A new sound reinforcement system at the Filene Center, the 7,000-plus-capacity flagship live performance venue at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts just outside Washington, D.C., is headed by an assortment of Meyer Sound loudspeakers and supporting components implemented by Solotech.
“The Filene Center is one of an elite group of venues able to serve all genres of music without compromise, and we wanted to cement our reputation in that regard,” says Ryan Haderlie, Wolf Trap’s director of production for the Filene Center. “Our old system was nearing the end of its life cycle, so I consulted with my peers at other similar venues about a preferred provider. Solotech came highly recommended across the board.”
Shepherding the project through its various stages was Solotech chief technology officer Kelly Prince. “We discovered that there were no complete CAD drawings of the structure, so our first order of business was to contract for a laser scanning of the entire venue to create the data files for CAD drawings. Those were imported into Meyer Sound’s MAPP 3D software to generate detailed three-dimensional multicolor plots showing exactly how the coverage would fall.”
According to Prince, availability of an integrated set of software and hardware tools for design, optimization, and measurement was one reason for the selection of Meyer Sound. “The other overriding factors were ease of installation and sound quality,” he adds. “Also, system neutrality and linearity are critical here because of all the diverse types of acts that play the venue.”
As installed, the new system comprises main left and right hangs of 12-each LYON line array loudspeakers with a center hang of 12 LEOPARD compact line array loudspeakers. Bass is reinforced by dual flown gradient arrays of seven-each 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements. Two UPQ-D2 full-size loudspeakers and ULTRA-X40 compact loudspeakers serve as, respectively, infills and outfills, with seven ULTRA-X20 compact wide coverage loudspeakers providing front fill and six are more deployed for underbalcony fill. System drive and optimization is handled by four GALAXY 816 network platforms.
The system was installed in time for the 2021 50th anniversary summer season, which was originally scaled back because of COVID-19 restrictions. Essentially, normal operations were resumed during the second half of the season.
“The change in the quality of the audio was immediately noticeable,” states Haderlie. “We had a lot of compliments on the improvement from artists and patrons alike. There was a marked increase in both the perceived warmth and the intelligibility of the sound.” Also, he notes, Solotech’s modeling with MAPP 3D has paid off. “We particularly wanted the sound at every seat to be essentially the same as you’d hear sitting next to FOH mix. I believe we’ve succeeded in doing that.”
All touring acts playing the Filene Center are required to use the new house system, though they are welcome to bring in their own FOH consoles and stage monitor systems.
The new system was part of an overall renewal project that was launched to celebrate the Filene Center’s 50th anniversary. The original 1971 structure was largely destroyed in a 1982 fire, with the current structure rebuilt with nearly identical architecture and only modest increases in stage size and total seating. Of the official 7,028 audience capacity, about half is inside the structure and the other on the adjoining sloped lawn.
In addition to the Meyer Sound reinforcement system, the Solotech contract also encompassed a complete overhaul of ancillary AV systems, including intercoms, backstage, and dressing rooms. Also on the Solotech team were Designer/Engineer Jamie Gillespie and on-site Project Supervisor Jason Cooper.
