Feeds:
"Their type of worship is very contemporary, a high-volume, very high-energy style of service," McMillan said. "You need a certain level of quality to pull that off, so their existing point-and-shoot system needed to be replaced."
Although the budget was "relatively small to support that style of service in a
room that seats 1,700 people," ESB Group was able to craft a solution by basing
the new system around Electro-Voice EVA-2082S full-range dual element line
array modules, in 120 (H) x 60 (V) and 120 x 20 dispersion configurations.
"We've used EVA systems many
times," McMillan says, "and given the very high-quality sound and the amount of
coverage you get for the money, it's just a no-brainer. We feel that there is
nothing in that price range that even comes close."
McMillan also credited the EVAs for "clarity...even before we tune the system,"
and added that, "with EVAs, you're not wasting time trying to make the box
sound good. You're only tuning to align the phase with the rest of the system
and to deal with reflections in that particular acoustical environment."
The EVA range offers a variety of dispersion patterns, which ESB Group combined
in the main arrays, using a total of six boxes on each side. Placement and
patterns were determined in part by the locations of HVAC elements on the
ceiling.
"The ceiling is exposed -
it's very contemporary looking," McMillan said. "And certain objects, including
elements of the ventilation system, were not present on the drawings but we saw
them when we surveyed the site. So there were a lot of obstacles to get the
sound around."
He also credited Stu Schatz of Electro-Voice Technical Services for an assist
with the project. "Our own engineers created the final design in EASE, but
before we even ordered any speakers, Stu had worked up an initial proposed
system in EASE, which was very helpful," and added, "They've even overnighted pieces to us at their own cost
just to make sure we had something when we needed it."
In addition to the 12 EVAs, the system uses eight subwoofers, center-hung in
two arrays of four each to avoid interfering with sightlines for the large
video screen. "The XLCi215 has great low-end punch," McMillan said. "The sound
engineer at the church was worried about losing punch by flying the subs, but
after actually running the system he told us that he wasn't even using half of
all the low-end the subs were giving him."
For both front and side fills, ESB Group chose from the EVF series of two-way,
front-loaded, full-range loudspeakers, in 60 (H) x 60 (V), 90 x 60, and 60 x 40
dispersion configurations. "The EVFs are great front fills," McMillan says,
"and the cool thing about using EVAs and EVFs together is that they sound
similar before you even tune. So when you walk into the EVF zone it doesn't
feel different from the EVA, it feels like one solid sound. We're very pleased
with how close those boxes sound to each other."
The EVFs on the sides cover areas of the fan-shaped room that are not used all
the time and are usually curtained off. "If we'd expanded the main arrays to
cover those side areas," McMillan said, "we would have created reflection
issues when the curtains were closed. Using the main arrays for the front only
and covering the sides with EVFs made a huge difference. The EVFs can be shut
off when they are not using that area, but when they're on they really blend
nicely with the EVAs."
Electro-Voice Contractor Precision Series amps power the system. "The CPS 2.12
amps sound stellar," McMillan said, "and they are very efficient. We're using a
lot less power than the old system, but powering a much more powerful system.
And the CPS has its own built-in power sequencing system, so that when you turn
on or off the first amp the rest will sequence themselves."
With the system now up and running, McMillan cited a very positive response
from church members and leaders. "Everybody that has heard this system says it
is 10 times better than what they had before," he said. "It's incredible. Every
time I get on the phone with the music pastor he tells me that he can't believe
the system sounds so clear, and so good."
For more information, please visit www.electro-voice.com
and www.esbgroup.net.
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