PORTLAND OR – AV design/build firm Viation provided CDL and WorxAudio loudspeakers from PreSonus for the Bossanova Ballroom in Portland, OR. The project, overseen by Viation president/CEO John N. Wilson, included separate systems for the upstairs and downstairs spaces within the multi-story, flexible use event venue.
More details from PreSonus (www.presonus.com):
The Bossanova Ballroom offers guests an open and inviting atmosphere, and the venue is configured to host a variety of events ranging from large concerts for up to 650 people down to intimate gatherings for as few as 50. The venue has two primary floors for live music plus an intimate third floor space that accommodates up to 150 people for corporate events, wedding receptions, and more. Management recently had new sound reinforcement equipment installed and, as an integral part of the new setup, CDL and WorxAudio loudspeakers from PreSonus Audio Electronics of Baton Rouge, LA are central to the setup.
Viation, an AV design/build firm servicing the worship, broadcast, and commercial AV markets with offices in Nashville, TN and Seattle, WA, was contracted to design and deploy the new sound system at the Bossanova Ballroom. John N. Wilson, Viation’s President and CEO, who oversees system design, event management, and sales for the company, ultimately penned two systems—one each for upstairs and downstairs. He discussed the project and his reasons for deploying PreSonus equipment.
“The Bossanova Ballroom hosts a wide array of music events,” Wilson reports, “including heavy metal, hard rock, EDM, and jazz. The venue is designed as a multi-use space that can accommodate both seated and standing audiences and also includes an upstairs VIP lounge. Management’s two primary directives on this design were wide, even coverage without a center fill and an extremely high SPL requirement. The main downstairs room measures 40 feet wide by 30 feet deep with an 18.5-foot ceiling. The stage is centered along the rear wall facing into the width of the room.”
For this space, the Viation team deployed sixteen WorxAudio XL1T-P two-way, high efficiency, active line array loudspeakers—flown eight elements each for the left and right sides of the stage. These are accompanied by six WorxAudio TL218SS-P extreme high SPL extended bass subwoofers. These ‘super subs’ are positioned on the floor—stacked three enclosures each for the left and right sides. “With eight XL1T-P enclosures per side,” Wilson reports, “we were able to achieve 140dB at FOH, which fully satisfied the SPL requirement. The enclosure’s broad, 160-degree horizontal dispersion pattern also provides full stereo coverage up to the front of the stage, thus eliminating the need for a center fill.”
“The smaller, upstairs space capitalizes on the flexibility provided by PreSonus CDL series loudspeakers,” Wilson explained. “The setup includes a single PreSonus CDL12 Constant Directivity Loudspeaker pole mounted atop a CDL18s Active Subwoofer; positioned one pair each for the left and right sides of the stage. This system also takes advantage of PreSonus digital mixing console technology with the inclusion of a StudioLive Series III 32-channel digital mixer and USB audio interface with motorized faders. This upstairs space is open to the main venue and serves as the VIP lounge during shows. It can also be closed for private events.”
With many installations, questions inevitably arise, so capable and responsive customer / technical support services are crucial to keeping many projects on track. In this regard, Wilson rates PreSonus Commercial Audio customer and technical support services best in class, “As always, PreSonus’ customer service and personal support really sets the gold standard for the industry. We couldn’t be more pleased with the fantastic support we received on this project, starting with the design and culminating in the final tuning of the system by PreSonus Commercial Division’s Director Tony Flammia.”
The Bossanova Ballroom project was installed in early February and, according Joe Gallagher, Head of Production and Talent Buying at the venue, the new equipment has been exceeding expectations, “The XL1 line array with the super subs is really an amazing system! These array enclosures are clear and musical, and with the low-end output from the TL218SS subs, the impact is nothing short of exceptional.”
Wilson was equally enthusiastic about the completed system, “Our crew worked efficiently and tirelessly to get this project completed in the very tight timeframe allotted due to scheduled shows and the worst winter snowstorm in the region in decades. We are pleased to report that the new sound system is being very well received—not only by management, but by the various acts that have performed through it as well as the patrons. The combination of PreSonus products—backed by the company’s excellent support team, has resulted in yet another exceptional installation we are very proud of.”
To learn more about the services offered by Viation, Inc., visit the company online at www.viationavl.com.
