SCORPIO SOUND WINS OVER CROWD AT WBCN RIVER RAVE WITH JBL VERTEC® SYSTEM |
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| NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA, June 22, 2004 – Underscoring the high performance of JBL’s VERTEC® line array systems in acoustically challenging live sound environments, West Bridgewater, MA-based Scorpio Sound provided top-quality sound at the Ninth Annual WBCN River Rave on May 30. Held in Mansfield, MA’s Tweeter Center, the daylong show included high-profile rock acts like Jane’s Addiction, Beck, and AFI. The 15,000-plus-seat Tweeter Center is one of the most popular live music venues in the country for fans and artists alike, but the architecture of the facility can be problematic for a sound engineer. Approximately half of the seats in the venue are covered by a ceiling, while the other half are uncovered, presenting some unusual acoustical characteristics. “Because of the presence of that roof, we needed a system that would provide maximum directivity in a predictable manner,” said George Wehrling, Senior Engineer of Scorpio Sound and lead technician at the River Rave.
To that end, Wehrling and his team utilized Scorpio’s VERTEC system, with 12 full-size VT4889 elements arranged on each side of the stage, along with 12 VT4880 subs per side (eight hanging and four on the ground). “We’re very familiar with this venue due to work with various rigs, and the sound is markedly better with VERTEC,” Wehrling said. “We could direct the sound where we wanted it, and were able to keep direct sound away from the roof surfaces. The PA throws a long distance, so we were able to get a near-field sound quality for all audience areas.” Another unusual element to the River Rave was the stage setup, which consisted of a circular, rotating stage split in half by a curtain. As one band would finish, the stage would turn 180 degrees, revealing another band that began playing almost immediately. While this arrangement placed an emphasis on time management, Wehrling says that tight communications within the production crew allowed the show to go off without a hitch. “The time issue turned out not to be a problem at all,” he said. “We would line-check the following act using a wireless intercom system as the current act was playing. We had four guys dealing with one stage, and it moved quite quickly and smoothly.” Scorpio Sound, headed by president Gary King, has been a dedicated user of JBL’s VERTEC line since purchasing its first rig in late 2002. “When we decided it was time for a line array system, we tested several, and we found VERTEC to be a very easy system to use,” Wehrling said. “There are no loose parts, everything is self-contained, it’s lightweight and adaptable to any situation. Rigging is very easy, people in the venues know the system and how to put it together, and there are things we can do with VERTEC that you can’t do with any other line array system available.” Scorpio Sound can be reached at (504) 584-0080. The company’s website address is www.scorpiosound.net. ABOUT JBL PROFESSIONAL ### |
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Copyright © 2004 JBL Professional. |
