BBC IN LISBON BOASTS NEW JBL EVO INSTALLATION
PORTUGAL - JUNE 12, 2002 - The newly opened BBC venue has fast become the place the cool cats in Lisbon hang out! It's also the first JBL EVO installation in Lisbon. BBC is a collage of positive entertainment experiences. The sleek,spacious, interior design is awash with natural light and raw materials - wood, metal, stone. Its multi-layered, post-modern curves and levels enhance the relaxed stylish ambience. Its picturesque location is directly alongside the river Tagus, overlooked by the elegant April 25th Bridge.


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BBC's chameleon concept is unique to Lisbon. It's the first venue to offer top notch contemporary Portuguese cuisine plus a variety of entertainment options - including high quality live music, DJ, restaurant/bar and lounge area. During the sultry summer evenings, clientele can take advantage of the fantastic views from BBC's terrace or the top deck.

The venue holds up to 1800 people, is open 6 days a week, and serves over 300 dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings. It's been busy every night since opening, and full on the weekends, when the party people and glitterati of Lisbon and the surrounding areas flock to be seen there.

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Sound was a key ingredient at BBC from the outset. Particularly in the context of the space's multi-entertainment nature, which demands a seamless transition of musical styles throughout the course of the evening. The sounds start off subtle and chilled, and smoothly, almost imperceptibly, build to encourage diners and drinkers into the mood for a post dinner dance or chill during the midnight to 2.30 a.m. slot.

Owner and local nightlife entrepreneur Joao Menezes has plenty of experience in the music business, and knows both good entertainment and good audio when he hears it! He asked his technical consultant Vasco Preto Martins of Carcavelos-based Pro Light & Sound to come up with a state of the art sound design and system for the special environment at BBC.


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They've collaborated on previous Menezes projects with great success. In turn, Martins sought the input of Fernando Paolo from Custodio Cardoso Pereira, SA (CCP) - JBL's Portuguese distributor. Paolo also has many years experience as a sound engineer and designer.

For the live stage area, Martins and Paolo specified a JBL EVO system. "We wanted to be innovative," explains Martins. "We wanted the most advanced system available in the medium/small range, and we were also keen to have an intelligent speaker, one that handles all the internal processing inside the box. Obviously a flexible and reliable system was also important - and EVO fit the bill perfectly."

The speakers are EVOi.324s, run with JBL VS125HS subs in the live area. Both Martins, whose company also installed all the BBC's audio and effects lighting, and Menezes describe the results as "fantastic." The live system also features a Soundcraft digital desk, and all the processing - compression, EQ, gates, etc. - is done with dbx devices.

The live element of the sound system was installed first. They were so impressed with the performance of the EVO's that they decided to install another four speakers in the more unconventional sound space of the DJ area, this time with JBL SP128 subs secreted in bunkers in the walls.

Their experimentation paid off. The EVOs are handling the very different sonic demands of assorted DJs and all genres of dance music as well as they do live sound. "This speaker is truly versatile," says Martins confidently.

In the more ambient foreground and background sound areas of the BBC - the dining and bar areas - the sound is delivered via JBL Control Contractor Ceiling speakers. Their neat appearance blends in well with the surroundings in an environment where aesthetics are paramount. These are connected to a JBL SoundZone controller and divided into two areas. BBC's terrace and upstairs sections have also just been fitted with more Control Contractor speakers. All JBL elements of the installation were supplied by CCP.

Martins has used JBL products for many years. "It's a very good product line," he says, "and they are continually developing and improving." He adds that, apart from the massive range of different types of speakers, JBL is very competitively priced and the best supported audio brand in Portugal.

Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world's leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Pro website at www.jblpro.com.