Knowsley, England-based production provider Adlib returned to the York Racecourse earlier this year for the third time to deliver sound reinforcement utilizing a range of L-Acoustics components for the “Live After Racing” concert series that provides attendees with a blend of daytime horse racing and an evening of live music that’s the result of a collaborative effort between EnTEEtainment and Music Plus Sport.
Billy Bryson, system tech at Adlib, explains, “The primary objective for York Racecourse in hosting these gigs was to provide a concert-grade experience to audience members across the 300 meters and the lawn within the track, as well as to additional VIP areas.” The challenge was to accomplish this without compromising sightlines for racegoers during the day, as well as ensuring that no concert infrastructure obstructed the racing event.
The choice of L-Acoustics equipment was a strategic one with the system design centred around long-throw K1 loudspeakers, Bryson notes: “K1 was the obvious choice to tackle the large audience areas, with delay locations constricted by the racecourse layout.” Main hangs consisted of 12 K1 over four Kara II down per side with side/outfill stacks of six Kara II per side. Three delay towers were used: delay 1, located at FOH, included eight K1 over two K2, delay 2, located in front of the Ebor stand, comprised 10 K2, while delays 3 and 4, each located on the lawn inside the racetrack, were made up of two hangs of eight K1 over four K2.
The VIP area was covered with two stacks of two SB18 subwoofers joined by six Kara II. A further 20 KS28 subs provided low-end extension while centerfill was handled by two flown X12, and X8 provided lip-ill. Amplification and processing were supplied by 56 LA12X amplified controllers, six P1 processors, and 12 LS10 switches.
The LA12X amplified controllers were housed at each of the five remote loudspeaker locations and were fed via AVB utilzsing the in-house fiber. P1 processors served as the front-end to the system, distributing audio via a redundant Milan AVB network. Each location was served by only a single duplex fiber pair, requiring bi-directional transceivers to be installed in the LS10 network switches to allow for a primary and secondary network to connect to each location. RF point-to-point links were used as a further backup to the redundant Milan AVB network.
As no infrastructure was permitted to run through audience areas or alter the racing events, the venue’s in-house single-mode broadcast fiber infrastructure was used for signal distribution. The drive system was handled via an Outline Newton at front of house while tuning and optimization were accomplished with tools that included Earthworks M30 measurement mics working with Smaart v9 and L-Acoustics M1 software.
Bryson also cites the role of Soundvision simulation software in the project, noting that “the complex audience geometry was modeled in SketchUp, using CAD plans of the site as well as 3D terrain data. A Soundvision model was created from this, and used extensively to simulate, design and optimise the system to ensure that, despite the constraints, Adlib could achieve the best possible coverage across both sides of the track.” Along with identifying the optimal placement of PA hangs for coverage, sightlines for audience members from the grandstands out to the racetrack were also taken into consideration. “Having the ability to model everything in Soundvision is a great tool to be able to manage expectations against the reality of the terrain and propose a suitable design,” continues Adlib account manager Richy Nicholson.
