Using Curvilinear Arrays for Arena Sound Systems Jim Mobley Renkus-Heinz, Inc

Using CurvilinearUsing CurvilinearArrays for Arena Sound SystemsArrays for Arena Sound Systems

Jim MobleyJim MobleyRenkus-Heinz, IncRenkus-Heinz, Inc

A Note on the IdiomA Note on the Idiom

Deeply curved Deeply curved line arrays are line arrays are often referred often referred to as “Banana to as “Banana Arrays.Arrays.

A Note on the IdiomA Note on the Idiom

““Going Going Bananas” Bananas” means to go means to go crazy in a crazy in a foolish or silly foolish or silly way.way.

Only a crazy person would use Only a crazy person would use line arrays in a steeply pitched line arrays in a steeply pitched

arena—right?arena—right?

Let’s look at oneLet’s look at one

Wukesong Indoor Wukesong Indoor Sports Arena, Beijing, Sports Arena, Beijing, ChinaChina

2008 Olympic 2008 Olympic Basketball VenueBasketball Venue

Wukesong ArenaWukesong Arena

State of the art facilityState of the art facility 18,000 design seating capacity18,000 design seating capacity 12,000 Olympic seating capacity12,000 Olympic seating capacity

Wukesong ArenaWukesong Arena

Sound System Design GoalsSound System Design Goals

Good speech intelligibilityGood speech intelligibilityHigh fidelity music playbackHigh fidelity music playbackAdequate SPLAdequate SPLCost effectiveCost effective

Why consider line arrays?Why consider line arrays?

Fewer clustersFewer clustersSmaller clustersSmaller clustersLighter clustersLighter clustersHigher fidelityHigher fidelityMore cost effectiveMore cost effective

But, can they work?But, can they work?

First step, AimwareFirst step, Aimware

Will the midrange cover?Will the midrange cover?

First step, AimwareFirst step, Aimware

Mids look okay, how about the highs?Mids look okay, how about the highs?

First step, AimwareFirst step, Aimware

Lows, not so good, but we can Lows, not so good, but we can steersteer them! them!

Next step, EASE modelingNext step, EASE modeling

Main arrays look goodMain arrays look good

Delays added for upper Delays added for upper levellevel

Together coverage looksTogether coverage looksreally good!really good!

What about the LF What about the LF steering?steering?

We’ll borrow some We’ll borrow some technology from Iconyxtechnology from Iconyx

We need to steer downWe need to steer down

We can tilt downWe can tilt down

Or we can Or we can steersteer down down

Tilting is moving in Tilting is moving in TimeTime

Adding delay steersAdding delay steers

We want to steer UP of We want to steer UP of coursecourse

Delaying the top Delaying the top loudspeakers loudspeakers back to the back to the bottom ones will bottom ones will steer the LF upsteer the LF up

Actual maximum Actual maximum delay was < 3 delay was < 3 ms.ms.

Did it work?Did it work?

Before delayBefore delay

After delayAfter delay

Final w/EQ and SubsFinal w/EQ and Subs

Several events have alreadySeveral events have alreadybeen heldbeen held

Music performanceMusic performance

  ““We're anticipating that basketball We're anticipating that basketball will be one of the hottest venues at will be one of the hottest venues at this summer's Olympics and in fact this summer's Olympics and in fact this may be the ideal launching pad this may be the ideal launching pad

for an expanded Chinese league”for an expanded Chinese league” NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam SilverNBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver

www.china.org.cnwww.china.org.cn

“… “… the region's finest and the region's finest and most modern showcase for most modern showcase for basketball and other sports basketball and other sports in addition to the most in addition to the most popular performers in the popular performers in the music industry”music industry”

AEG CEO Tim LeiwekeAEG CEO Tim Leiweke

China DailyChina Daily February 1, 2008 February 1, 2008

A few photosA few photos

A few photosA few photos

Some other RH referencesSome other RH references

Tampa Bay Rays, FLTampa Bay Rays, FL Von Braun Center, Huntsville, ALVon Braun Center, Huntsville, AL Derby Football club, Derby UKDerby Football club, Derby UK Tivoli Stadium, Aachen, GermanyTivoli Stadium, Aachen, Germany Llandudno Swimming Centre, Llandudno, WalesLlandudno Swimming Centre, Llandudno, Wales US Open, New York, USAUS Open, New York, USA FC Slavia, Stadion Eden, Prague, Chech RepublicFC Slavia, Stadion Eden, Prague, Chech Republic North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandNorth Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand California University of PACalifornia University of PA Tsongas Center Lowell, MA USATsongas Center Lowell, MA USA Daktronics SportsSound OEMDaktronics SportsSound OEM

Edward Jones DomeEdward Jones Dome

Our first passOur first pass

Split clustersSplit clusters

Split clusters for BasketballSplit clusters for Basketball

Full systemFull system

Some concerns with split Some concerns with split cluster approachcluster approach

Thank youThank you