Photos from the event.
CRAS AES was pleased to have CRAS faculty member Keith Morris give both a presentation and demonstration of line arrays. In the Live Sound Room at CRAS' Gilbert Campus, there is a line array setup consisting of L'Acoustics Kudo speakers. So to start the clinic, Morris taught the attendees about the history, development and specifications of the Kudo speakers.
He explained, the Kudo got its name from the combination of 2 sound reinforcement
innovations. The first is K-LOUVER Modular Directivity where you can push/pull levers
within the line array to change between 4 different coverage patterns (Symmetrical 50o, 110o, or Asymmetrical 25o/55o, creating an 80o asymmetrical coverage pattern in either direction). The second innovation is DOSC Waveguide Technology which containscomponents that act as a time alignment plug, so all frequencies leave each speaker simultaneously as a flat isophase waverfront. The technology also permits the curvature of the wavefront to match system coverage to whatever venue the line array is in.
Combined, both innovations make the Kudo speakers one of the few speakers in the
world where you can steer where the speakers throw to. You also have the option to set up the line array horizontally or vertically.
Next, Morris taught wave theory to help explain how line arrays and "pointing and
shooting" multiple speakers are different. He used the analogy of throwing 32 1-pound rocks in a pond ("pointing and shooting") that creates many interfering waves vs. throwing 1 32-pound rock in a pond (line array) to create a giant wave.
Then, he showed a demonstration of L'Acoustics Soundvision, an acoustical simulation program that can calculate SPL and visualization of various L'Acoustics speaker system coverages in real time. Morris used an example of a line array he used for a recent local festival, showing how important the angle between each line array speaker was and how delaying the subs from the main PA allowed for wider audience coverage.
Later, discussing line array speaker amounts, Morris argued that adding more speakers to the line array than necessary would ultimately be a disadvantage. He stated, speakers are designed to make a linear transfer from the signal coming into the board to match what's going out to the audience.
To end the line array clinic, Morris led the attendees in taking down and setting up a
line array and subwoofer setup.
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