This is the fifth year that Delta has worked in conjunction with Golden Era Productions, a Scientology-owned company which produces all the association's events worldwide as well as its training videos, CDs and films. The convention was held in two venues, the 600-capacity Great Hall and an overflow tent which could accommodate a further 2,500 delegates. "The event gets bigger and bigger each year," says Delta's Jim Lambert. "The system design used in both venues has evolved over the years and has settled this year on an 80-cabinet d&b C4 and E9 and E3 system supported by B2 and 1801 subs. The sound designer Mick Sturgeon and the Golden Era sound chief Charlie Rush specify the system components and leave the logistics of rigging and supply to Delta."
Delta cut holes in the roof of the Great Hall and fitted custom rigging systems to fly the d&b C4s, E9s and E3s. An Innovason Grand Live console together with BSS Soundweb processing was used in the hall, with audio distributed via Cat 5 and controlled by a wireless LAN system, which allowed set up from anywhere in the room.
In the tent, the system comprised two large hangs of C4 speakers with two ground stacks of C4s and B2s supported by multiple hangs of single E9s and 1801 subs. This was controlled by two Yamaha DM2000 48-input digital consoles, with a further DM2000 and a Yamaha 02R for monitors. A distributed 'audience synthesis' system of 40 EVS 80s flown around the tent was randomly delayed and used alongside the conventional d&b systems, taking the global output from the console through a Lexicon PCM91 reverb. "With very subtle level adjustments this turned the very 'dry' acoustics of a fully-lined tent into a much grander live environment, for example a large hall or a church," explains Lambert. In addition to supplying all the sound equipment for the event, Delta also provided a rigging crew and system engineer to assist Golden Era's own technicians.
(Lee Baldock)
