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L-Acoustics Makes a Splash in NASH
North Allegheny Senior High (NASH), located in the northern Pittsburgh suburb of Wexford, recently expanded its auditorium and stage. The new development is part of an effort to bring in community events, concert tours and theatrical productions in addition to NASH's usual fare of school-related performances and events. For the project, local retailer Hollowood Music and Sound installed a full L-Acoustics front-of-house loudspeaker and amplifier system.
According to Dave Kuzy, project manager for Hollowood's installation department, the company flew a left-center-right system comprised of three L-Acoustics ARCS cabinets on each side of the stage and a center hang of five dV-DOSC loudspeakers. Positioned under the stage are two SB218 double-18-inch subs per side, which can be moved onto the stage if desired for additional impact. All of the loudspeaker systems are collectively powered by a total of five L-Acoustics LA 48a and three LA 17a amplifiers located in a room just off stage left.
Although Hollowood Sound performed the installation, the equipment specification actually came from Dave Patterson, stage director and stage manager for NASH, NAI (North Allegheny Intermediate) and three area middle schools. Patterson, who has worked with the same school district for over 30 years, proudly notes that he has now also spec'ed out a pair of L-Acoustics 115XT loudspeakers and dV-SUBs for one of the middle school auditoriums based on his satisfaction with the new NASH system.
Patterson occasionally works with Hollowood's concert sound division as a freelance engineer during the summer months and knew exactly what he wanted to put into NASH when the opportunity arose. "After hearing V-DOSC at Star Lake Amphitheatre and working with L-Acoustics loudspeakers at other venues in the area, I knew I wanted to bring that same hi-fi experience to NASH, and we have," he says. "When we host louder rock and roll-type things in the auditorium, it's like listening to everything on a giant set of headphones. Then, when we have theatrical productions in here, where it needs to be very intimate, the system is extremely smooth. Our new setup is extremely hi-fi and would certainly meet the requirements of just about anything we might want to bring in."
Aside from dealing with outside acts, just keeping up with high-tech school productions these days can present its share of challenges. But Patterson is confident in the capabilities of his new system. "Now, when we stage large musicals, we're able to open up 24 lavalier mics and nine zone mics at the same time - with a pit orchestra of about 50 pieces - and just slam the sound," he says. "We don't hurt people, of course, but it's so clear and intelligible to all 1485 seats in the house. The students that help run this system are just amazed that we can have so many lavs open and not be plagued with horrible feedback and other problems. This system is a dream and truly the highlight of my career as far as equipment is concerned."
In picture: NASH's center hang of five dV-DOSC cabinets.
6th April 2004
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