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For more than 20 years, Mike Goodreau has been providing superb sound reinforcement in the New England region as the head of ACE Audio, based in Middletown, Connecticut. Business is very good indeed for this regional sound company that has justly earned a reputation for excellence.
ACE Audio recently provided sound for the popular Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival in Preston, Connecticut. Marking its 29th anniversary, the festival features a bill of “who’s who” bluegrass artists such as Rhonda Vincent, Grammy-nominated Blue Highway and several others. Mike used the occasion to deploy his new EAW KF730 line array rig, and he’s also recently invested in NT and FR Series loudspeakers as well as KF650z loudspeakers. We’ll be presenting more about Mike here soon…
 It's been around for a while now, but everyone should know about the EAW TSP (Touring Systems Payment) Program. TSP is a flexible, simple approach to leasing that works for you!
We invite you to check out TSP and take advantage of it to augment your existing EAW inventory or finally own that EAW touring system of your dreams... all without tying up valuable working capital, or affecting cash flow. Flexibility is the key reason that this program is so popular - you chose which EAW products you need, you chose the payment program that’s right for you. The bottom line is you can own one of the world’s finest loudspeaker systems, and it pays for itself as it earns you money!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TSP
 Culture Lab-Newcastle in the U.K. is described as a flagship for the University of Newcastle's interdisciplinary research grounded in digital technologies.
The result of a significant investment by the university and the British government's Science Research Investment Fund, Culture Lab is a multi-application, multi-user digital media facility whose aim is to enable the development of new digital technologies for solutions to arts, humanities and social science research problems. The facility boasts a live event space for performances, lectures and interactive displays, and state-of-the-art workshops where people can customize hardware and software.
 All of Culture Lab's spaces are networked using EtherSound over standard CAT6 cable and, as a result, all enjoy excellent computer resources. Specific facilities include a testing and recording studio for digital sound and labs for multimedia audiovisual projects.
Digital Village, one of the UK's leading suppliers of professional recording equipment, and now boasting a blossoming install division (Digital Village Installations), has been one of the key suppliers for this project. In addition to supplying and installing a full professional post-production and recording facility, DVI also provided a comprehensive EAW NT Series self-powered loudspeaker system, along with a Mackie TT24 digital mixing console. for the new live performance space.
The system includes six NT26 two-way cabinets with a 12-inch driver and 60° x 45° dispersion pattern; six NT59 cabinets with a 15-inch driver and dispersion pattern of 90° x 45°; and six NTS22 dual 12-inch subwoofers. All NT Series loudspeakers offer extremely high output-to-weight ratios and unparalleled sonic performance and accuracy thanks to their revolutionary onboard DSP technology known as Gunness Focusing.
Newcastle University's John Ayers was responsible for specifying the system. "We were looking for a system that could provide as close as possible to studio monitor-like sound quality but with the output of a PA speaker," he recalled. "We tested a number of different systems from several manufacturers and the EAW NT solution was the only one that came close to satisfying our wide range of needs, even when we A/B'd it against Genelec studio monitors. While other systems had the output, none could combine it with the audio quality of the NT Series. Furthermore, NT is lightweight, compact and portable, and the flexible design of the mid-hi cabinets means that they can easily serve as handed pairs of floor monitors if required."
Ayers explained that given the huge diversity of applications for which the system would be used, flexibility and superlative audio quality were the main focus points throughout. "We required something that could go from being a classic sound reinforcement system to being a creative part of a complex electro-acoustic production. That meant that each component had to sound as good individually as the sum of the parts."
 He also noted that the Mackie TT24 digital mixing console was selected using much the same criteria of flexibility, sonic excellence and also, in this case, ease of use. "We needed a console that visiting researchers would be able to get to grips with relatively quickly. The TT24 suited us very well in that it is flexible enough to handle everything from traditional FOH PA configurations to surround sound diffusion for electro-acoustic music, yet remains simple enough to configure and set up that first-time users can be productive very quickly."
Ayers added that by connecting to the network ("which is very simple as we use EtherSound over standard CAT6 cabling, so one cable does all"), the audio can be routed anywhere, be it to the recording and post-production facility or elsewhere.
Ayers concluded, "Culture Lab is a truly unique facility and a very exiting project to be involved in. It was enlightening to work on such a high-spec facility as we had the opportunity to look at the best the industry has to over before making our choices. EAW's NT Series loudspeaker and the Mackie TT24 console fitted the bill perfectly."
 The tremendous growth of Crossroads Christian Church has spurred the development of a new church building that’s also purpose-built to serve as a premier live concert hall, and featuring a commensurate high-end sound reinforcement system headed by EAW KF Series line arrays and KF750 concert loudspeakers.
The new 60,000-square-foot facility, located in Corona, California, offers seating for 3,500. It hosts an average of two concerts a month as well as children’s productions, civic events and other community activities in addition to Sunday worship services. Dubbed “Stage1” when used as a concert venue, the facility brings quality artists to the Corona area, including Olivia Newton John, Amy Grant and popular country act Lonestar.
Jeff Peterson of Sound Design Concepts (and now staff engineer with ATK AudioTek in Burbank) was brought in during the initial planning phase of the project, working closely with Rob Smoot, production manager of Crossroads/Stage1. Peterson formulated the sound design and was later tapped to head up its installation.
 “We all agreed that line array was the way to go. The goal is solid coverage from the very front row to the back wall, and without delay loudspeakers,” Peterson says. “This approach also offered us more flexibility in terms of array location, which was limited due to structural issues.”
In more than a decade of previous work with Disney, Peterson had numerous positive experiences with a wide range of EAW loudspeakers, so his focus turned to the company’s KF760 Series line array modules. He arranged a demo system for evaluation and decided it would be an optimum choice for this project.
The KF760 Series uses advanced divergence shading, where all loudspeakers are powered at equal level, meaning that an array provides uniform sound coverage from directly beneath itself out to hundreds of feet without complex signal processing. Vertical coverage for the array is set by varying the rear splay of the enclosures, leaving the fronts tight-packed.
To attain sufficient horizontal coverage over the exceptionally wide area at Crossroads/Stage1, Peterson elected to go with model KF761 line array modules, which offer 100-degrees of horizontal dispersion. “The primary concern here was the width, not the depth, of the seating area,” he notes. “This was my first experience with the KF761, and it’s quite sonically pleasant while delivering solid coverage.”
Specifically, both arrays, flown to the far left and right of the stage, are each made up of eight KF761 modules (one of the Crossroads arrays is pictured left), with the lower cabinets aimed downward, presenting the classic “J” array structure. Eight modules also helps enhance line array advantages such as pattern control.
The need for focused point-source coverage for spoken word intelligibility that’s vital to worship services led Peterson to also specify a dedicated center cluster made up of EAW KF750 Series full-range concert loudspeakers. Specifically, the cluster includes four KF750 full-range loudspeakers above four KF755 down-fill loudspeakers, all tightly packed and combining to provide 170 degrees of seamless horizontal coverage (pictured right).
Both of these loudspeaker models offer EAW’s Acoustic Singularity design, which aligns their three sub-systems along a single axis to act as a true point source. This greatly reduces temporal smearing of transient events and improves overall clarity and impact. Since the large mid-frequency horn contains both the high- and low-frequency sub-systems, the overall package is just 31 inches high, an important consideration at Crossroads/Stage1 because sightlines to the stage from the rear/upper seats can’t be obscured.
“A line array would have needed to be a lot taller, and thus would have extended too far down,” Peterson says. “Plus, I like the KF750, having toured with it previously and finding it to be a good multipurpose box with a natural sonic signature.”
The main loudspeakers are joined by six EAW BH822e subwoofers loaded with dual 12-inch cone drivers feeding a unique bent bass horn. Positioned beneath the stage, three per side, the BH822e’s are concealed from view by custom grilles attached to the stage facing.
To bolster mid-high to the first few seating rows, several EAW JF80 compact loudspeakers can be placed on the stage when needed, with numerous EAW SM Series monitor wedges also available.
SIA Smaart-Live provided a valuable assist during the system tuning process, with Peterson concluding, “There were no issues whatsoever with the performance of the loudspeakers right out of the box. That’s a great starting point, with the primary work then being to optimize the system within the room.”
Planet Medley, the installation division of Bryn Mawr, PA-based Medley Music Corp., recently unveiled a new sound system headed by EAW DSA Series full-range loudspeakers that provides full-range reinforcement for a 1,200-seat auditorium at Norristown (PA) High School.
Built in 1973, the auditorium hosts theatrical productions, concerts, classes and meetings, but is hampered by numerous hard wall surfaces that seriously compromise acoustics, complicated by an existing infrastructure for cabling that is largely inaccessible. A floor-to-ceiling steel door frequently used to close off the balcony adds to the room’s acoustical challenges, leaving Kyle Rosenbloom, who heads up Planet Medley, seeking to tightly control the output and coverage of the new system’s loudspeakers.
Rosenbloom's search led to EAW DSA Series loudspeakers, which provide output that can be digitally steered to tightly focus energy on the coverage area and off of nearby reflective surfaces. Following a live demonstration of DSA250 loudspeakers in the auditorium, he quickly made his decision.
“DSA performance is amazing,” Rosenbloom states. “The difference between what it can do in comparison to conventional loudspeakers is night and day.”
The system features two sets of DSA250 loudspeakers mounted to each side of the very wide stage proscenium. The lower set teams up to provide coverage to the entire main floor, while the upper set handles balcony coverage needs. Bass performance is supplemented by two EAW NTS22 subwoofers positioned beneath the stage.
“Once we had the loudspeakers in place, we then only needed to use the DSA Pilot program for optimization,” he adds. “Basically, you just enter the dimensions of the coverage area, the incline of the room and so forth, and the program configures the system precisely from there.”
The system mix/control position is anchored by a Mackie TT24 digital console, selected for its sonic quality as well as the way it dramatically simplifies setting the system for optimum operation and configuration via one-button access to presets.
Up to four EAW SM109z low-profile stage monitors can be placed on the stage as needed, driven by a single EAW Commercial CAZ1400 power amplifier mounted in the stage rack with digital snake box. Two monitor mixes are supplied via the TT24 console.
“This project shows what advances in technology can bring to any situation, especially a tough one. This is a really intricate system as far as its capabilities, but in terms of operation by the end user, it’s very simple,” Rosenbloom concludes.
 More than 400 EAW MK Series loudspeakers are the key components of a distributed sound reinforcement system serving 44,000-seat Busch Stadium, the new home of the storied St. Louis Cardinals major league baseball team.
Located in downtown St. Louis, adjacent to the site of the team’s previous ballpark (also named Busch Stadium), the facility opened in time for the start of the 2006 season, built at a cost of approximately $365 million. Wrightson Johnson Haddon & Williams (WJHW) of Dallas was contracted to provide the design of all A/V systems, with SPL Integrated Solutions, based in Columbia, Maryland, responsible for their installation.
 “The EAW line is pretty comprehensive, allowing us a lot of flexibility in configuring cabinets for each area,” Ron Baker of WJHW explained to S & VC magazine,“and it's well-suited for some of the unique mounting conditions we faced. Sightlines are always an issue, and you don't always have the luxury of hanging cabinets where you'd like to. The EAW cabinets allow the horn section to be rotated, so you can hang them horizontally and still get the wide coverage necessary for this application. There's a variety of horn patterns as well — the MK series has something like a dozen different configurations. We've used them in a number of other venues and felt comfortable in knowing what to expect in terms of performance.”
Click here to read more in the June 06 issue of Sound & Video Contractor (S&VC)
 EAW Online Forums are a great resource for specific information about "everything EAW" as well as a valuable place to get tips, guidance and "how to" advice.
This week, a customer logged into the "General Information" Forum with a question about limiter settings and gain structure as they relate to his KF650/MX8750 rig. EAW's Scott Jordan and others get to the crux of the situation and provide useful input and answers.
GO DIRECTLY TO THE THREAD
 The new ACME Bowling & Billiard Events Center in Tukwila, Washington, offers 40 bowling lanes in addition to seven billiards tables, a video game arcade, a lounge and even a restaurant staffed by professional chefs, all receiving premium sound reinforcement from a range of EAW Commercial loudspeakers.
Located just outside of Seattle, the 51,000-square-foot facility is perhaps more aptly billed as an “entertainment destination,” reflecting the transition of bowling to a social backdrop for family outings, private parties and corporate events. The venue’s professional caliber sound system, designed and installed by Kent, Washington-based Triamp Group, provides an exclamation point on the entertainment objective.
Our number one goal was to exceed every expectation for audio in a bowling center," explains Kevin Hill, vice president of Triamp Group. "Specifically, we were looking to provide exceptional clarity and musicality throughout the space - even with pins crashing in 40 lanes - and we wanted people to feel low-end energy pounding their chest as they approach the lane."
At the outset of the system design process, Hill set up a demo of leading loudspeaker candidates for ACME Bowl project planners, with the hands-down choice of the group proving to be EAW Commercial VR Series loudspeakers. "Compared to the other models, the VR Series offered much higher output before distortion and an overall better high-fidelity sound," he notes. "We also liked the look of them, with another added advantage that they would be quite easy to install."
 "Hill chose to mount 20 VR62 (offering dual 6-inch cone woofers) loudspeakers above the 40 bowling lanes. Spaced equidistantly, all of these loudspeakers are secured via their mounting brackets to the backside of a ridge that runs above the lanes, carefully aimed backward and downward to insure that they produce a “blanket of sound” at the area between the back portion of each lane’s approach area and the concourse seating regions.
Bolstering the objective of pounding low-end energy, the VR62 models are joined by EAW Commercial VR Series VRS18 subwoofers. These single-18-inch-loaded units, with vented cabinets, are also positioned equidistantly, flush-mounted to the ceiling right behind the full-range loudspeakers and firing straight down.
 The rear portion of the concourse area, from one end of the venue to the other, receives additional coverage from EAW Commercial CIS400 and CIS300 ceiling loudspeakers. Meanwhile, several VR61 full-range loudspeakers, offering the same mid/high-frequency components and coverage as the VR62 but with one 6-inch woofer, handle coverage in the billiards area, again in tandem with several VRS18 subwoofers.
Still more VR61 loudspeakers provide audio coverage in the venue’s expansive lounge, with VRS18 subs again on hand for pounding low-end when wanted. Finally, the arcade is outfitted with CIS400 ceiling loudspeakers, also spaced equidistantly throughout the space.
“It was gratifying to meet all of the client’s goals, and in particular, to provide true hi-fi performance and efficiency at a cost they view as more than reasonable,” Hill concludes.
Milan-based audio and communications distribution specialists Exhibo SpA has been named the EAW distributor for Italy.
EAW's European sales manager, Sean Martin, is already noting the results. "I'm delighted to report that since their appointment, Exhibo has already become one of EAW's highest performing distributors in Europe. The company had already proved itself as an experienced pro audio distributor with the Sennheiser brand, which they've carried for fifty years. An added bonus came in the form of Edoardo Ravelli, who was responsible for the EAW brand at our previous distributor, Audium. Edoardo had always been extremely successful in Italy with EAW, but the owner of Audium decided to take a well-earned retirement, so we had no choice but to look for a new distributor. The combination of Exhibo and Edoardo, in addition to the professionalism and expertise of his colleague, Bruno Lunati, and head of Exhibo's Pro Audio division, Graziano Somaschini, was too good to resist. I'm very pleased to say that the results already speak for themselves."
Exhibo's Graziano Somaschini agrees. "EAW is a prestigious international loudspeaker brand that complements our existing portfolio perfectly," he remarked. "We have enjoyed excellent results with EAW from the moment we signed the contract (we have already sold four major touring systems to Italian rental companies), and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."
What's Theta Technology? Glad you asked! It's one of the key design elements of the exciting new SMS Series loudspeakers that will be shipping later this year. Find out all you need to know - and more - by clicking here to read/download a newly posted in-depth description of Theta Technology. (It's a pdf file...)
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