Mach Audio Powers Superclub Hush

Houston’s new superclub Hush is making a name for itself. With a top-of-the-line entertainment technology package that includes a full house Mach audio system, Hush has instantly placed itself on the ‘must visit’ list for clubbers around the world. From the top quality Mach sound rig and Martin lighting system, to the commitment to detail from owners Dan Deschamps and Kevin Johnson, it’s the quality that impresses.

With original thoughts of opening an Internet oriented club in Reno or Houston, Dan and Kevin researched the growing west side of Houston for a location for their “dress to impress” club. “My dream was to open a huge nightclub, and light and sound are key elements of that,” stated owner Kevin Johnson. “I wanted to have the best light and sound of any club in the world.” In order to make that dream reality, Dan and Kevin traveled the US and even Europe to look at clubs because, in their words, “we didn’t want to be upstaged by another club.”

After a good deal of research into lighting and sound companies, Dan and Kevin chose Mach and Martin after a trip to the company’s US headquarters in Sunrise, Florida. “We looked at other manufacturers, but after seeing the showroom in Florida and learning about the Total Club package, we went with Martin,” commented owner Dan Deschamps. “They also accommodated us so well.”

The Hush experience begins before you even get inside the club. Outside, at the club’s six porte-cache columns, audio from four Mach M-Flex 15 XP’s, a full-range, customized 15” bass drive loudspeaker, provides waiting guests with a small taste of what awaits inside.

Sunken dancefloor
Once inside, Hush’s main dancefloor area is the center of attention – not just a feast for the eyes but a delight to the ears as well.  A vast, sunken dancefloor area drops several feet and then skies to 3-stories, giving the feeling of unlimited space. “The dancefloor is 2,300 sq. ft. in all. Sinking the floor was a big project but we wanted to create a feeling when you walk in that you’re walking down into the club, and the only way to get that feeling of space is to go down,” says Dan. “It was a huge job but we felt it was important to put the dancefloor on a different level to create that feeling of space. With the sunken dancefloor the club is actually on about 8 different levels.” 

SlingShot clusters
Four powerful Mach speaker clusters hang from the 42 ft. ceiling in the main dance area providing focused sound around the dancefloor. Each cluster is made up of two Mach MS1262 SlingShot 3-way long throw units and two MS15X2 SlingShot mid bass units. Corey Silverman, technical sales support and sound designer for Hush, comments, “The sound in the main dance area is a 6-way, fully horn loaded SlingShot system totally focused on the dancefloor. We wanted to keep dispersion narrow in order to avoid pollution in other areas of the club, which are outfitted with their own separately controlled audio sub-systems.”

Alien 51S zones
In fact, wherever there is a ceiling throughout the club, recessed Mach Alien 51S ceiling speakers with delay have been installed, ensuring that as guests move around, the music will always be clear and clean. “The audio system was designed to match the architectural look of the club,” states Corey, “The Alien 51S complements the Alien 05 lighting fixtures perfectly, which you find recessed in many areas of the club. There are different audio sub systems, or zones, throughout the club so anywhere you are – bathrooms, bars, VIP areas – the sound is balanced and you get a good sense of what’s happening on the dancefloor thanks to the Alien 51S speakers.” Sound to the different zones is processed through Mach 20.06 loudspeaker management systems.

The result is a sound that is well balanced with no changes in the quality as you move around the club. Designed to be sonically clear, guests can converse without having to scream at each other over the music. However, once on the dancefloor the sound is huge.

Row of Ballisters
An imposing row of sixteen powerful Mach Ballister subs is located on the dancefloor, fronting the stage with a tweeter cluster positioned up in the ceiling. Corey is especially fond of the row of Ballisters. “There’s nothing like being on that dancefloor with 16 Ballisters kicking out a good bass beat. The Ballisters shake so much bass you feel it down to your bones.” Top acts like Ashanti, Digital Underground, Bad-Boy recording artist Faith Evans and some of the country’s top DJs have benefited from the SlingShot and Ballister power.

DJ booth
Any DJ would be proud to occupy Hush’s DJ booth located on the second floor overlooking the main dance floor in the VIP chill-out area. An 18” Mach M181T sub and two full-range Mach M12T serve as booth monitors with Powersoft amp racks tucked neatly away under the stairs. The same series of speakers have been incorporated into the DJ booth as are used on the dancefloor, an intentional move so that the DJ gets a realistic representation of the dancefloor sound. Supplying the sound gear for Hush was Creative Production & Design of Austin, Texas.

Owner Dan Deschamps expressed his satisfaction with both the result and level of service. “Martin has been awesome and the service has been phenomenal. I’m amazed by the follow through. It’s to everyone’s advantage that this thing becomes what it’s supposed to be and not something that works only half way. The fact that you guys do step up, and did what you did because we purchased your product, is great.”

With a modular design and various rooms that allow it to accommodate a number of groups all at once, Hush hopes to enjoy the momentum the city of Houston is experiencing from major upcoming events, namely the Super Bowl in January and the Major League Bassball All-Star Game next July. Hush may grow into something more than just the Houston venue however. Dan and Kevin have trademarked the name for nightclubs, restaurants and bars as well. They are also planning on opening up Hush Jazz club next door, in the same building. 

Owners:                                            Dan Deschamps, Kevin Johnson
Operations Manager:                           Chris Hobbs
Technical Director:                              Mike Guttman
Audio Consultants:                              Darryl Sutton, Corey Silverman
Lighting and Audio Supplier:                  Creative Production & Design
Video & Additional Audio Supplier:          Sound Stage Systems
Interior Design:                                  Hush Design Group
Systems Integration:                           Dave Chesal
Crew Chief:                                       Eric Hite
Construction Coordinator:                    Marty Fossland
Manager:                                          Larry James
Electrical Services:                             Danny Nicoletti
Installation:                                      Creative Production & Design and Griffin Automation
Lighting Designer:                              Dave Chesal
Assistant Lighting Designer:                 Justin Jenkins
Lighting Programmer:                            Rob Smith, Matthias Hinrichs, Carl Wake

Mach equipment:

• 16 x Mach Ballister
• 24 x Alien 51S
• 8 x Mach MS1262
• 8 x Mach MS15X2
• 4 x Mach High-Frequency Arrays
• 4 x Mach M15T
• 8 x Mach M82i
• 4 x Mach M-FLEX 15 XP
• 2 x Mach M12T
• 1 x Mach M181T
• 6 x Mach M20.06

 

• 6 x Powersoft Digam 7000
• 1 x Powersoft Digam 5000
• 1 x Powersoft Q4002
• 2 x Powersoft Q3002
• 3 x Powersoft Q4004
• 5 x Powersoft Q3204