October 2013 -

Awarding Week for Funktion-One

 

Funktion-One has been recognised for two very different reasons in the last week. The company scooped DJmag’s ‘Best Club Sound System Manufacturer’ Award and ‘Permanent Installation Project of the Year’ at the Pro Sound Awards, underlining its dominance in the nightclub market and highlighting the fact its pioneering work spans a comprehensive product range and a number of markets.

 

The DJmag Tech Awards came first – on Saturday 14 September. Held in the UK at Birmingham’s NEC, as part of the BPM Show, the awards are described as ‘a platform for manufacturers, DJs, producers and any one else who is interested in music technology, to be informed as to what is happening on the frontline’. Over the last few months the public have considered the shortlist in each category and cast their votes. More than 100,000 votes were counted, with Funktion-One triumphing in the sound system category.

 

Three days later, at the inaugural Pro Sound Awards - staged at Ministry of Sound in London – the outcome was the same. But the award subject was very different. Funktion-One was nominated and shortlisted for the installation at the Bobsleigh run in Sochi, Russia for the Winter Olympics 2014.

 

The project is absolutely unique. It features the largest Funktion-One MST (Modular Stadium Technology) Horns installation to date and a completely bespoke Mega Bass Horn, which measures 15 feet wide, nine feet tall and 10 .5 feet deep, and houses two Funktion One F221 bass enclosures.

 

It all began in 2009, when Tony Andrews, talking to Russian distributor Edelweiss Audio, conceptualised that one of the most effective ways of getting bass across the soon-to-be-built toboggan run would be to construct a giant bass horn.

 

Much to Funktion-One’s surprise, the Russian Authorities, intrigued by Tony’s musings, decided they wanted the low frequency to compliment the 14 MST Horns and placed an order for a Mega Bass Horn.  This, of course, was still merely a concept, but the delivery date was less than two months away.

 

Work began on what is believed to be the world’s largest commercially available bass horn. Using an extremely rigid and weight saving construction, Tony, Design Engineer Thomas Gude and the team at Funktion-One designed and built the huge horn as a flat pack, to be assembled on site, in less than six weeks. Tony then travelled to Sochi to meet the delivery and oversee its installation - at one point working a 17-hour day, in freezing temperatures, 40-feet above the ground on an open platform. 

 

But it was worth it. The solution is admired, both for its sound quality and physical presence. And now it has helped to cap a memorable week for Funktion-One.

 

Reflecting on the award wins, Tony said: “It’s always nice to be recognised for the work you do. It’s particularly pleasing that these two awards represent completely different parts of the install market. We strive for excellence and the best quality audio possible – even if it involves building a bass horn the size of a house!”