More than 120 pro audio professionals from around the world gathered in Houston, Texas from March 12-15 to attend the Electro-Voice PA Roundup, a grand audio expo hosted by Bosch’s Communications Systems Division.
The event was timed to coincide with the three-week-long Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Reliant Park—attended by around 1.8 million people annually—where one of the world’s largest Electro-Voice X-Line sound systems is deployed annually by Houston-based EV partners LD Systems for the biggest live concert event series in the world (with a total annual attendance of around 1.2 million). The EV system at Reliant Stadium includes 112 EV
boxes powered by an equal number of EV
and
remote control amplifiers running
control and supervision software. For the first time in 2009, all system processing was via EV NetMax with FIR-drive. Click here more more details on LD Systems’ EV deployment for the Rodeo.
The PA Roundup’s wide-ranging program of seminars, demonstrations, and presentations was held at LD Systems’ new, state-of-the-art, 85,000 sq. ft. facility, where the EV team brought guests up to date on the latest leading-edge audio technologies, including FIR-drive, NetMax
processing, EV transducers, amplifiers, and rigging, and a preview of IRIS-Net V2.0 system control and supervision software (see outline of topics covered below). The new
mixing console from Midas was also on hand. The event saw a gathering of EV engineering, product management, and sales team members on an unprecedented scale for an event of this kind. Along with the familiar faces of senior EV Engineers, Product Managers, and Tech Support personnel, attendees were introduced to the young engineering talents behind some of the company’s most recent audio innovations.
The overarching theme for the event was partnership. To that effect, LD Systems’ Rob McKinley and Robert Ausmus gave a detailed presentation on their long association with the Houston Rodeo, describing how they continue to raise the bar for audio production there year after year with EV systems and hands-on support from the EV team. The Q&A session focused on the IRIS-Net and NetMax processing and control solutions that have radically streamlined LD’s hardware deployment for the Rodeo while vastly improving sonic performance. On Friday evening, the guests headed to the 73,000-capacity Reliant Stadium to hear LD’s efforts first hand at a Clint Black concert.
On Saturday, special guests Phil Scobee of Morris Entertainment and Harry Witz of Clair Global gave presentations covering their groundbreaking work with EV at the highest level of touring. Scobee walked guests through his X-Line/NetMax/IRIS-Net system design for the Kenny Chesney tour – the largest touring EV rig in the world; Witz shared stories from his long association with EV and discussed his latest
system design for AC/DC’s mammoth Black Ice world tour, currently underway.
“We had an overwhelming response to the PA Roundup,”? says Thomas Hansen, VP Americas, Communications Systems Division, Bosch Security Systems, Inc., “and regret we couldn’t invite everyone who showed interest in this limited space event – we’ll see you next time! We were thrilled to welcome business partners from around the world — some from as far away as Russia, Italy, and Brazil. This was all about partnership and people – introducing the people behind our products and meeting the people who rely upon them every day – our customers. It was about the technology we develop to take their businesses to the next level. Plus, of course, this was a great opportunity for everyone to network on a global scale.
“These are obviously challenging times in our industry,”? Hansen adds, “but Bosch is being pro-active about the positive aspects – providing solutions with which our customers can grow and, of course, getting together and having a good time. The enthusiasm our customers showed by flying in from all around the world showed we’re on track; it’s important for them to have confidence in us and the equipment we produce, and our engineering team demonstrated that they are the best around. Phil Scobee and Harry Witz were, as always, great ambassadors for the brand, and their stories showed the heights we can achieve together. We would like to thank our friends at LD Systems for their superb hospitality and for being exemplary partners – there’s no better way to show EV at its best than by coming to Houston during the Rodeo.”?
Topics covered included:
FIR-drive – What is it and what does it do?
NetMax N8000-1500 – The new, more powerful NetMax, with new line array controller interface
LAPS II – Demonstration of how LAPS II is used to configure system deployment
Systune – Demonstration of new analysis technology.
New Electro-Voice transducer, amplifier, and rigging technologies
IRIS-Net
The world’s most effective system control and configuration software, providing a unique set of tools with easily configured, user-defined interfaces. IRIS-Net provides the ultimate in control and configuration flexibility and performance. Proven on the world’s largest tours, at the biggest events, and in the most prestigious installations, IRIS-Net reaches a new level in 2009 with Version 2.0.
FIR-drive
Developed and field-tested on the Kenny Chesney tour and at the Houston Rodeo – two of the world’s biggest, most critical proving grounds for audio technologies – the FIR-drive system employs state-of-the art Finite Impulse Response filters and processing to provide linear phase performance for sonic clarity and improved pattern control beyond all other DSP and system drive packages.
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