"They're using the Lakes for equalization and time correction," explained Dave Shadoan, president of Sound Image. Two complete systems of Lake Mesa Quad EQ four-channel units have been installed at the 6,000-seat venue, which opened in 1972 as an open-air amphitheatre and was remodeled in 1982 as an indoor venue.
"They have a separate system for front-of-house, which is eight channels," continued Shadoan. "On monitors, they're using 16 channels of Lake Mesa. Plus, there's one wireless tablet interface for front-of-house and another interface for stage. I had Lake supply everything already configured."
Sound Image designed the new sound system in consultation with the venue's staff. George 'Barney' Barnes, systems technician and audio engineer at the Gibson Amphitheater, is very pleased with the operation and sound of the Lake Mesa Quad EQ units. "It's simple: I love them. They're very reliable and they sound fantastic," he said.
Many of the visiting engineers are already familiar with the system, and some have been using the software template created by Barnes in the Lake system to adjust the loudspeakers to suit their needs. "The younger engineers are very hip to it," said Barnes. "For the most part, engineers go with the EQ that I've set up, but, depending on the microphones that they're using, they might take a little high end out or try to put some back in."
The eight channels from the two front-of-house Mesa Quad EQ units are routed through a standalone eight-by-eight matrix mixer to the multiple-zoned loudspeaker system in order to provide processing for the flown main and subwoofer systems, side hangs, front fill, and deck subwoofers. Onstage, four Mesa Quad EQs handle equalization and time alignment of 18 proprietary Sound Image monitor wedges as well as side fills and subwoofers.
Any of the perceived shortcomings of the previous sound system at the venue are no longer an issue. "As a matter of fact," said Shadoan, "I don't believe anyone has brought a system in since we installed this rig."
(Lee Baldock)
