Dale: It is really a fact of life. Typically you lose HF devices because when the DSP goes, it usually sends low-frequency and/or dc to the high-frequency drivers.

yam4000vca: What kind of redundancy do you incorporate in the design, if any?

Dale: It depends on the system and the budget. In all of the MediaMatrix jobs, we always specify the main units with redundant power supplies and hard drives. In the smaller jobs it just isn't feasible most of the time.

GZ: What is the most reliable DSP box, in your humble opinion?

Dale With the units that are on the market today, I would have to say the XTA DP series and the White PMs.

Bob: What else makes the White special?

Dale: White has proven to be a company that listens to the consulting and contracting crowd and then provides solutions to the problems that we encounter. They were very late in getting into the DSP game but when they did, they were the first to use the Shaark chip. They also are installing RS-485 communications protocol in the new units so that you can remotely communicate/program multiple units a time.

Marc: Back to steering... did you steer that KF900 rig in Austin?

Dale: Yes, we are doing some steering with the system in Austin using MediaMatrix.
We also designed a very similar system that does beam steering in the Potter's House.
It is very effective when you are trying to keep low-frequencies and low-mid-frequencies off the platform, allowing the system to have the maximum gain before feedback.

Marc: How "low" can you steer? 110hz?

Dale: The lowest frequency you can steer is really determined by the distance between the drivers. Remember, we are talking about where we are going to aim a lobe and that all loudspeakers exhibit some lobing.

Marc: How low on the EAW TD Series box? (By the way, did you collaborate on the design of that box?)

Dale: I did not design the box, Craig Janssen (our illustrious leader) designed that box. The TD415 exhibits pattern control down to about 40Hz. The TD412 is a little smaller and controls down to about 60Hz. Remember, we are talking about some pretty interesting physics and the interaction between multiple devices using dipole principals.

Rem: Analog... analog... will there still be a place in the world for analog processing in the (foreseeable) future?

Dale: No, I don't think so. As A-D converters get better, faster and quieter, I think you will see analog EQ's die a slow death. There is just too much power in the digital (z domain) world.

Rem: Doesn't analog sound “better”, more natural?

Dale: That used to be the case in the early days of DSP. However, the advent of more power feedback loops, introduced into the algorithms, help give us the natural sound. I will admit that a good-quality loudspeaker with no EQ and a good quality power amp are hard to beat for natural sound.

Moderator: Final question. Favorite speaker....favorite amp...favorite DSP...favorite project...favorite person...

Dale: Favorite Speaker, higher price: EAW MQ2364, with TD415.

Dale: Medium price: Frazier CAT Series.

Dale: Favorite Amplifier: QSC PowerLite and CX (same technology).

Dale: Favorite DSP: I think everybody knows by now that on the upper end is the MediaMatrix and on the single box scene is the White PMs. However, look out for Symetrix and QSC.

Dale: Favorite Project : A small (1,500 seats) church in south Dallas called Concord Missionary Baptist Church. I designed an LCR system that I think is the best I have ever done.

Dale: Favorite Person: Now don't throw stones at me, but it has to be Rush Limbaugh.

Moderator: Thanks Dale! See you all next Tuesday at 9:30 pm EDT as Tim Hamilton talks favorite gear!