VerTec User Comments

JBL VERTEC™ LINE ARRAY SYSTEM DEBUTS AT WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS

Since JBL model 4889 VERTEC Line Array speakers were first introduced in September, 2000,, they have already been used for a number of prestigious events. Even prior to the system debut at the Audio Engineering Society Convention, 64 VERTEC speakers were used at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles last August.

Sound Designer Patrick Baltzell specified the use of VERTEC for the Democratic convention, even though the speakers had never been used before, much less for an event with as much visibility and risk as the DNC. "Due to ceiling weight restrictions and television camera sight angles, it would have been difficult to do this show with any other system", noted Baltzell.

The VERTEC system was also supplied for use by Baltzell at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. A total of 11 custom towers, designed by Maryland Sound Industries, were used to implement Baltzell Audio Design's specifications for the prestigious event at the U.S. Capitol.

Just a few weeks later after the DNC, VERTEC was used at the first Latin Grammy Awards, a major televised event, held in Los Angeles. Rob "Cubby" Colby was the Music Mixing Engineer for this live television event. "The audience's experience of a live concert is always extremely important to me. In arena venues like L.A.'s Staples Center, that means you often need special tools to deliver the mix," explained Colby. "For the first annual Latin Grammy Awards, we needed everything to go right and the performance of JBL's new VERTEC system was a great part of it."

Andrew Waterman deployed a large, distributed multi-zone VERTEC system as the Audio Engineer /Mixer at M.E.C. 2000 - Microsoft Exchange and Collaborative Solutions Event held in Dallas, Texas in October, 2000. Waterman reported, "Bottom line...this rig saves everybody money. The producers are happy to save money on rigging and they get a better visual presentation. The sound engineering team is happy because we get very even coverage and excellent fidelity. And the riggers are happy because they have fewer points to hang."

VERTEC's first international usage was handled by Hibino PA Division at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan for the GLAY Japan Arena Tour. A sold-out house of 27,000 fans enjoyed a high-level rock concert. Hiroshi Inoue was Chief Engineer for the event. "Having a line array system with precise coverage is important. VERTEC really expands the options in our rental inventory," stated Inoue. "JBL's new 2435 HF driver is especially impressive. So much output power from such a compact device is a real technical achievement."

Enterprise Live, a premier audio rental company in Las Vegas, is fielding their new VERTEC system for a wide variety of concerts and corporate events. "A recent customer told me that this rig is the smoothest, most dynamic sound system he has ever mixed on", reported Martin "Ferret" Rowe, Chief Engineer for Enterprise Live.

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, respected rental firm SPL premiered their new VERTEC system on New Year's Eve. "JBL has really raised the bar on professional speaker systems with the new VERTEC line array package," noted owner Steve Ponzetti. "This system is ideal for the casino showroom and live concert market. It is smooth, precise and has amazing headroom".

As 2001 begins, a growing number of VERTEC systems are being specified and prepared for major tours and events around the world. "As audio professionals around the world have the chance to listen to VERTEC, and whenever they are able to directly compare this system with other available Line Array systems, it's clear that we are meeting and exceeding their expectations," stated David Scheirman, Director of Tour Sound for JBL Professional. "VERTEC is lighter in weight, offers smoother horizontal coverage, provides greater output potential and lower distortion levels than other Line Array systems currently on the market."