To handle the heat of such a massive show, Clearwing Productions deployed a range of VUE loudspeakers, including the new al-12 Large Format Line Array System, to the festival's Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard stage, where attendees enjoyed performances by O.A.R., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Gavin DeGraw, Matisyahu, Stephen 'Ragga' Marley, Kool and the Gang, and other artists.
With Clearwing Productions' well-established roots in touring and contracting spanning several decades, VUE was eager to start its maiden voyage with the respected full-service company on the right note. Clearwing deployed a system based around VUE's new flagship al-12 Large Format Line Array System, which is designed to deliver superior sonic performance for large-scale applications.
The Truextent beryllium equipped al-Class FOH hybrid arrays, included al-12 speakers for the main system and al-8 Line Array Systems for down-fill, taking full advantage of VUE's Continuous Source Topology (CST) which allows for consistent and seamless vertical coverage between all al-Class line array elements.
Additional al-8 systems were used as front-fills on the stage lip. Sixteen of the new hs-221 Dual-21-Inch ELF (Extended Low Frequency) ACM subwoofers were placed in a virtual arched cardioid array configuration, bringing the system's low frequency power response down to 25Hz. Side-fills consisted of two flown al-4s arrays, each with two al-4SB Flying Subwoofer Systems arrayed in an end-fire directional configuration.
"We needed a system that could deliver high-quality sound to a large audience of 8,000 people while keeping the coverage extremely focused," said Bryan Baumgardner, operations/logistics - audio at Clearwing Productions. "Stage-to-stage bleed is always a concern at outdoor festivals with multiple stages, but especially at Summerfest as most of the stages are in very close proximity to one another.
"The VUE system sounded fantastic with smooth, even coverage throughout the Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard stage. We were concerned about keeping the low-frequencies contained while delivering all the bass impact we needed, and with the VUE system and Jeff Taylor's expertise about the hs-221's and the Extended Low Frequency (ELF) mode, LF was never an issue."
(Jim Evans)
