With ongoing performances from students, faculty, and alumni, the college needed a modern performance, rehearsal and event space more than ever. To meet the combined needs of excellent sound quality, ease of use, and cutting-edge technology at a reasonable price, the school chose a Line 6 PA system.
LACM executive vice president of academic operations Mike Packer, who also happens to be a drummer and an instructor, first experienced the Line 6 StageScape M20d digital mixer and StageSource loudspeakers while playing at a demo event at the S.I.R. rehearsal facility in Los Angeles. He had also heard the system at Catalina's Bar & Grill, the acclaimed LA jazz club.
"I was playing these events and seeing all that the rig had to offer, and all I could think about was how perfect it would be to have at LACM," recalls Packer. "Hearing the sound quality of the rig, learning the economy of the mixer, discovering the way the mixer is laid out, and then experiencing the live recording feature, it was all so perfect.
"AT LACM, we wanted the new building to contain a performance stage, primarily for concerts and clinics," he explains. "We have both student and faculty concerts, which are always free, along with master class presentations from visiting artists. The goal was to provide a professional experience with great sound in a user-friendly environment, and I knew from personal experience that the Line 6 system would provide it."
The heart of the system is the ultra compact StageScape M20d digital mixer, which uses an intuitive touchscreen GUI to make it easy to set levels and mix. A library of visual icons helps set the basic sound for each input, which can then be fine-tuned through the system's advanced DSP capabilities, offering the same level of precision as a premium touring console, but with the simplicity of a tablet.
When connected to Line 6 StageSource self-powered loudspeakers through the L6 LINK, the system detects each speaker's model and intended usage, adjusting EQ, gain, and dispersion automatically based on their orientation (horizontal for monitors, vertical for mains). For The Garage stage, LACM purchased two L3m loudspeakers to use as their mains, augmented by two L3s subwoofers. Four L2t loudspeakers are typically deployed as floor monitors. The multi-purpose performance room, which also contains a student study lounge, computer lab, and some office space, accommodates 150 for concerts.
(Jim Evans)
