HAWAII‘S NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES‘ THEATER-IN-THE-ROUND BY CLAIR SHOWCO FEATURES JBL PROFESSIONAL LOUDSPEAKERS, DBX PROCESSING, AKG MICS AND HIQNET™ CONTROL
NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA, July 23, 2007 — Demonstrating how expert system design and integration coupled with the best-performing audio components can bring creative entertainment ideas to life, Clair ShowCo Chicago has just completed the design and integration of an advanced audio system for Norwegian Cruise Lines new Theater-In-The Round in Hawaii. The system features components from Harman Pro Group companies, JBL Professional, dbx and AKG integrated with HiQnet™ configuration and control protocol.
Fire eaters, hula dancers, and South Pacific singers and performers on the main stage of the new venue are reinforced by a HiQnet system featuring 16 JBL Professional VRX line arrays configured in a circle above the stage, eight JBL Control 29 loudspeakers, 16 JBL Control 25 loudspeakers, and four self-powered JBL VP Series subwoofers. Three dbx 4800 processors are on the system along with AKG wireless microphones.
Harry Witz, general manager of Clair ShowCo Chicago designed and implemented the system. With all the components on one system architect, HiQnet, “I‘m able to walk around with my laptop, dial in any zone and get the whole thing adjusted in one fell swoop,” said Witz. “It all matches and works with each other.”
Known as a cross between modern performing art and a luau, this 24-foot theater-in-the-round on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is in a permanent tent structure where 700-1,000 people gather for the spectacle three times a week when the cruise ship docks overnight. The structure stands at 175 feet by 110 feet with an allowance for the big mango tree that sticks through the roof in one of the corners. Naturally, the bar built around the tree is called the Mango Bar.
One of the limitations with the tent structure was that the load limit on the beams is 1,000 pounds. Witz came up with a design that uses trusses to spread out the load across many of the rafters. With the concept of in-the-round, “the question was ‘what can do the best job and fit within the weight limitations?‘” said Witz. “The JBL VRX more than satisfies both those needs as far as quality of the sound and the weight. I don‘t think there‘s anything else on the market I‘ve previewed that does what that product does. That‘s why I selected it.”
“All the NCL people and people on the island are ecstatic about the whole thing,” said Witz. “It‘s the coolest and most high-tech thing to hit the island.”
In addition to the main stage, there‘s the B stage in the corner with bands that play during certain parts of the show. “There are guitars, ukuleles, bass guitar, a lot of native percussion,” said Witz. “We‘re using the JBL SRX712M for monitoring over there too. The whole speaker system and control of it is Harman.”
Commenting on the installation, Michael MacDonald, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Harman Pro Group noted, “Creativity of this level in the choreography, music and system design truly showcases our technology. It‘s always exciting and gratifying to see our products used so cohesively and effectively.”
About HiQnet:
Harman HiQnet™ is the world‘s first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by the Harman Pro Group System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
About JBL Professional:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world‘s leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is the proud recipient of the 2005 Technical GRAMMYA® award. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Professional website at
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About the Harman Pro Group:
The Harman Pro Group (
) is the world‘s largest provider of professional audio products and system solutions for commercial sound, contracting, tour sound, recording and broadcast, musician, portable PA and cinema applications. The Group is headquartered in Northridge, California and includes industry leaders AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, Crown International, dbx, DigiTech, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer. The Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR), a leading supplier of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets.
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