MixOne Sound/Hudson Audio Works, based in Orange County, CA, chose dBTechnologies’ ViO family to cover two very different Live Nation shows in San Diego this month- rapper Lil Yachty, who performed at San Diego State University, and the Disney Junior Dance Party Tour at the Balboa Theater in downtown San Diego.
Spenser Bishop, owner of MixOne Sound, first became interested in dBTechnologies after he had two opportunities to use the ViO system last year. Since then, MixOne Sound/Hudson Audio Works have invested and used the ViO system for shows ranging from Billy Idol to T Pain, and venues such as the House of Blues in Anaheim and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
“It’s the first [loudspeaker system] I’ve used that sounds like a passive box, even though it’s powered. You don’t hear any limiting, and no matter where you are in the venue it sounds the same.”
A week before the release of his latest album, Lil Boat 2, Lil Yachty performed at the San Diego State University Greenfest with ViO L21O flown for the FOH mains, ViO L208 arrays for outfills and front fills, and S318 subs. Additionally, LVX XM15‘s were on stage to handle monitor wedges duties. The Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater proved a last-minute challenge for the event, as the forecast called for rain.
“There was a high probability of rain to hit the outdoor venue during the Lil Yachty set,” says Colin Studybaker, dBTechnologies National Sales Manager, “Luckily, with the ViO series, there is a polyurethane coating on the wooden enclosure and rain covers on the electronics, so ViO are built to handle rain or shine events.”
Clear skies prevailed, though, and performers D.Sel, Vic Mensa and headliner Lil Yachty took the stage. A wide amphitheater, the team utilized RDNet software to make instant changes to the system, which were necessary to meet the SPL restrictions, especially at the back of the venue.
Less than two weeks later, MixOne Sound/Hudson Audio Works brought the ViO Series to another Live Nation venue in San Diego, the historic Balboa Theater. While the Greenfest concert had been loud, outdoors and targeted to a college audience, the concert at the Balboa Theater was the exact opposite. The Disney Junior Dance Party Tour stop in San Diego required fewer subs and careful re-alignment of the array based on the floorplan of the venue to ensure perfect coverage.
“It’s great being able to use the same system for everything from kids music to Lil Yachty,” said Daniel Mashek of MixOne Sound. Bishop adds, “It has a nice flat frequency response, and it’s like the swiss army knife of speakers. ViO works for everything.”
