Three Soundcraft mixing desks have been specified and installed in a new, purpose-built concert venue in Eindhoven.

Designed by architects MVRDV and developed by Ove Arup & Partners at a cost of €6.9m, the highly-designed De Effenaar replaces the former single-room venue on the same site that has been demolished to make way.

Trading on two floors, the complex incorporates a café/restaurant, a large concert venue (for 1200 people), a secondary 400-capacity room (with balcony) and a small studio theatre.

De Effenaar, which has quickly become one of the most significant ‘circuit' venues in the south of Holland, selected 40- and 32-channel Soundcraft MH3 dual-mode consoles for use in the FOH and foldback positions of the smaller venue, and a 48-channel SM20 for monitor duties in the large concert space.

With theatre specialists Prinssen en Bus providing the overall acoustic consultancy, it fell to by leading sound engineer Jorrit de Kort to recommend the Soundcraft desks, which were installed (along with the rest of the PA infrastructure) by TM Audio.

Originally the Technical Production Manager at de Effenaar, Jorrit was heavily involved in overseeing the new theatre facilities. He realised that Soundcraft would offer visiting sound engineers familiar architecture, but also based his decision firmly on personal experience.

"The MH3 has an impressive number of features - particularly for the price. But aside from all the bells and whistles, what really clinched it for me was the EQ. Soundcraft have produced a console with the familiar Soundcraft sound and a rotary that does exactly what you want it to."

As for the choice for the SM20 this was a no brainer for monitoring duties. The requirement for 18 auxes and top quality audio was non negotiable, said Jorrit. "In that range of consoles competition is thin and the SM20 offered the only obvious choice."

All desks were provided by Audio XL, Soundcraft's Dutch distributors.

With the opening of de Effenaar, the city of Eindhoven's investment in bringing arts and culture back to the city centre looks to have been vindicated, and audience numbers are already way up on that of the venue's predecessor.

Headquartered at the Harman International Industries complex in  Potters Bar, England, Soundcraft has built its global reputation over  more than 30 years as a preeminent manufacturer of professional  mixing consoles serving live, broadcast, theatre, recording and DJ  markets. Worldwide sales and marketing for the brand is handled by the Soundcraft Studer Group, also of Potters Bar. In the United States, Soundcraft and Studer's products are distributed by Harman  Pro North America, a subsidiary of Harman International Industries.