Summary: In considering his sound system needs for an upcoming outdoor event, one of the members of the ChurchSoundcheck Discussion Group realized that he was about to encounter serious problems with reflections. Here's some of the advice forwarded to him from the group.
From: Rich Marcolini (Ann Arbor, MI)
Subject: OUTDOOR SOUND
Hi,
I could really use your help!
This Friday I will be doing the sound for an outdoor Good
Friday Rally on
the "Diag" at the University of Michigan. The stage
is the steps of a large
brick building (The Graduate Library). The "Diag" is
a square piece of open
land (with some trees) that is surrounded by University Buildings.
Directly
across from the steps is a sort-of "Mall" like in Washington
DC.
In years past, we have had lots of problems with echo from
the other
buildings and of a lot of bass reflecting off of the Library back
towards
the audience (sounding really bad).
Here is a link to the picture of the area:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~phinneas/ccamp5.gif
The two black dots on either side of the stairs is where
I want to put the
stacks with their axis pointed to what I have labeled as "FOCUS?"
Would having only one speaker cluster help reduce the problems?
Any and all suggestions that you have are appreciated!
In Him,
Rich
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From: Blake A. Engel (Chicago, IL)
Subject: Re: OUTDOOR SOUND
Rich,
Great pic! In regards to 'would one speaker be better'--YES.
In ANY
situation, a single point source speaker is better than two, unless
the
two speakers are reproducing different signals...otherwise there
will be
interference between the two.
Would I assume right in saying the speakers are in front
of the
stage/stairs?
Blake
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From: Steve Harper (Norfolk, VA)
Subject: Re: OUTDOOR SOUND
Rich-
I believe the key is keeping the direct sound off of the
walls. Are your
stacks high enough where you could get some down angle on the
cabinets? Are
you flying a rig where you can adjust the pitch of the box? Could
you keep
the front loudspeaker volumes down and use a low-level delay stack
to reach
the back of the audience?
Just some thoughts. Hope all goes well. If any of you see
some error in my
suggestions please speak up, we are all about solutions.
Steve
Rich wrote -
>Hi,
>
>I could really use your help!
>
>This Friday I will be doing the sound for an outdoor Good
Friday Rally on
>the "Diag" at the University of Michigan. The stage
is the steps of a
large
>brick building (The Graduate Library). The "Diag"
is a square piece of
open
>land (with some trees) that is surrounded by University Buildings.
Directly
>across from the steps is a sort-of "Mall" like in
Washington DC.
>
>In years past, we have had lots of problems with echo from
the other
>buildings and of a lot of bass reflecting off of the Library
back towards
>the audience (sounding really bad).......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jens W. Skov (Denmark)
Subject: Re: OUTDOOR SOUND
Steve Harper wrote:
<"Are your stacks high enough where you could get some
down angle
on the cabinets?">
I can ony agree!
Fly a rig in a way that you can angle the speakers down
at the audience.
Personally I would use who stacks at the stage and move "focus"
a bit
closer to the stage. Then place single source delay-stack behind
your
mix-point. Remember: It's not just an extra speaker. You must
use a
delay.
Jens W. Skov
St.Sc.E.E.
Technical University of Denmark
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."
2 Corinthians 9:15
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rich Marcolini (Ann Arbor, MI)
Subject: OUTDOOR SOUND - more ?'s and comments
I'm glad that you liked my picture :)
Unfortunately I CAN NOT fly the speakers, but I may be
able to get a little
downward angle on them.
I can either put the stacks on the same level as the band,
on slightly
taller "pillars" at the sides, in front, or on some
specially made stands.
A stack with Bass on bottom and mids/highs on top stands
about 6 feet high.
"Stage" height is 3 feet above pavement. Pillars 5-6
feet, and stands 6
feet high above where ever I put them. If I use the stands I would
just
elevate the mids/highs and leave the bass on the ground.
I am thinking that for this crowd size I might use the
stands and angle the
mids/highs downward or just use the stack them and try to get
a slight
downward angle on them. The speakers have pretty good coverage
(not too
wide, not too narrow) and plenty of power.
I am subscribed to the DIGEST version, so if you find that
it is Thursday
before you get to reply, please send me email directly: phinneas@umich.edu
Thanks so much everyone!
In Him,
Rich
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rich Marcolini (Ann Arbor, MI)
Subject: Good Friday Diag Rally
Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Lord is good! Hey blessed our Good Friday Rally here
on the
campus of the University of Michigan. It was 60 and sunny, I had
to really
trust that His had be over it all. We weren't supposed to be able
to have
any soundchecks, but he brought someone to turn the power on 10
minutes
early! It was just enough time to eliminate feedback from the
mics, get a
really basic monitor mix, and fix some problems we were having!
The band
sounded great and the guest speaker clear. It was an incredible
blessing!
If you have anymore questions, please ask! I just wanted to let
you all
know about how it went and thank you for your input on the OUTDOOR
SOUND
thread. I ended up using two stacks focused towards the opening
between the
buildings....very low echo:)
In Him,
Rich
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* Richard Marcolini http://www-personal.umich.edu/~phinneas/ *
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*"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, *
* I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has
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* called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14
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