Digital sound invades Pattaya

On a recent visit to the Cocobana Bar and Restaurant located on Pattaya’s Soi 6/1, I could not help but notice the pleasing presence of great sounding, well balanced background music. This is not something that would normally stand out in my mind; however, in this instance I began to realise that what I was hearing was very different from the brash, harsh sound one is often subjected to. The rustic Northern theme of the restaurant and the pleasant ambient sound combined to make a truly wonderful and very repeatable dining experience. The wide variation of tracks, smooth mixing and lack of any commercial announcements indicated to me that I was hearing something more than the radio, a CD or tape.

The system can work with or without a DJ or operator and a 30Gb hard disk could conceivably hold enough songs to play continuously for 17 days’ without repetition or the need for user intervention.

Being curious, I spoke to Simon Rolstone, the owner, and enquired how his system worked. He told me that the system utilises the latest technology and PC software to mix, control and sequence MP3 digital audio tracks. He went on to explain that the system was flexible and allowed for separate control of four areas, the bar, restaurant, gallery and stage. Within the four areas, individual adjustments can be made to the volume, tone and program material. Further, he mentioned that the stage area includes a public address system that supports live music, karaoke and the ability to be feed source to the other areas as required. He suggested if I wanted to know more that I should contact Action Computer Technologies.

I knew ACT was well known within the Information Technology and Internet arena as a supplier of quality computer, networks and application development but I was unaware that they also supplied audio systems. I spoke to their managing director, Richard Bunch, the Pattaya Mail’s very own Computer Doctor. He told me the ACT Company was formed in 1987 and since then has carved itself a reputation for supplying quality PC’s, network systems and providing first class support. The audio systems are a natural progression and he reiterated that again, ACT only uses quality components and provides support second to none.

All the Pro Audio Systems designed by ACT are customised to meet individual client’s requirements. He pointed out the many benefits of using this technology in place of less sophisticated traditional methods. For example, how many times have you gone to play a CD or cassette only to find it has been ‘borrowed’ or worse still, sustained a beer wash? Using this technology all the music is installed on hard disks within the PC and if required this can be in encrypted format, this prevents ‘borrowing’ - and spilt beer no longer presents a problem. Music can easily be loaded into the system and categorised within groups and subgroups, from these it is possible to compile lists from which pre-defined music is loaded, seamlessly mixed and played by the software. Because all the music is stored on the PC, locating a special request or playing for instance, “Happy Birthday” is a breeze, no more searching through piles of CDs! The system is so simple to use that staff can easily be trained to use the basic features within a matter of an hour or so. ACT provides a manual written in both Thai and English that helps staff to learn at their own pace. The system can work with or without a DJ or operator and a 30Gb hard disk could conceivably hold enough songs to play continuously for 17 days’ without repetition or the need for user intervention.

A “racked” Pro Audio System designed by ACT

I soon discovered that the ACT audio system is an end-to-end solution. Another critical component to the total picture is the sound delivery system. Depending on application, systems can range from a simple two-speaker arrangement through to full-blown public address, capable of speech, DJ or live concert venues of all sizes. For bars, restaurants, hotel lounges and other areas requiring ambient sound similar to the system installed at Cocobana, unobtrusive multi speaker systems are ideal. Such systems are individually tailored to meet the clients’ requirements and budget. ACT supplies and installs components built by major manufactures; they also produce a full range of their own custom-built speaker systems, which are highly cost effective. In addition to the installation of the system ACT offers various maintenance and support options.

Mr Bunch gave me an overview of the various types of sound systems they provide, but due to the technical nature of this it is better said in his words. “The larger Public Address systems such as the one found on the stage area in Cocobana are set up in the following configurations: “full range”, “2-way” and “3-way”. The specific application and the size of the area to be covered are the factors that determine the configuration that is best suited. For large live band and DJ situations 3-way systems are often best, for medium live band or DJ applications 2-way systems work well and for simple public address speech or ambient music systems, full range systems are often all that is required. The term “3-way” simply indicates a system that has an active electronic crossover network separating high frequencies, midrange frequencies and low frequencies and delivering them to specific amplifiers then on to specific speakers that best handle that range. A stereo 3-way system has a minimum of 6 drivers (speakers); low, mid and high left channel and low mid and high right channel. Depending on the size of the venue, multiple low, mid and high frequency drivers may be required; many larger systems have 20, 30 or more speakers in the system. The term 2-way indicates a system that has an active electronic crossover network separating low and mid-high frequencies and delivering them to amplifiers and speakers designed to handle those ranges. A stereo 2-way system has a minimum of 4 speakers, low and mid-high left channel and low and mid-high right channel. The term full range simply means a system containing one or more speaker cabinets that all produce the full spectrum of frequency. The speaker cabinets in this type of system normally have passive crossover networks. Passive crossover networks are a series of coils and capacitors that take the full range signal delivered by the amplifier and divide it into low frequency and mid-high or low, mid and high depending on the specific cabinet configuration. Passive crossover networks are less accurate and efficient than active crossover systems; however, passive full range systems are very adequate for applications such as speech or ambient music where large dynamic range and high SPL (sound pressure level) are not necessary. All of the sound delivery systems discussed can be integrated with computer music source, mixing tables, microphones and monitor systems.”

For more information contact Richard Bunch at Action Computer Technologies, Mobile 01 652 2611 e-mail [email protected] website www.act.co.th

SKAL Pattaya to bid for World Congress?

One of the newer tourism and hospitality organizations in Pattaya is the re-formed SKAL Club Pattaya branch; however, SKAL has had a presence in Thailand for 45 years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of SKAL in this country in the year 2006, moves are afoot to bid for the SKAL World Congress which would bring around 2000 delegates to our city. The last time such a SKAL congress was held in Thailand was 1996 and was hosted by the Bangkok branch.

Pattaya’s “Skaleagues” met at Shenanigans this month

At the latest meeting of SKAL Pattaya, which was held in Shenanigans Irish Pub, Thomas Cole, who was in the organizing committee for the Bangkok congress said, “There is no down side. It would bring the attention of the world to Pattaya.” The secretary of the local SKAL group, Andrew Wood, echoed those sentiments, saying that it was a great opportunity for Pattaya and with 33,000 hotel rooms, Pattaya could more than cover the event.

Since Thailand had a congress five years ago, an initial application will be made to the central SKAL organization overseas to see if a bid from Pattaya will be accepted. If it is, local SKAL president Murray Hertz said, “Let’s do it right!” The Pattaya Mail agrees with SKAL and let us keep our fingers crossed.

A lively luncheon at English Speaking Business Club

The English Speaking Business Club held their bi-monthly meeting last week at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. A great crowd from the Eastern Seaboard and Bangkok, including some new faces turned up to enjoy the hospitality at the Royal Cliff and the opportunity to network at the same time.

A lively crew took part in the bi-monthly meeting of the English Speakers Business Club at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort

Cocktails and sparkling wine in the lobby of the Royal Wing, with the wine for the day being provided by Tom Westbury of PTK Management & Marketing, set the mood for the afternoon before moving to Benjarong Restaurant for lunch. The Pattaya Mail’s MD and Shenanigans landlord amused everybody while lunch was being served.

An enjoyable afternoon away from the grind of the office, not to mention the opportunity to network within the local and no so local business community. The next meeting is scheduled on 25th May.

Antiques, Are They Genuine?

by Apichart Panyadee

The Alloys

The traditional alloy of pewter most widely used into the 17th Century consisted of tin and copper with small amounts of other elements. In Britain and Europe all objects, such as flatware, which needed to stand up under hard use, contained about 90% tin and perhaps 2-6% of copper plus some lead and antimony. Measures, flagons, balusters and the like, with their more complex shapes, needed careful casting. They were made of a softer alloy with less tin and more lead. Apart from Roman pewter, few items contain more than 20% lead. Later in the 17th century the proportion of copper gradually decreased and a popular “hardmetal’ appeared with a high tin content and some antimony or bismuth. In the USA, for historical and economic reasons, most new pewter was made from old metal and a slightly lower quality alloy was common for flatware. Although the guides governing the manufacture of pewter did lay down firm rules, these were only minimum standards, and they were not universally obeyed.

Brass tobacco box from 1927

Copper, Brass, and Bronze

Copper by itself, although suitable for some tasks, is too soft for many purposes. It is also difficult to cast. Alloys were therefore adopted, each based on a different hardening agent. The most common were bronze and brass. Bronze is made with tin added to copper and brass has zinc in the alloy. In practice, other elements are also found and ‘pure’ brass was seldom used in the past. The lines of division between alloys are not as easy to establish as was once thought. An enormous range of objects used in the home or workshop was made in brass, bronze or copper, all the way from the Middle Ages through to the present time. Most commonly found these days are 18th Century and 19th Century brass candlesticks, 19th Century copper and brass kettles, and 19th Century and early 20th Century copper saucepans, jardini่res and boxes. In addition, there is a mass of reproduction brass and copper of the 1920s and 1930s. Some of these pieces are copies of earlier designs, and others are more loosely based on earlier styles.

In the Middle Ages, Britain had sufficient tin, but had to import both copper and zinc. The first British copper appeared on the market in late Elizabethan times. But it was not until after the restoration of Charles II that the British copper mining industry expanded. It did so very quickly and by the end of the 19th Century Britain was supplying nearly all of the world’s copper ore, and British centres such as Birmingham were making millions of brass and copper objects for export. Pewter manufacture was always based on small scale local production by craftsmen. Brass, bronze and copper manufacture started out in this way but by the late 18th Century, it was becoming increasingly mechanized and factory based. In America, copper and brass were imported from Britain in substantial quantities, both as raw materials and as completed goods. As a result it took some time for local manufacture to become established, but by the late 19th Century large quantities were being made in the USA.

19th Century copper coffee pot

Until after the Second World War there were few fakes of British or American copper, brass or bronze pieces as the originals were of little value. Plenty of popular reproductions were made in the years between the wars, however. Many of these have now acquired genuine age and wear. In Europe, metal ware was popular well before the 1914-18 War so European fakes a hundred years or so old do exist. Fakes are currently thought to be made in Spain and Italy, and include copies of wall sconces, alms dishes, ladles, candle moulds and other popular and valuable forms. These are well made and are excellent facsimiles.

Methods of manufacture

The main alloys of copper are brass and bronze. Each fulfilled certain purposes especially well. Bronze was easy to cast, useful for goods which had to withstand extreme heat, but less satisfactory if placed under pressure or hammered. Pots, saucepans, and other cooking implements were mostly cast from bronze. Examine any ancient cooking pot and the way it was made is clearly written on its surface. They were normally cast in boxed sand moulds, or clay moulds, and the marks where the moulds joined show clearly.

Brass objects could be made by casting, but most were raised from sheets of metal. At first brass or copper sheet was made by hammering it out by hand. This gave it a thick, uneven sheet. Later the thinness of the sheet was improved by using water-powered trip hammers, and by the 19th Century sheets of copper were made by steam power and rolling mills.

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