT / comms room.

New System equipment (combined IP audio mixer/matrix with supporting power amps for the separate audio zones was specified). This equipment was to be installed within the existing IT rack space.

An IP audio message player was specified. Secure browser access to enable user control and trigger (manual and scheduled) of priority audio message playout.

Background music (BGM) was specified for playout through the school corridors audio zone. Users to access the IP audio player to store music, create playlists and any required URL links to web based audio streaming services (such as internet radio).

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The St. Thomas School in London is a mixed secondary education setting with approximately 600 pupils. The school sits on an urban site comprising two central older buildings with additional buildings added at later dates, some interconnecting.

The school required an audio system to help improve wider communications between staff and with the students. In addition, the school required playout of a series of automated audio messages for regular announcements such as fire alarm testing, exam and event details.

We worked with the school IT and other various department managers to define a lockdown strategy. A dedicated IP audio solution was installed to allow lockdown and other priority audio message files to be triggered on demand via a secure web browser. A protected local ‘lockdown’ button was also installed which was connected to the IP audio player for direct triggering of the lockdown audio message.

Audio Applications

• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
• Mass Notification (security and lockdown)
• Back Ground Music (BGM)

Audio Specification & Technologies

• 100v line, high impedance
• IP Audio Encoder & IP Audio Decoder
• IP Audio Message Player x 2
• Audio message trigger options (button, browser and scheduling)
• Audio Zone Matrix

Installation Details

Working with the site IT and site maintenance teams, we conducted a number of surveys to help us identify and tackle the limited existing cable containment and routing for speaker cabling installation. It was decided to base the design principally on traditional 100v audio but to use the school IP network to distribute audio to two strategic IT/comms room locations – thus minimising long length site cabling. IP audio encoders and IP audio decoders were used to support this strategy and distribution topology.

IP Audio Message players were installed to provide user access to audio message playout. This included any regularly required audio messages by using a time based scheduler as well as on-demand playout triggering via secure browser and via also from a protected wall button installed at the school reception area.

Background music (BGM) was required within specified locations and more widely for special occasions. We installed an IP audio encoder with a wall input plate to enable the user to connect any music source with a ‘line out’ (eg. Tablet, CD player or smart phone). Music from this source was presented to the audio matrix for routing selection by the user as required.

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Sutton St. James Community Primary School is a medium sized co-educational school based near Spalding in Lincolnshire.

The main school building had been repeatedly extended over the years, leaving long walkway corridors between classrooms and the main school entrance / reception. Our client required an audio system solution to improve staff and student communication as well as for use during any major school issue such as security or possible lockdown.

Audio Applications

• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
• Security, Incident, Lockdown

Audio Specification & Technologies

• 100v line, high impedance
• Traditional audio used throughout

Project Details

Our project installation works were coordinated through the school principal and school caretaker. Given the age of the school and limited cable routing options, we installed a significant amount of cable containment (surface trunking and conduit). Cables were run within this new containment to various speaker locations installed around the school. Working against fluctuating ambient noise levels, it was important to achieve the best possible audibility in classrooms. Classrooms speakers were installed with much of the open space / corridors also installed with speakers.

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The Bicester School is a mixed secondary education setting with approximately 1,000 pupils. The school sits on a large site of 32 acres comprising a central older building with additional buildings added at later dates, some interconnecting.

The school IT manager initially contacted us to design an audio system to provide background music to specific areas in the school. Further discussion followed resulting in a more comprehensive requirement with wider coverage throughout much of the main areas of the school.

Typical of many similar older school building designs to later additions, our challenge for this project was mainly related to the installation and distribution of speaker cabling. We considered this challenge and created a design solution that integrated traditional 100v line audio with IP audio to both distribute and target zone separation for enhanced audio routing.

Audio Applications

• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
• Mass Notification
• Radio Back Ground Music (BGM)

Audio Specification & Technologies

• 100v line, high impedance
• IP Audio Encoders
• IP Audio Decoders
• Audio Zone Matrix

Installation Details

Working with the site IT management, we identified various IT/Comms rooms for us to install IP audio encoder / decoders which would create the backbone of audio routing across the site using the LAN and IP audio distribution. Local 100v line power amplifiers were installed within many of the IT/Comms rooms to serve audio to the local rooms and areas (thus minimising overall cabling and associated installation disruption).

IP audio encoders and decoders were specified and configured to integrate with an audio zone matrix. The matrix provided the basis of user control for the routing of audio (PA/tannoy and background music/BGM) to different zone areas of the school.

Background music (BGM) was required within specified locations and more widely for special occasions. We installed an IP audio encoder with a wall input plate to enable the user to connect any music source with a ‘line out’ (eg. Tablet, CD player or smart phone). Music from this source was presented to the audio matrix for routing selection by the user as required.

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St. Paul’s Academy is a mixed Roman Catholic secondary school located in Abbey Wood, southeast London. With around 1,200 students, this is a large school site with one central multi-storey. Our brief for this project was to provide a site wide (internal and external) academy sound system solution to improve site communication (school tannoy) and to provide scheduled class change (PIP’s) alerts throughout the school day. The system should also provide priority based ‘lockdown’ audio message playout to support security and incident management plans.

Our audio academy sound system design solution utilised both traditional and IP audio technology to deliver user and management flexibility via a multi-zone system. Connected to the school LAN, the rack-mount audio system equipment was installed with a central 16 x zone audio processor / matrix. This unit was configured with the various inputs, outputs as well as the zonal, DSP, priorities and audio routing details.

Security and ‘lockdown’ was integrated to the academy sound system by using a series of dedicated lockdown wall buttons. These button units are designed specifically with a protective front hinge lid to prevent accidental pressing. The lockdown buttons were installed at strategically positioned points as directed by the school management.

Audio Applications

• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy
  • SIP / VoIP Integration
  • iOS/Android Paging App
• Background Music (BGM)
• ‘Lockdown’ / Mass Notification
• Class Change / PIP’s

Audio Specification & Technologies

• Network / LAN, IP 16 x Audio Matrix Processor
• Network / LAN, IP Power amplifiers
• SIP VoIP integration / SIP Gateway
• ‘Lockdown’ – Dedicated wall buttons

Installation Details

To provide zone based playout, music selection and volume control (audio processing and routing control), we installed an IP/network based audio matrix. This unit is accessed, configured and controlled via the LAN/network and provides the primary controls for mixing, pre-amplification, DSP, input-output routing and zone volume controls.

High impedance, 100v line speakers (wide frequency range, 2-way for music), were installed throughout. Careful consideration was also made to speaker choice to reflect any local challenges or concerns for water ingress (eg. outdoors or any areas that would be subjected to water).

The audio system was configured to interface with the site SIP telephony service. This integration allowed users to ‘call’ into the system to make audio broadcast / tannoy announcements from desk phones and mobiles. In addition, tannoy announcements via a mobile app was enabled using a wifi tannoy gateway. This allows users to make tannoy announcements from their wifi connected smart phones or tablets.

The academy sound system was configured to include scheduled Class Change / PIP’s. A series of MP3’s audio tones/messages and music files were created with the customer and uploaded to the system. Class change tones with an interlude of music was scheduled for playout during class change periods. The music choice was carefully selected by the school management to help keep the students calm with less noise during these class change periods (at least that was the theory!).

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This new build, London based academy required a site wide academy school lockdown system to communicate and co-ordinate audio broadcast messages indicating alert status for a variety of identified ‘invacuation’ threats and security scenarios.

As a new build site, we were able to engage with project planners and consulting engineers at an early stage to discuss and define the relevant technical and operational detail requirements for this project. The primary audio application requirement was for an academy school lockdown system that could also be used as a regular day-to-day Public Address (PA) / tannoy system for general announcement broadcasts (eg. updates, events, information).

Audio Applications

• Lockdown & Mass Notification
• Public Address (PA) / Tannoy

Audio Specification & Technologies

• IP Audio distribution / topology
• IP Audio Matrix
• IP Audio Message Player
• Natural ‘Text-to-Speech’ MP3 audio message files

Project Details

Our initial project works were engaged through the wider project consultants, engineers and architects. These co-operative works included planning and design meetings with the customer to apprise certain capability and aesthetic elements of the project such as speaker types, designs and colours.

Much of our technical and capability specification related to audio technology options. We discussed IP audio and traditional audio in some length, identifying important operational and functional elements that could only be achieved using IP audio. Our resulting design solution for this project was based on an IP audio distribution, with local zone cabling to traditional area speakers. Routing audio via IP and decision making (zones, inputs, scheduling etc..) through an IP audio matrix for onward connection to traditional local speakers in this way has proven to be a very popular topology proposition, offering a great balance of capability & flexibility against overall cost.

An IP audio message player entity was installed. This device is directly accessed for audio message playout via a web interface (secure access, with simple GUI buttons). Google natural Text-to-Speech and specialist audio processing software was used to fine tune and create the resulting MP3 audio files.

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