NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand — Audio rental system provider Above Productions, based in Hamilton, New Zealand, deployed its recently-purchased Vertec portable system for the TSB Bank Fireworks Spectacular, held at the TSB Bowl here.
The system features VT4887A compact line array elements and VT4880A full-size arrayable subwoofers, supported by JBL VRX compact constant-curvature systems and powered by Crown amplifiers.
The TSB Bank Fireworks Spectacular drew 18,000 to the event, which also included Lieutenant Funk and other local bands at an outdoor concert and music choreographed to the fireworks display.
The sound system included 24 VT4887A compact line array elements configured in two arrays of 12 per side and eight VT4880A arrayable subwoofers with 2269H Ultra Long Excursion with 18-inch woofers in use (four enclosures per side).
Farther back in the seating area on the grassy slope, the crew positioned a delay ring using eight VRX932 speakers set up as four pairs on poles. Crown I-Tech 4000 and 8000 amplifiers powered all the JBL speakers, and the crew used Harman’s HiQnet System Architect software for remote control and monitoring.
To transport digital signals from the FOH mix position, the crew also used a Whirlwind E Snake, sharing the same VLAN-configured network as the I-Tech control.
For the event, the crew needed to configure the hanging loudspeaker arrays to cover an audience area that was separated from the shell’s main stage platform by a body of water.
Above Productions relied on JBL’s Vertec Line Array Calculator software to predict coverage and sound level results for the gently-rising outdoor audience area, and for selecting correct locations for the supplemental low-profile signal-delayed speaker arrays.
“As this was a family-oriented show, smooth coverage and moderate levels were an event sound system design goal,” said Stele Martin, owner of Above Productions. “This system deployment turned out quite well. We had good, smooth high-frequency coverage as predicted and then sound from the delay arrays kicked in.”
Martin also noted that his new JBL Vertec VT4887A system was quick to set up and easy to tune. “With JBL’s new V4 DSP presets, the FOH EQ was pretty much flat,” he said. “Overall we achieved a great sound for the event.”
“Using a compact line array system for larger outdoor audiences requires careful pre-event planning as regards overall SPL and coverage expectations,” said David Scheirman, vice president, tour sound for JBL Professional, adding that Above Productions’ experience shows how smaller, regional sound reinforcement firms can benefit from access to JBL’s system support information and technologies, yielding “predictable and satisfactory” results.
JBL is a unit of Harman International Industries, Inc.
For more information, please visit www.harman.com.
