Live Nation, operator of the UMB Bank Pavilion, needed to upgrade the concert experience for guests who frequent the open-air venue to enjoy the many top-tier entertainment attractions hosted there. Shows booked for the 2006 season included Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, Sammy Hagar, Toby Keith, Tom Petty and Rascal Flatts.
After repairing the older, existing lawn-area sound system year after year, the decision was made to purchase a new, more capable system. Increased fidelity, improved output capabilities and acceptance by visiting tour sound professionals were design goals. DSS, a midwestern firm specialising in production technologies and sound reinforcement system integration with both event rentals and installation departments, was brought in to evaluate the venue's needs.
The new JBL system as installed by DSS includes 24 Vertec VT4888 midsize line array loudspeakers, supplemented by nine VRX932LA compact constant-curvature loudspeaker systems. The array coverage pattern and output power capabilities of the JBL speakers were a key aspect of this application due to the venue's large seating capacity which totals more than 13,000.
"JBL has always delivered the best long-throw coverage with lots of power in reserve, which is what we needed for the lawn PA," said Eric Blockie, general manager, UMB Bank Pavilion. "That was true here in St. Louis as well as the other similar venues where I have worked in San Antonio, Albuquerque and San Francisco."
The Vertec VT4888 is a midsized, three-way high-directivity system with two 12-inch low frequency drivers and four 5.5-inch midrange drivers complemented by two high-frequency compression drivers. Both touring rental firms and permanent venues like UMB Bank Pavilion rely upon JBL line arrays because, in addition to industry-leading output power and coverage capabilities, they are light weight and comparatively easy to rig.
Companion loudspeaker units to the main Vertec arrays are the VRX932LA. This 12-inch two-way, constant curvature line array enclosure features JBL's exclusive, patented Differential Drive woofer with neodymium magnet for high power-handling capacity and light weight. Three small-format neodymium high frequency drivers are included in each VRX932LA system.
"We've achieved excellent results with JBL Vertec systems in our company's touring and rental division, and it's a natural fit as well for installations of this type," says Jeremy Dixon, of DSS. "Such installed lawn-delay systems must complement the touring sound rigs brought into outdoor amphitheatre venues during the summer season. JBL is a first-call brand for touring sound system operators, and the new installed system at UMB Pavilion is meeting both their needs and those of venue management."
(Chris Henry)
