The vast dimensions of the equestrian arenas posed logical and technical problems, not least in terms of sound reinforcement. Omikron Control SA was entrusted with the task of installing a sound system capable of solving the problems, and chose to rely upon products from Electro-Voice. The new DSP-controlled Precision Series amplifiers of the RL series form the heart of the installation. Omikron's sound engineers gave several reasons for opting for these state-of-the-art amplifiers. Lakis Papapaschos, from Omikron Control SA, explained: "Besides offering the ultimate in control, the Precision RL remote-controlled amplifiers are absolutely reliable and every parameter is displayed on the computer monitor, where the performance of each cabinet can be monitored and if necessary corrected."
After careful consideration, Omikron opted for EV SX-600 PI and EV SX-300 PI loudspeakers, the outdoor versions of the new SX-600 and SX-300 enclosures. To provide optimum coverage of these vast arenas, computer simulations indicated that a large proportion of the EV loudspeakers would have to be installed at a height of 28m! A tricky, even dangerous, task, for which the staff had to be specially trained. Not even this hurdle, however, posed too great a challenge for Omikron.
(Lee Baldock)
