IP Audio Easy as JMC
Genelec Smart IP install loudspeakers make life easy for JMC Academy in Sydney.
26 November 2024
Text:/ Christopher Holder
JMC Academy’s recording studios are dotted with Genelec loudspeakers. Genelec has been at the forefront of studio monitoring for decades – so no surprise, then, that one of Australia’s foremost creative arts schools has embraced the Finnish manufacturer’s product.
Not so well known is Genelec’s range of IP installation loudspeakers, which leverage the power of Dante and PoE/PoE+ to provide a solution that requires just one network connection to the speaker. Genelec’s Smart IP range includes surfacemount, in-ceiling and pendant-style product and manages to combine the sound quality it’s famous for with installation-friendly features.
When JMC Academy went to source loudspeakers for a background music system in its common areas, ‘Genelec’ wasn’t necessarily the first name that sprang to mind, but when Australian distributor, Studio Connections, suggested the JMC audio team take a look at the Smart IP range, the proposition quickly stacked up. We spoke to JMC Academy’s Studio Supervisor, Jack Woods, and his 2IC, Tom Payne to learn more.
Jack Woods: “We evaluated a number of options, including more traditional 100V line solutions. There were definitely a couple of Dante-based systems in the mix but most are Dante-to-the-amplifier solutions, which still require running speaker lines and with that you don’t get the per-loudspeaker control of a full-IP solution.’
Tom Payne: “The other factor was we had recently upgraded our network with new Aruba 10G switches – which meant we already had PoE+ in our back pocket. It all stacked up to point towards the Genelec Smart IP offering making real sense for us. We get individual control, scalability, and flexibility.”
STAY SMART
Currently, the Genelec Smart IP surfacemount loudspeakers can be found in the JMC Academy foyer and café area, with plans to expand to the rooftop deck and other common areas. The system takes music from a NUC-style PC sitting in a server rack. The playlist runs just before doors open at 10am and shuts down automatically at midnight. Genelec has a number of installer-friendly software packages for control and monitoring of the IP speakers, including a nifty source and volume controller app. Jack and Tom use Genelec Smart IP Manager for independent speaker setup and tuning. They also remotely access the music NUC to make simple playback adjustments with Dante Via when needed. Additionally, they appreciate the versatility of Genelec’s Smart IP Manager platform for making EQ and delay tweaks as required. It fits in nicely with their workflow and conveniently resembles Genelecs powerful GLM speaker calibration platform which is used throughout JMC’s recording studios.
Jack Woods reflects on the process: “Loudspeaker EASE data is available on the Genelec website. We threw a floor plan into EASE, and, at first, there was talk of needing four, five, or even six speakers to cover each area. But with just two speakers in the cafe and two in the foyer, we got excellent coverage. The GLM system is powerful and lets us fine-tune each speaker.”
ON THE LEVEL
Day-to-day, the Genelec speakers handle background music but if asked to, can easily step up – for special events or DJ nights, for example.
Tom Payne: “We were curious about what the internal power supply could handle in regular use, so when the first sample arrived in our office we plugged it into a PoE+ switch and fed it Spotify to find out. What we didn’t know was the speaker leaves the factory default set to 0dB. The level pinned us to the wall – it blew us away. The quality of the music reproduction was incredible. Loud, distortion-free and musical.”
It goes without saying that the final settings on the Smart IP speakers aren’t 0dB! In fact, they’re set to -54dB for daily use.
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With our Ethernet infrastructure in place, it’s logical to leverage it instead of pulling new copper for speaker lines
SPEAKING VOLUMES
Genelec is a brand that speaks volumes. For recording studios everywhere it’s a statement that demonstrates a commitment to the very best in music reproduction. The fact JMC Academy makes a similar statement in areas its student meet for coffee, and visitors see and hear the moment they enter the college’s premises, is telling:
Jack Woods: “Cheaper background music and paging systems might work for some, but we teach audio engineering and production. We need high-quality sound – not cheap, ‘Dick Smith’ speakers playing band-passed streamed music.
Tom Payne: “It’s also worth noting that the model in the cafe – the 4430A – packs the same drivers and enclosure as our rear surround speakers in Studio A of our academy, it’s just the power supply that’s different. That commitment to quality is really important to us.”
FULLY FLEX
The synergies, the quality and the prestige are obvious but ultimately it’s the day-to-day pragmatics that can’t be ignored: “With our Ethernet infrastructure in place, it’s logical to leverage it instead of pulling new copper for speaker lines,” confirms Tom Payne. “It’s early days and just at the moment we’re running the Genelec Smart IP speakers in two common areas but there are so many ways we can expand.
“This approach allows us to run broadcast feeds throughout the building, tap into screens for events, or sync the LED media wall in the foyer with audio. In the café we’re soon to be rolling out Genelec IP subwoofers for specific zones. In shared spaces, like the academic support area, we can adjust profiles for events like South by Southwest meetups or industry nights. It’s as simple as dropping a Dante breakout box. A future paging system is about as easy as plugging in a Dante-powered paging station. None of these things would be so easily achievable running cable. It’s powerful stuff.”
JMC Academy: jmcacademy.edu.au
Studio Connections (Genelec): studioconnections.com.au
Genelec’s Smart IP Manager gives JMC audio staff the bird’s eye view.
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