Another show, another line-array? No, not quite...read on...

Line-source systems have become ubiquitous in professional sound reinforcement circles with the vast majority of touring applications now using them, usually in tandem with some point-source elements. Their dominant position has been achieved by delivering a combination of predictable, controllable acoustic performance and a range of operational advantages, including reduced truck space and crew requirements, speed of deployment and reduced impact on sight lines.

The physical principles of line-source technology are now well understood, and manufacturers are currently producing the third or possibly even fourth generation of products which exploit them. The new Outline GTO is a classic line-source loudspeaker product which adds a further dimension to the capabilities of contemporary systems by providing far-field SPL and coverage capabilities that are presently unequalled.

The principal advantage of this is the elimination of the need for delay systems, even for very large audiences, thus eradicating any possibility of phase incoherence between loudspeaker clusters. This allows the system technician to create a single, well-defined coverage area delivering incomparable seat-to-seat consistency, stereo imaging and intelligibility, particularly in the vocal range.

How is this power developed? Simply put, by harnessing the combined output of a large number of individual transducers which have been engineered into a compact cabinet. A GTO element contains ten separate drive units, (four high-frequency compression drivers each mounted on a patented DPRWG device, four eight-inch midrange drivers and two fifteen-inch low frequency drivers) which produce staggering sound pressure levels in tightly-controlled horizontal and vertical dispersion patterns.

Although Frankfurt Musikmesse 2011 is the official launch for this new system (which also includes the GTO-LOW bass extension cabinet), GTO is already a road-proven rig, having been very successfully deployed on several European and American tours and events. Artists as diverse as BB King, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Rufus Wainwright, and their production companies, have piloted the new system with consistently impressive results.

Dowlen Sound Inc. of Arvada, Colorado used their new GTO system for the first time at Colorado’s Mile High Music Festival in August 2010, as part of Outline’s ‘Early Adopter’ product introduction program. ‘Outline GTO continues to exceed our expectations, and has really established Outline as one of the top players in the large format line array market’ said Eric Satre, Dowlen’s Sales Executive and director of the company’s operations at the Mile High Festival.

‘We have a lot experience working in the high altitude, low humidity, and high temperature conditions of the Rocky Mountains’ commented Dowlen Sound President Bret Dowlen. ‘The GTO has output the likes of which we have never experienced before, especially under these harsh conditions. We have since used the GTO multiple times at Red Rocks, large arenas and theaters with excellent results. We are very excited about the future of Outline, and we are glad to be among the early adopters and key partners in bringing the GTO to the world’.

Also in the United States, leading eastern production company Special Event Services (SES) of Winston-Salem, NC, have been busy with their GTO rig. ‘We have been working behind the scenes for several years with Outline in the development of this speaker system’ says Jason Farah, SES Vice President. ‘It’s a good feeling to see it come from concept to completion and know that we helped influence the creation of the product and the culture of the company. We were the first sound company in the US to take delivery of the Outline LAB 21 HS subwoofer. With the combination of the GTO and this sub, the two-year search for our next generation large format PA is over. This truly establishes Outline as a leading innovator in the professional PA market’. The versatility of GTO was underlined when SES recently deployed their system at ‘A Night Of Hope’ with Pastor Joel Osteen at the 20,000-capacity Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This was a major Christian event featuring a combination of praise and worship music for which SES used 15 GTO cabinets plus 4 LAB 21 subwoofers per side.

In Europe the GTO achieved a high-profile debut as one of the biggest and most respected names in global production, London-based Britannia Row Productions, deployed a large GTO system on the final leg of the 2010 Peter Gabriel ‘New Blood’ tour.

‘This tour was a wonderful proving ground for the GTO’ said Bryan Grant, MD and founding partner of Britannia Row Productions. ‘The system faithfully reproduced the complex orchestral arrangements of Peter Gabriel’s work in a variety of venues of different sizes and configurations. Having had several years of experience already with Outline product, notably the Butterfly line array, we were confident that the Outline team would deliver a great new product, which they indeed did. We were very impressed with GTO’s performance straight out of the box’.

Please be sure to come and visit us during Frankfurt Musikmesse. You can find us at Booth F80 in Hall 8.0.

About Outline…
Outline S.r.l., based in Brescia, Italy, is a leading manufacturer of high quality loudspeakers of both powered and un-powered configurations. Founded in 1973, the company has a rich history in the development of high quality loudspeaker systems, test and measurement systems, and holds numerous technology patents. With offices in Italy and the USA and over 50 distributors on five continents with more than 4000 venues and users to its credit, Outline has assumed its place among the leaders in the professional audio market.