The IRIS-net control adds a layer of comfort, allowing the system techs to constantly monitor the entire system to be sure all arrays are performing optimally.
The most notable new sound system element this year is that all system processing was via EV NetMax with FIR-drive. Fourteen NetMax N8000 controllers were deployed, to be exact.
In his straight-up, low-key manner, LD Director of Production Services Robert Ausmus told me, “the new FIR filter technology has taken the system performance to a whole new level.”
The bottom line is that the system works. Exceptionally well, in fact.
I walked the entire venue throughout the concert the night I attended (Clint Black), and coverage was smooth and consistent – no hot or dead zones. Good stereo imaging wherever feasible, and regardless, full-range, concert-level audio was present everywhere. Intelligibility was quite high.
Rob Ausmus also offered a humorous comment on how visiting concert engineers handle mixing on the system: “Most drive it; a few wreck it.” The bottom line is that even with all of the great technology that’s expertly assembled and supervised by the LD Systems team, one can surmise that this is a system unlike anything most engineers have ever dealt with, and as Rob indicates, it presents unique challenges. Unless they’re making a return trip to the rodeo…
Also helping to further insure absolute consistency this year is that in tandem with the NetMax processing, EV Tech Support’s George Georgallis had worked with LD Systems prior to the event in establishing a series of IRIS-Net settings particularly for this system and event. (Check out screen shots of some of the IRIS-Net pages here).
Back To School
Meanwhile, I was also fortunate to be joining more than 120 pro audio professionals from around the world who were attending the Electro-Voice PA Roundup, a three-day technology summit presented by the Bosch Communications Systems Division, held at LD Systems’ spacious 85,000-square-foot facility.
The PA Roundup offered a wide-ranging program of seminars, demonstrations, and presentations that offered in-depth updates on FIR-drive, NetMax N8000-1500 processing, EV transducers, amplifiers, and rigging, and IRIS-Net V2.0 system control and supervision software.
The new PRO6 digital mixing system from Midas was also on hand, with my long-time friend Paul Carelli providing the overview. A wide range of EV engineering, product management, and sales team members did a great job on the introductions and discussions, with two highlights being Rob McKinley and Robert Ausmus giving a detailed presentation on their long association with Rodeo Houston, and special guests Phil Scobee of Morris Entertainment and Harry Witz of Clair Global offering presentations covering their work with EV.
Phil walked us through his X-Line/NetMax/IRIS-Net system design for the Kenny Chesney tour – the largest touring EV rig in the world; Harry shared stories from his long association with EV and discussed his latest X-Array system design for the AC/DC Black Ice world tour.
It was also really fun talking with Phil again; I’d originally met him years ago for a gig at the “Unidome” on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa (an acoustical nightmare if there ever was one) as Chesney was making his first big push as a bonafide top-drawing artist.
I’d be remiss in not pointing out something else of vital importance: the food was excellent. These guys know how to keep a crowd happy! (True success is often in the details…)
I began by noting my great good fortune all these years, and that’s the way I’ll conclude. We can draw so much from these types of experiences, and to me, it fits under this broad umbrella: a lot of really smart folks work in this business at every level, be it manufacturer, sound company, engineer, technician, and it’s wonderful when they come together in advancing the profession of sound reinforcement.
Be sure to take our Photo Gallery tour of the system for this event, as well as views from the EV PA Roundup educational program.