In 1998 a massive redevelopment project added an amphitheatre, museum, visitors' centre, gift shop, restaurant and other tourist facilities to the national park. In the decade since, the harsh Dakota winters have taken their toll on the facility's public address system, and Rapid City-based Haggerty's Audio Video was called in to design the system's upgrade and expansion.
"We actually created two separate systems," explains Haggarty's Mike Moore. "The four remote public address systems are comprised of 21 Community R.5 loudspeakers, and the system covers most of the facility, including the Grand Terrace viewing area behind the amphitheatre, as well as outside the Xanterra gift shop and restaurant complex, the information centre, and the multi-story parking structure."
The remote systems are used mainly for announcements and general PA chores, and can broadcast globally or in zones. "We used modules to transfer the audio over twisted pairs, and each building has its own mixer and amp," says Moore.
The amphitheatre regularly hosts a range of special events, movies and musical presentations, as well as a nightly lighting ceremony during the summer months, and has been outfitted with its own separate system. Using EASE software, Haggerty's head engineer Steve Foudray designed the system based around 20 Community WET 315 cabinets on two main towers and two delay towers. Powered by Crown Macro-tech amplification and using Rane DSP, the amphitheatre system can also feed the remote PA systems.
(Jim Evans)
