CHALLENGE
The Solomon Islands National Parliament original sound system was causing a lot of problems for the Members of Parliament during proceedings and needed to be replaced. It was developed around a series of automixers with no cross control, so each microphone would become live after reaching a certain threshold and interrupt the proceeding. Additionally, all meetings are transcribed and broadcasted; the poor sound quality only made these actions more challenging. Further, acoustics in the room posed an additional challenge because of the chamber's inverted cone-shaped roof.

“The old system was so unstable that the entire system would go into feedback whenever the chamber became noisy. And all the mics would go live whenever anyone coughed. The new system, in contrast, is not only the most sophisticated in the Solomon Islands – it's world-class.”

- ROD LOUEY-GUNG, DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED MEDIA PTY, LTD.

SOLUTION
In 2007, the Commonwealth Parliament in Australia asked ICE Design to install a new sound system for the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands as part of the Governance Strengthening aid project. For additional expertise, ICE Design enlisted Integrated Media, a partner company, and David Champion to help with the equipment and software integration. Using Biamp's AudiaFLEX CM, ICE Design installed a new system that delivers clean audio at all times and provides broadcast-ready sound for television and radio. They also installed digital recording and transcription equipment so the hearings could be transcribed more accurately. To address the acoustics, ICE Design suspended specially designed loudspeakers from the ceiling that steer the sound down at an angle to minimize the sound spill into the structure. The system is controlled by Biamp's daVinci graphic control screen software, providing an easy-to-use interface so anyone can adjust the sound throughout the chamber as necessary.

CONCLUSIONS
The Solomon Islands National Parliament new sound system has dramatically improved proceedings. Now, Members no longer experience feedback and unwanted noise is no longer a source of interruption. Additionally, having a system that produces broadcast-ready sound and equipment that easily pulls transcripts, greatly reduces workload.

“The e-mails I've received from the Solomon Islands say the system is ‘amazing.' The sound is vastly improved. Even elderly Members with who are hard of hearing can better hear the speaker”

- DAVID CHAMPION, PRINCIPAL, THE CHAMPS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

• SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• CENTRAL PROCESSING
• 4 Biamp AudiaFLEX CM 24 I/O DSP chassis, 2RU, Ethernet
• 36 Biamp Audia IP-2 Cards - Dual-Channel Mic/Line Inputs
• 12 Biamp Audia OP-2e Output Cards - Dual-Channel Mic/Line Outputs
• 1 Biamp Audia EXPO output expander
• Cluster Processing and Loudspea kers
• 7 Biamp Nexia SP (Speaker Processor) DSPs
• 7 Lab.gruppen C 10:8X eight-channel amplifiers
• 1 Lab.gruppen NLB60E network bridge
• 7 Acoustic Technologies ALA07C Series beam steered line array speaker systems
• Gallery Processing and Loudspeakers
• 36 Acoustic Technologies CS6 cardioid loudspeaker enclosures
• 8 Acoustic Technologies AL01T loudspeakers
• 84 Harbuch AT-223 audio transformers
• 1 Lab.gruppen C 10:8x eight-channel amplifier
• 1 Biamp Nexia SP DSP
• MICROPHONES
• 70 Audio-Technica AT U857Q mics with fixed extension
• NETWORKING
• 2 HP J9028B Switches
• 1 Cisco 871 Gateway
• BROADCAST
• 1 Audioarts AIR 1 8-channel broadcast console
• 1 Denon DNC615 CD player
• 1 Audio-Technica ATH-M50 professional studio monitor headphones
• CABLE
• 200 Aflex CT18/1.5GRY chamber loudspeakers
• 300 Aflex CT04/0.75 balcony loudspeakers
• 100 Klotz PW04 4-pair mics
• RECORDING SYSTEM
• 1 FTR Reporter V5.2
• 5 FTR Log Notes electronic annotation programs
• 1 FTR ReporterDeck™ 2
• 10 FTR Footpedals
• 10 ATH M-20 headphones
• 1 M-Audio Delta 44 professional 4-in/4-out audio card
• CONTROL SYSTEM
• Biamp daVinci graphic control screen software
• 1 Dell T300 IM server
• 1 Touchscreen Solutions IR2 screen
• 2 Dell 760 PCs