Dowlen Sound fields winning combination of Outline products at John Denver Tribute event
A very special tribute to the life and work of legendary American singer, songwriter, activist, poet and photographer John Denver recently took place at the 1STBankCenter in Broomfield, Colorado. To mark his commitments to humanitarian, sustainability and conservation causes the event was held on Earth Day, April 21st.
Hosted by Olivia Newton-John, a close friend of Denver and his family, the evening featured performances from a large roster of artists including Lee Ann Womack, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Oates, Trace Bundy and the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. The show opened with Denver’s induction into the Colorado Music Hall Of Fame, the first artist to be so honoured, and also included performances from his first wife and his widow. The conclusion was a stirring finale where all the artists gathered onstage for a massed rendition of Denver’s most iconic song, ‘Rocky Mountain High’.
Sound production for the event was handled by Colorado natives Dowlen Sound who deployed a combination of Outline GTO, Butterfly and Mantas loudspeaker modules in the 6500-capacity venue. The main L&R system comprised 12 GTO plus four underhung Mantas modules per side while 16 Dowlen Sound subwoofers provided low frequency reinforcement. Eight Butterfly modules were deployed each side as ‘wraps’ to provide the necessary coverage width for seats near the stage sides.
Eric Satre of Dowlen Sound said, ‘For us and many sound providers like us, shows like this are an important part of our work but as one-offs they can be hard to do profitably. The fact that our Outline systems are quick to rig and de-rig with minimal crew, plus the ability to combine them seamlessly as required, really contributes to our operational efficiency in this type of event’.
Company owner Bret Dowlen mixed FOH for the entire show and commented afterwards, ‘Gigs like this are always a challenge because of the number of artists, the sheer quantity of instruments and the fact that there is always an element of the unknown! The only way to do it well is to use a flexible and accurate PA that can handle anything we throw at it, and that describes our Outline GTO, Butterfly and Mantas systems perfectly. With 105 inputs from the stage and the PA flown 8 feet upstage of the downstage edge the rear rejection and coherence of GTO has proven to be unrivalled, in fact this show may not have been possible with any other system. On a personal note it was very nice to hear John’s music again after a long absence. I was his system engineer for his dates in this region for about 10 years. Making it sound like it was supposed to was much easier with GTO and the amazing engineering that has gone into this box’.
Elton John, Robert Plant and Neil Diamond perform on the Electric Proms stage at the Roundhouse. For 5 years, the “resident PA” has been Brit Row’s Butterfly.
Camden Town, London (October/November 2010) – The BBC, Britain’s largest and most authoritative TV broadcaster, put Elton John, Robert Plant e Neil Diamond on stage for its 2010 Electric Proms. It was therefore only to be expected that the latest edition of this famous showcase of great talent attracted impressive media coverage with enthusiastic reviews. The setting for the event was once again the Roundhouse, London’s legendary theatre and cultural facility. The venue, which hosts festivals featuring the best of new UK music, has also staged performance by Rock icons such as the Doors, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, as well as shows by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Peter Brook and The Living Theatre. In 1966, it was also the scene of the first real live concert by Pink Floyd.
As the name suggests, the 3,000-capacity auditorium is circular. From an acoustic point of view, the Roundhouse is “unforgiving” – as many authoritativ sound engineers can confirm. In fact, the theatre is well known for not being one of the easiest venues as far as this aspect is concerned.
For five consecutive seasons, the Roundhouse management has specified Butterfly, the vertical line array by Outline, supplied by London audio rental company Britannia Row Productions.
This system has been used by Paul McCartney, James Brown, Sting and Robbie Williams, to mention just a few.
It is interesting to note that none of the numerous stars appearing at the Roundhouse during the last five BBC Electric Proms seasons have ever performed with systems by other manufacturers. Another very unusual fact is that from 2006 to the present day, i.e. from when the Butterfly system began to be submitted to intense use by Brit Row, it has never required repair.
Britannia Row and Robert Lawrence keep American football fans partying with Italian audio systems
London, Wembley Stadium (Oct. 25th 2010) – The event was the USA coming to London in the shape of total American indulgence and razzmatazz - yes - American football.
A sport that’s not just tough, but combines a good day out with a full day’s entertainment. October 25th 2010 saw the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Denver Broncos. To make this extravaganza work, two production companies were engaged to provide sound for the 83,000 revellers.
Britannia Row Productions covered pitch-side entertainment with 14 individual stacks of Outline’s Butterfly Line Array consisting of 4 x CDH 483 hi-packs and 1 x Subtech sub bass powered by T9 amplifiers strategically placed on the pitch’s perimeter.
A further two arrays were deployed for the tailgate stage placed at one end of the pitch for pre-match entertainment. This system consisted of two arrays of 8 CDH 483s and 4 x Subtechs either side.
Pre-match entertainment was provided by New Jersey rockers My Chemical Romance, closely followed by Blues legend Jeff Beck, who played the UK’s national anthem in his own inimitable style.
Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child then took to the stage and performed the US national anthem “The Star-Spangled banner”.
After the match, the party for VIPs moved up to the fifth level of Wembley Stadium, where Robert Lawrence Creative Solutions built a stage and backdrop for the NFL/Virgin Atlantic event.
Audio supplied by Robert Lawrence Creative Solutions - a long-time fan and deployer of Outline systems - consisted of Doppia 9075 point source cabinets and Subtechs powered by T7 amplifiers.
Robert Lawrence Creative Solutions also covered all the outside entertainment, with many marquees and outside stages covered by Outline’s DVS series, LAB15s and Kangaroo systems. All in all, Outline had it covered!
The match ended with the San Francisco 49ers beating the Denver Broncos 24-16.
SEOUL, South Korea - Home to the well-known Kimpo International Youth Orchestra and recognized for its award-winning architectural design, GoChon Church is also getting to be more widely known for its sound system. The design and install team with Hebsiba Multimedia chose Outlinearrays and H.A.R.D. monitors for the job.
The church, built in 2009, was designed to function as a performing arts center as well. Hebsiba Multimedia, Outline's distributor, was tasked with providing for some natural reverberation - but not too much.
"It was really difficult to satisfy the pastor's expectations, because he wanted truly high-end sound reproduction," noted Sung Hwan Oh, Hebsiba Multimedia CEO. The customer knew about Outline's Butterfly speaker system through exhibitions in Korea and, after hearing the Butterfly sound, wanted it for GoChon church, he added.
"I'm very satisfied with the system," said GoChon church's head pastor, crediting it for "ultra-clean clarity."
The main left and right hangs have 12 Line arrays elements in two sections which were 12 Butterfly C.D.H. 483 Hi-Pack and four C.D.L 1815 Lo-Pack cabinets. The rig is powered by Outline T7 amplifiers and processed by Outline Genius 26 DSP.
Front-fill enclosures are Outline DVS 10 and under-balcony speakers Outline IC6T. Stage monitors are Outline H.A.R.D. 45 SP, H.A.R.D. 115 SP and more Outline DVS 10 are used as choir monitors.
Outline provides Kingston Audio the solution for challenges faced at New Orleans Jazz Festival
New Orleans, LA, USA, May 2010 – The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, is a seven-day cultural festival at which thousands of musicians, chefs and craftsmen welcome 400,000 visitors every year. In its 41st year, it is one of the longest running and most successful music festivals in the US.
The internationally famous event celebrates New Orleans and Louisiana native music and culture, and features every style associated with the “CrescentCity”and state: Blues, R&B, Gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, Folk, Latino, Rock, Rap, Country, Bluegrass and everything in between, as well as (obviously) plenty of contemporary and traditional jazz.
The following are just a few of the best known artists at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: Simon and Garfunkel, Fats Domino, Bob Dylan, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, to name but a few.
Sound plays a major role in the success of the festival.
For the past two years (2009 and 2010), New Orleans-based rental company Kingston Audio Services was responsible for providing the Festival with superior quality sound equipment by Outline. The choice fell on Butterfly and Mantas vertical line arrays, combined with Subtech 218s for reproducing the bottom end.
The FOH rig used for the sound at the “Gospel Tent” stage consisted in 8+8 CDH 483 Hi-Pack elements and eight Subtech 218s. Mantas elements were used on front and side fill duty respectively.
“The Butterfly and Mantas in The Gospel Tent truly proved to be the right choice”, comments Tom Bensen, VP and Director of Operations of Outline North America LLC. “It is the most challenging venue in the entire festival. The combination of both Butterfly and Mantas provided the best possible coverage, with crystal clear reproduction. Artists and engineers alike were very pleased with the system, not to mention the avid gospel fans”, he added.
As well as the Butterfly, Mantas and Subtech systems, New Orleans’ Kingston Audio Services also supplied eight Outline LAB 21 infra-subs for the Gentilly stage, the festival’s second largest venue.
Kingston Audio Services owner Simon Fraser commented: “Getting low frequency coverage to the far reaches of the delay zones for Gentilly was never possible, until we added the LAB 21’s. They provided rock solid punch that carried all the day to the back of the Gentilly field. It was amazing. Plus they are the most musical we have ever used. They really performed and added a whole new dimension to our stage.”
Baton Rouge, LA, USA – Healing Place Church (featured as “One of America’s Most Innovative Churches” in Outreach Magazine) has recently moved into its brand new worship facility, the HPC Arena (http://www.healingplacechurch.com/). To serve the 3,000-seat Sanctuary, SIA Acoustics, responsible for sound system and acoustical design, selected Outline products to reliably reproduce the word and music of the church’s worship leaders, as well as numerous visiting groups.
The main sound system is comprised of 42 C.D.H. 483 “Butterfly” loudspeakers, divided into three arrays (two of 13 elements and one of 16) to cover the floor seating area, with ten Subtech 218 SP’s for low-frequency reproduction and 11 Micra II SP loudspeakers for front fill. The raised seating area is served by six delay arrays, each composed of six Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. elements and two C.D.L. 1815 cardioid “Low Packs”, connected via a custom-built spreader bar to suspend the subwoofers directly behind the full-range arrays. This arrangement permitted the most consistent alignment between components and minimized sightline obstructions, while extending full-range impact to the most distant seats.
Regarding the sound system design, Adam Shulman, Consultant and System Designer with SIA Acoustics explains, “It was extremely important to the Church that the worship experience was consistent across all 3,000 seats in the space. Sonically, this meant very careful sound system design and judicious use of acoustical treatments. Visually, it was critical that sightlines from every location were preserved to the entire stage and projection screens. Though the ability of the system to ‘throw’ was not such a concern, utilizing main and delay loudspeakers allowed us to hide the substantial arrays in the ceiling structure while preserving the needed pattern control and consistency. And since opening, the Church leadership has received compliments about the sound and overall experience from what might, in other facilities, be considered the ‘nosebleeds’ – but not here. We worked hard to ensure that there are no ‘cheap seats’ in this facility”.
For this project, the decision to specify Outline products was the result of a market-wide survey of many manufacturers and products. SIA Acoustics first measured the performance of each product individually to assess critical acoustical issues such as off-axis consistency and the effectiveness of special pattern-control techniques. Based on this, SIA met extensively with Outline staff in Italy to fully understand the R&D process and manufacturing facilities, as well as Outline’s plans for meeting the Church’s production requirements and providing continued customer support.
“Our evaluation process takes us through all of a manufacturer’s disciplines in detail – including not only a thorough look at the technical performance of the product, but also their ability to fully support the customer before, during and particularly after installation” – explains Steve Sockey, partner at SIA Acoustics, “Out of the manufacturers we surveyed, Outline best fulfilled the needs of the Church for this project. We are thrilled about the out come”.
For components that are not already self-powered, Outline T7 amplifiers were installed adjacent to each loudspeaker array, suspended adjacent to the catwalk (a total of 33 were used). All T7 amplifiers (powering C.D.H. 483 and C.D.L. 1815 loudspeakers), as well as every Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. loudspeaker contains DSP and is networked for control and monitoring.
“We are confident that this system and supporting infrastructure will fully meet the Church’s technical needs, as well as those of any guest worship groups that they host, for the foreseeable future. The entire Healing Place Church team – including pastors and worship leaders, musicians, technicians and administrators – already operated at a very high level. Since moving into their new worship facility, however, they now have the opportunity to really grow without technical restriction. We are very excited to see where they go in the coming years”, adds Shulman.
For further information:
SIA Contact:
Steve Sockey ssockey@siaacoustics.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Adam Shulman ashulman@siaacoustics.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(323) 969-0700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (323) 969-0700end_of_the_skype_highlighting - Los Angeles (212) 387-9105 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (212) 387-9105end_of_the_skype_highlighting - New York About SIA Acoustics LLC
SIA Acoustics LLC is an acoustical design firm that specializes in projects where great sound is critical. Serving the architectural, production, performing arts and special event communities, they are experienced consultants offering services in acoustics, technical systems design, facility planning, and special event design. Founded in 1989 and based in New York City and Los Angeles, SIA Acoustics solves difficult acoustical and technical challenges and is also known for developing SIA-SMAART, the industry-leading acoustical measurement and sound system optimization software system. http://www.siaacoustics.com/
Britannia Row’s Outlinearray supported the return of the one and only Robbie Williams at London’s Roundhouse
Outline’s Butterfly VLA was again requested by both the BBC and London's Roundhouse for the 2009 Electric Proms season. Supplied by Britannia Row, the system comprised 12 CDH 483 hi packs per side, supplemented by 3 Mantas “Wide boxes” each hang and 12 Subtech 218s, all driven by Outline’s T9 amplifiers and controlled via Dolby Lake 412s.
The Butterfly has become the most specified system for the Roundhouse due to its high power and even dispersion together with its camera-friendly look, which is essential to televised jobs from the Roundhouse.
October 20th the opening night of BBC's Electric Proms season saw the charismatic return of the one and only Robbie Williams who was backed by a 34-piece orchestra plus his own touring band. Legendary producer Trevor Horn was playing bass and directing the band.
Derrick Zeiba was in charge of the orchestra and Snake Newton was Robbie’s FOH engineer.
Derrick Zeiba remarked, "The addition of the Mantas wide element has meant that you no longer need infill/outfill boxes - the 120 degrees produced by Mantas does everything that you need. This was proven to great effect especially in the Roundhouse, which can be very unforgiving."
Snake Newton has been quoted as saying, "It's my favourite small system, very little system or channel EQ was used to get unbelievable results."
The Electric Proms continued its season with performances from Dizzee Rascal, Dame Shirley Bassey, The Doves and Smokey Robinson.
All performances used Outline’s Butterfly system with Mantas 120 degree cabinets and Subtech 218s.
김포시 고촌면에 위치한 고촌 감리교회는 '사도행전 29장을 기록하는 교회'라는 비전을 가지고, '믿음과 실력'을 목표로 하고있는 박정훈 담임목사님께서 시무하고 계시는 교회입니다.
2008년 12월 고촌교회의 신축건물이 완공되고, 첫 예배와 연주회가 있었습니다.
교회는 성도들의 예배공간뿐 아니라 지역 주민들의 문화공간으로 역할을 할 수 있도록 만들어졌습니다.
고촌 감리교회는 1984년 개척 교회 당시부터, 문화적 교육적으로 소외된 고촌에 믿음과 실력을 가진 인재를 육성하는데 목회의 초점을 맞추고, 2001년 박정훈 담임목사님의 열정과 지역주민들의 노력으로 학생악단인 '김포체임버 오케스트라'가 결성되었습니다. 현재 이 오케스트라는 그 실력을 인정받아 몇차례의 걸친 정기연주회와, 해외 연주회를 다녀왔습니다.
이러한 것을 토대로 문화적 공간으로 충분히 활용 될 수있도록, 음향, 영상시스템이 설계되었습니다.
