About Us

A.R.D. Sound and Lighting is a Co. Antrim based company that offers a professional level of service to all of our customers including churches, hotels, theatres, schools, colleges, and other venues.

The services we provide include:

• System Design/Construction
• Installation
• Servicing
• Event Management
• Productions
• PA/Lighting Hire
• PA/Lighting Sales
• Consultation/Training
• Functional Furniture

We are an expanding company and our staff have a vast range of experience, from our carpenters who have over 20 years experience, to our electronics engineers who have been with us from the start in the mid 80s. We assure quality and the highest level of professionalism in all aspects of our service provision.

Equipment Partners

Working with our partners, guarantees that we offer the very latest technology advances to match a variety of environments and events, supported by our fully qualified technicians.

If you would like to know more about our business and the solutions that we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us today!

System Design

Whether you are at the start of a new building project or wish to update an existing system, we can assist you by consulting with you or your architect to decide upon cable runs, technical power points and correct equipment layout or placement.

When a client contacts us regarding a system, by phone, email or face to face, we arrange a meeting at the site.
We discuss the system requirements and various options which helps to produce an overall specification.
Specification and measurements are noted and we return to the office to produce a quotation and predicted time frame. On approval of the quotation, we return to the site to make detailed measurements which allow us to design the system accurately and produce CAD drawings which are used to assist with the construction process.

Construction

Project construction takes place mostly in our workshops and on occasion with partners in the industry.
The workshops are divided into several different areas.

Goods in:
Where raw materials such as sheet and section steel/aluminium, grill material, ply wood, solid timber, electrical and electronic components arrive ready to be used in the project. We maintain regular stock of glues and fixings.

Wood:
Our wood shop has been fitted out with power tools such as a 12" table saw, 12" jointer, 12" thicknesser, router table, bandsaw, chopoff saw, radial arm saw, pillar drill, sanding station, oscillating bobbin sander, dedicated mortise press and wood turning lathe all connected to a powerful automatic dust extraction system. There are a variety of routers and jigs along with a host of templates and of course a selection of hand power tools such as saws, cordless drills, screwdrivers and sanders.

Metal:
Our metalwork area includes a powerful MIG welder, bandsaw, pillar drill, bench grinder, 3ph Harrison metal lathe, Draper vertical milling machine, and most important a good sized bench with a steel vice. Power tools include a variety of cordless drills, electric grinders and saws. We have access to a 4' guillotine and a 4'sheet metal folder so fabrication of just about anything is possible.

Electronics Area:
Including a test bench which is set up with measuring instruments such as an oscilloscope, DMM and a bench power supply which allows us to maintain all of the equipment in stock used for productions and hire and build new projects. With a variety of components in stock, we can prototype electrical and electronic circuits which can then be converted to printed circuit board using an exposure box and bubble etch tank.

Fibreglass Area:
This area is isolated from the main workshop as the products used are very messy and take a while to set. We can make a Plug of something we wish to produce out of wood and polyester resin and after a thorough sand, wax and polish, can turn out a mould. This mould is then used to turn out copies of the plug. We have a variety of moulds for horns used in our Trinity range of speakers.

Assembly Area:
This area is generally kept clear for assembly of large items. Using a variety of wood jointing techniques from dove tail, half lap, butt, screw, countersunk, dowel, toe nail, finish nail and brad, projects come to life. Even though we have a vast collection of clamps you can never have enough. Once speakers emerge from spray, the drive units are fitted, crossovers wired and grills mounted.

Spray Area:
When the workshop was designed, a dedicated area was set aside for a spray booth. Big enough to roll in any piece of broadcast furniture or our largest speakers it boasts radiant heaters giving even coverage and a multitude of fluorescent lighting to evenly illuminate the darkest finish. The finish is enhanced by a large extractor fan which removes fumes and prevents dust from landing on the finish. With a combination of heat and extraction, cellulose and synthetic based paints dry very quickly with most jobs going through spray and straight out to delivery on the same day. We have a selection of spray guns and a powerful adjustable air system allowing a variety of textures

Testing/QA:
Speakers are tested and measured to make sure they are within tolerance of the specification. Final polishing and wax fillers are used on our furniture projects

Goods out:
Where finished items are prepped for transport

Installations

We have installation experience in a vast range of areas including:

Sound

• Hi-fi
• Home cinema
• Disco/club
• Public address indoor and outdoor
• Church
• Recording Studio

Lighting

• Disco/club
• Church stage
• Theatrical

Vision

• Flat screen TV
• Projector
• Simple DVD playback systems
• Powerpoint presentation systems
• Multi camera projection systems

We have professional experience with broadcast installations

• Radio studios
• TV studios
• Edit suites
• OB Vehicles
• Transmission systems from fixed radio links to mobile comms

We also have experience designing and constructing functional furniture such as:

• Radio studio desks
• Production tables
• Church multimedia desks and cabinets
• Rack and storage units
• Studio sound treatment and fabrics

Sound, Lighting and rigging Hire

Dry hire:
On production of 2 forms of valid identification, we can offer a customer collect hire service. Please fill in contact form to reserve equipment. Please see equipment list for your requirements. Terms and conditions apply.

We offer a deliver service where customers can reserve equipment and have it delivered and collected. If necessary, an Engineer can set up the equipment as required.

ARD sound and Lighting have built up a vast port folio of productions since we went into business in the mid 80's. We can offer our customers a complete multimedia package for discos, formal parties, wedding entertainment, bands, concerts, fashion shows, promotional events, award ceremonies, church musicals, church open air events and outreaches, outdoor public events and festivals.

Trinity Speakers

We started to design and manufacture loudspeaker cabinets back in 1990. Since then we have built up a vast list of designs to suit many different applications. All of our cabinets have been designed using CAD and then tuned and measured using various other computer programs. We use a range of different drive units from different manufacturers in our cabinets carefully chosen by experience to suit the needs of our customers. A range of finishes are available to protect the cabinets or make them blend into an existing colour scheme.

Models Available:

T-210MS-VA: Vertical Array mid component incorporating 2x 10" drive units on a horn. Frequency response 150Hz - 2KHz. Power rating 700W RMS@4Ohm

T-21HSL-VA: Vertical Array long throw HF component incorporating a pair of 1" compression drivers on a large 60x30 horn. Frequency response 2KHz - 18Khz, Power rating 100WRMS@16ohms.

T-21HSW-VA: Vertical Array wide throw HF component incorporating a pair of 1" compression drivers on a large 120x30 horn. Frequency response 2KHz - 18Khz, Power rating 100WRMS@16ohms.

T-15BS-VA: Vertical Array Long throw Bass component incorporating a single 15" drive unit on a bass horn. Frequency response 50Hz - 400Hz, Power rating 600WRMS@8ohms.

T-1021MHT : Trapezoidal Mid/Hi Concert Series.

 Mid Section: 10" B&C driver on a 60x30 long throw midrange horn.
  Frequency Response - 150Hz to 2KHz.
  Power rating - 350W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 108dB/W, Max SPL - 133dB.

 HF Section: Two 1" Celestion compression drivers coupled to a 2" 60x30deg long throw horn.
  Frequency response - 2KHz to 18Khz.
  Power rating - 150W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 110dB/W, Max SPL - 132dB.
  Dimensions (H)2'x(W)2'x(D)2'.
  Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, removable wheel board, carpet or paint finish.
  We have found this combination reaches much higher frequency response than a single 2" or 1.4" compression driver.

T-102MHT : Trapezoidal Mid/Hi Concert Series.

 Mid Section: 10" B&C driver on a 60x30 long throw midrange horn.
  Frequency Response - 150Hz to 2KHz.
  Power rating - 350W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 108dB/W, Max SPL - 133dB.

 HF Section: 2" compression drivers coupled to a 2" 60x30deg long throw horn.
  Frequency response - 2KHz to 12Khz.
  Power rating - 150W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 110dB/W, Max SPL - 132dB.
  Dimensions (H)2'x(W)2'x(D)2'.
  Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, removable wheel board, carpet or paint finish.

T-21HTL: Trapezoidal Hi. Long throw 2" 60x30deg. HF horn with two 1" compression drivers on a combiner. Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, removable wheel board, carpet or paint finish. Also available with 90x45deg. horn for under hanging.

T-101FRT: Trapezoidal Full range. Short throw 90x45deg. HF horn with 1" compression driver and direct radiating 10" driver for upper bass/mid. Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, carpet or paint finish.

T-121FRS: Full range. Short throw 90x45deg. HF horn with 1" compression driver and direct radiating 12" driver for upper bass/mid. Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, carpet or paint finish.

T-128SLW: Floor monitor with 2 different stage angles allowing short and long distance monitoring. High power 12" bass, 8" mid and Slot HF device gives smooth response up through the frequency range and adds subtle HF boost for crisp detail. 500W RMS. Double speakon inputs on each side, fitted with a large dish handle per side and textured paint finish. Available cased and in imaged pairs.

T-115BS: Rectangular Bass bin, loaded with a high quality 15" driver. Tuned to give flat response down to 50hz.

T-118BS: Rectangular Bass bin, loaded with a high quality 18" driver. Tuned to give flat response down to 45hz

T-218BS: Rectangular Double Bass bin, loaded with 2x18" high quality drivers. Tuned to give flat response down to 40hz.

T-18BT: Trapezoidal Folded bass horn Concert Series.
 18" Precision Device drive unit on a long throw bass horn with mouth area of 4sq feet.
  Frequency response - 50Hz to 250hz.
  Power rating - 800W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 108dB/W, Max SPL - 136dB.
  Dimensions (H)3'x(W)2'x(D)3'.
  Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, flying gear, removable wheel board, carpet or paint finish.

T-21SS: Rectangular Super efficient folded sub horn Concert Series.
 21" Precision Device drive unit on a long throw sub bass horn with a mouth area of 8sq feet.
  Frequency response - 25Hz to 200hz.
  Power rating - 1000W RMS.
  Sensitivity - 108dB/W, Max SPL - 138dB.
  Dimensions (H)2'x(W)5'x(D)4'.
  Double speakon inputs. Available with handles, removable wheel board, carpet or paint finish.
  Produces extremely low frequency and works best in conjunction with a pair of T-18BT

All of the above products are designed and built in our workshop and some can be altered to suit space requirements. Special colour matching is possible to allow the speaker to blend in with existing furnishings. There is normally about 2-3 weeks lead time on most speakers depending on work load and component availability. Please contact us well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Flight Cases:
We built our first case in 1989 and since then have just kept making cases - large and small. A full stock of materials is kept in stock so a case can be fabricated within a very short lead time. We use hardware manufactured by Penn Fabrication and premium hexagrip board or plywood coated in a special synthetic paint made by Trimite, to protect our cases. It is very durable and adds some waterproofing to the finished product. All of the cases are blind riveted leaving a tidy inside edge and any sharp edges are filed smooth. Finally we use a variety of different foams to pad the inside of the cases and heavy duty castors to suit our customers needs.
Some of our cases travel all around the world and sometimes have to come back for repair after being thrown around by dozens of couriers and meeting the odd bad fork lift truck driver. A full range of spare parts are always kept in stock.