Sound Associates provides the widest range of services for all cinema operators. Whatever the requirement – from a spare part to full consultation, design and installation of a new facility.
Consulting
With a 45 years history, Sound Associates can provide an extensive consultancy service - from the recommendation of a lens size to a full turnkey new build. We provide professional advice on a number of topics, including:
- Cinema design
- Construction
- Legal requirements
- Sight lines
- Viewing conditions
- Seating
- Screens
- Equipment choice
- Equipment installation
- Acoustic treatment
- Sound systems
- Evacuation PA
- Hearing reinforcement
Design
Over the years a number of new pieces of UK or EC legislation have had a direct or indirect impact on cinema design – including sight lines, evacuation, wheelchair access, DDA requirements and H&S issues. All need to be considered as part of the overall design brief.
In addition the requirements of our clients is changing. We now look to provide additional facilities for cinemas – including the provision to show material that is not mainstream cinema – including opera, live music, comedy and sports. Some clients need sophisticated AMX control or remote monitoring of equipment.
Our design experience is unsurpassed and our involvement at an early stage in the project will normally lead to a better facility at a lower cost.
Installation
We employ a full time, fully qualified installation team and over the years we have been commissioned to install every form of cinematic experience - in the UK and overseas.
Installations range from a single screen, 25 seater preview theatre to the UK's largest 30-screen multiplex. Other projects include projecting pictures in a wide range of locations, building a fully mobile 110-seater cinema, which tours the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and the 2 screen cinema complex (with a total capacity of 5000 seats) at the Millennium Dome - featuring 70mm projection equipment.
We have the widest experience of installing digital projection equipment – either alongside existing 35mm equipment or as a replacement to traditional systems.
A typical installation starts with a client brief and initial site visit. Once the full equipment list is complete, we allocate sufficient resource to ensure that everything is fully operational for the specified opening date.
In fifty years we have NEVER opened a cinema late
Hearing IR
The Disability Act (1997) helped reinforce the importance of providing the necessary facilities for the less able. Sound Associates, who have for many years advised on matters such as access and evacuation, recognised that improvements were available for the hard of hearing.
We offer two hearing support systems - Induction Loop and InfraRed. Induction loop equipment has been installed for many years and continues to provide the backbone of many systems. More recently however, the majority of multipurpose venues are selecting InfraRed systems to achieve improved sound quality, a lack of 'spill' between areas and ease of installation.
Infra Red has the added advantage of providing a second channel – typically used for Audio Description – allowing customers with impaired sight to still enjoy the movie or theatre experience.
SA now stock and install Williams Sound equipment, a US based company who has specialised in this field for 20 years. Many venues, including cinemas, museums, theatres, courtrooms and churches now specify Williams Sound for hearing reinforcement.
The Really Useful Group (RUG) theatres have now installed Williams Sound infra red systems in their theatres.
Lenses
For the cinema market, Sound Associates supply and stock precision manufactured projection lenses from Isco Optic and Schneider - two German companies with world-wide reputations for quality and reliability.
Typically, a lens has a long life and experience has shown that it is cost effective to specify a brand-leading lens.
Lens choice is critical to the overall presentation of any film. For the cinema market, Sound Associates stock and supply precision manufactured projection lenses from Isco Optic and Schneider - two German companies with world-wide reputations for quality and reliability. Typically, a lens has a long life and experience has shown that it is cost effective to specify a brand-leading lens.
Screen
As part of the overall service, Sound Associates can advise on the most appropriate screen choice. Long term relationships have been formed with all the major cinema screen suppliers and clients can either sub-contract Sound Associates or order on a direct basis.
Screen surfaces have improved markedly over the years and “high gain” screens are now readily available and cost effective – particularly important with digital and 3D.
Once the correct screen has been installed, we ensure that a high quality image fills the screen by correct lens selection.
Maintenance
Projection equipment has an extremely long life expectancy but, as with all mechanical equipment, it benefits from regular maintenance. Sound Associates service engineers are fully trained to carry out preventative and regular maintenance of all projection equipment. They are, in addition, conversant with all the industry standard screen and sound checking standards and are provided with all the relevant test equipment and analysers. We can arrange a regular preventative service schedule or fix faults as they occur. Our technical helpdesk is usually able to solve problems over the phone.
In the digital world we offer to remotely monitor the equipment from our offices. Operating a “traffic light” system – all green and we are happy, amber and we know something will need attention in the near future. Red results in immediate action.
Sound Systems
Since the introduction of the first 'talkies' in 1954, Sound has played an increasing important part in the overall 'Cinema Experience'.
Modern films are often supplied with a number of sound formats including Dolby Digital, Dolby Analogue, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound and DTS.
Our role is to get the best from the sound system – by matching the speakers to the room.
Spares
We stock a full and comprehensive range of spares to support much of the equipment that we have installed over the years.
As the Sole Authorised UK distributor for Cinemeccanica, we hold in excess of £300,000 of spare parts. In addition we carry a wide range of lenses, Dolby cards, speakers, amplifiers and CD players.
The supplies catalogue was launched in June, listing a wide range of ancillary items for cinemas.
Supplies
The first two editions of the Sound Associates Supplies Catalogue were so successful we issued a third updated version in 2004. There are many additional items in this catalogue including Williams Sound 4 channel Infra Red systems and Mundo Color floor lighting systems.
All copies of the Supplies catalogue are sent out with a copy of The Sound Associates Product Information CD. This CD contains useful product information on just about everything that Sound Associates sells - all in PDF format. Almost all of the information is available on the web but we know that accessing the web is not always practical at all times of the day and night.
Also contained on the CD are PDF files of almost all of the Cinemeccanica spare parts books allowing you to look up the exact part you require before you ring us - it often saves hours if you are looking at the same diagram we are!
If you don't have a copy of our Product Information CD please email us and we'll pop one in the post to you.
The supplies catalogue can be viewed and downloaded from the web site. In addition, a new range of trailers can be viewed.