Wavefront Precision installed in Little Rock
- Details
The system includes 16 WPC a side for the main array with a side fill array of six WPM a side covering the extreme outside corners. The stage was modified to accommodate five CSX218 subs per side recessed into the front, with everything powered by the iKON amps. All the hangs are covered with white acoustical fabric for visual integration.
First Pentecostal’s sanctuary is an acoustically challenging space with large domed ceilings, a balcony, stained glass windows and hard marble surfaces. “They didn’t want to add acoustical treatments,” says Clark Project Manager Brandon Byrd, “but with the WPC system you can get additional resolution and coverage by adding more boxes with a channel dedicated to a single amp. We went for the highest resolution which allowed the system to create interference that significantly reduces the audio level hitting the hard surfaces we wanted to avoid. That, plus the coverage, is consistent throughout the space.”
First Pentecostal technical manager Nick McKinnon adds: “We were looking for speech intelligibility. Keeping the vocals over the music and the preacher’s sermon clear and present in what is a very reverberant space is critically important for us.
“So, the optimisation capability of Martin Audio WPC was very attractive on paper and if it did what it said it was going to do that was the choice we had to make.”
He adds, “When it comes to music reproduction, WPC is like sitting in front of a great set of studio monitors. We have a Midas Pro X console and we’ve gone from making 9dB changes in the EQ to 2 and 3 dB changes and really noticing the difference. The changes are very audible - we’re even hearing the compressors now if there’s too much reduction.
“The coverage is truly exceptional. We have seating in alcoves and they were just getting reflected sound before. Now with the WPMs on the side, every seat in the house has even coverage, top to bottom, side to side.
“We’ve also solved problems onstage with the new LE100 monitors. They combine compact, low-profile enclosures that give us expanded individual coverage for performers and speakers and they sound really good.
“In terms of the subs, we brought the Pastor in to hear some symphonic music and he mentioned that when you close your eyes, it’s more of an experience than just listening when you can hear the full spectrum of sound. And the overall reaction to the system has been overwhelmingly positive. The only thing the staff asked is why we didn’t do it sooner.”
(Jim Evans)
