The “Wall Of Sound” To Now - A PA Evolution Odyssey
The author discusses the ideas behind the iconic PA approach deployed long ago for the Grateful Dead, and how it influenced his own system designs and thinking along the way
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The evolution of sound systems from giant globs of speakers to finesse full narrow line-arrays created the opportunity to cover large venues with multiple systems utilizing minimal space.

The entire Wall of Sound was 26,000 watts, current systems run at ten times that power and are a fraction of the size.

Plus we now have the capability of effectively predicting the sonic coverage in a venue based on room dimensions.

What this means is that with today’s sound system technology, multiple sound systems can be hung conventionally to either side of the band rather than stacked behind them without blocking sight lines.

This creates an inconspicuous yet effective implementation of the concept. (The photo below shows the “dual-PA” system approach that Rat Sound has developed for The Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

Initially I considered proposing a triple system rather than the dual system the Peppers are currently touring with.

The PA for the Red Hot Chili Peppers tour a couple/few years ago, with dual line arrays flown to each side of the stage (click to enlarge)

The triple would have been three separate stereo sound systems, one for guitar, one for bass and one for vocals with drums interspersed into the three.

To test the concept, I purchased three small home hi-fi systems and roadie Ethan and I built a small simulator in my living room.

With a Pro Tools system and live Peppers multi track recordings from last tour, I was able to try out different combinations and test the effectiveness of the setup.

I found that the most noticeable improvement occurred when going from one system to two and adding the third was more subtle.

So here we are today, and I smile as long ago dreams have become real.

A refined and usable version of what the Grateful Dead had started, a grand scale application of what I learned from so many years.

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Dave Rat is the co-founder and owner of Rat Sound, a leading sound reinforcement company based in California.


Comments (8) Most recent displayed first | All comments in chronological order
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Posted by bucko  on  09/25/11  at  12:49 PM
thanks for the info, I like the idea of 2 systems for FOH i will try that 1 for sure
Posted by Joe Lotito  on  09/21/11  at  05:06 PM
Dave mentions the differences in amplification between then and now. A bit of amplifier trivia -Some of the amps used for the Dead systems were McIntosh designs, MI-350(or MC3500) 125lb, 350W RMS fan cooled mono tube units, which were rated to handle loads down to 1 ohm, in 1968! I have also seen reference to the Dead using similar looking McIntosh MC2300 solid state stereo units -rated 300W/ch or 600W mono, usable down to 0.5 ohm - for their Wall of sound at Woodstock. I have seen these amps in use on stage as late as the 1980s. Not sure if any are still in use by touring bands.

The MI-350 was a derivation of a 1949 McIntosh design by an engineer named Mile Nestorovic, who later formed his own company and marketed primarily home audio components. He may have also had a hand in the MC2300, though I am unsure of that.

Early high power transistor amps were not true complementary designs, as high power pnp output devices were not readily available and manufacturers used quasi-complementary designs based on npn transistors. When these failed they would often take the loudspeaker with them so protection circuits needed to be incorporated to protect the speakers. To my knowledge the tube units did not have such issues and the output transformers also permitted a wide range of load impedances to be connected. I suspect these are some of the reasons tube amps continued to be used for PA and FOH applications for many years,

not to mention a possible preference for the sound quality over early solid state designs. Of course by the late 70s-early 80s technology was changing. Who would lug around a truck load of 125lb amps to get 300-350W/channel today ?

McIntosh is note worthy for producing high power, high quality, reliable tube amps. Today the Manley 500 is available, though I don't know if anyone has taken these on tour. Does anyone know ?

Posted by Brad Ediger  on  09/21/11  at  11:28 AM
I had the priviledge of working with the creator of the original WOS for the Dead on several occasions... His name was Joe Corchoran from San Francisco. His dad, at the time, had the largest Sound reinforcement company in the area. The Dead found out Joe's dad had the biggest PA around.

He built the first WOS for the Dead. I believe it was originally because the stage was built too small and they were problem solving so the PA would not sit in the mud. They loved it and made it a trademark look.

Joe: "I'm not a druggy. The first time you spike my food with acid, I'm taking all my toys home!"

They never messed with him...


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