INERCIA TECNOLOGÍA AUDIOVISUAL S.L. CARRIES OUT THE UPDATE OF THE SALA GALILEO GALILEI WITH SYNCRONÍA INSTALACIONES S.L.

​Inercia Tecnología Audiovisual S.L. has renovated the iconic cultural space, the Sala Galileo Galilei. This venue first opened its doors in 1985, in the Chamberí neighborhood, to offer live music, comedy, and magic shows. Today, Inercia has worked with Syncronía Instalaciones S.L. to carry out a renovation to improve performance, update the equipment, and ensure versatility and simplicity when using the space.

The objective of the project was to select, design, and supply various sound, video, lighting, and stage elements, while always respecting the original essence of the Sala Galileo Galilei. It was essential to work along the same aesthetic lines that had characterized the space for 40 years.

The challenge was the short timeframe available to complete the renovation. In just four weeks, the project had to be supplied, implemented, and the property's staff trained to reopen its doors within the agreed timeframe.

For the development of the reform, the venue was equipped with various equipment to enhance the audience experience at all levels and ensure an efficient result.

In terms of sound, several Allen & Heath consoles were integrated. The main console, dedicated to PA sound, has 48 channels, 25 faders, 8 internal effects engines, and is expanded with a Dante expansion card. It can accommodate up to 12 stereo mixes for PA amplification, front fill, subwoofers, and front-of-house speakers, as well as for stage monitors or wireless in-ear systems for artist monitoring. This console is also capable of processing and mixing all microphone and line audio signals, to and from two stage boxes, other direct connections from stage boxes, and the remaining signals from the front-of-house booth. The room also has two additional, more compact consoles, integrated via Dante converters, also from Allen & Heath, for use when the space is used as a club, for music listening, or for shows. For microphones, Sennheiser, DPA, and Shure equipment was supplied for voice and instrument capture, including 10 wireless systems and six complete in-ear monitoring systems.

All sound systems were integrated via a Dante network and fiber optic interconnected switches. This network was complemented by a dedicated Wi-Fi network for technical control. All of this has contributed to improving the room's versatility, allowing users to adjust or run tests from tablets or smartphones, or for artists to control their own mixes using monitors or in-ears. It has also enabled audio routing through limiting systems to comply with municipal regulations. In turn, to analyze the sound level in real time and prevent the permitted dB threshold from being exceeded, Inercia supplied, integrated, and certified two Glove Systems limiters, as well as two dedicated subwoofer damping banks and a set of bumpers designed to isolate the new floor speakers. To achieve full coverage and improve the room's acoustic impact, the new power amps and 22 speakers from Maga Engineering have also been integrated with the rest of the sound system using Dante-to-analog audio converters. For the bidirectional conversion of these analog and Dante signals, Inercia selected Bluestream equipment.

As for lighting solutions, new control systems have been integrated, such as a Lightshark console and 16 Audibax moving heads, complementing the venue's existing fixtures. The console, with 10 faders for playbacks, 4 encoders, and a touchscreen for software control, allows for focused lighting, changes in tone, color, or shape, and programming the triggering of cues to the beat of the music's BPM or to a time preset by the user.

​Inercia has also integrated various video solutions. For the main stage backdrop, where a conventional black curtain had previously been used, a 6.5x2m LED screen has been integrated, multiplying the venue's utilization possibilities. This screen, from Euno, has a 2.6mm pixel pitch, a protective GOB coating against impacts, and a refresh rate of 7,680Hz to prevent flickering. Inercia has also installed a PTZ camera to capture the show's images and a Blackmagic Design switcher for video production and content mixing for the LED screen. A Brightsign player was chosen to manage this content, along with an OnSign TV license. Through these, users can display, publish, and schedule any desired signal or content in full screen or in multi-viewing, whether it be the venue's own advertising, camera feeds, or media files related to the event. In addition, Kramer HDBaseT extension systems were integrated for the transmission of 4K video signals between the front-of-house control room, the LED screen, and other auxiliary screens located throughout the space.

In addition to the aforementioned sound, video, and lighting solutions, the Sala Galileo Galilei required other specific stage needs that Inercia also addressed, such as the integration of motorized curtains for the hall's stage and the upper floor, ceiling rails, and all the necessary installation accessories.

Ultimately, Inercia, together with Syncronía, worked to improve the hall's performance and provide versatility and ease of use, while respecting the space's original design and spirit. In addition to the supply, design, and integration of equipment, Inercia trained the technical staff so that the owners could take full advantage of this equipment and ensure the space's operation was impeccable when it reopened to the public.

Sala Galileo Galilei, Madrid.