Concert Sound

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NickC

NickC

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 28, 2013
387
520
Bardstown, KY
www.selectsoundky.com
I attended a Blake Shelton concert in Lexington, KY this past Saturday. He played Rupp Arena, and we had fifth row seats......right in front of 16 Clair BT-218's. There were 16 more on the other side.

Wow. The sound was phenomenal. It may have been the best sound I have ever heard at a concert. Clear, tight, and massive low end that felt like I was being punched in the sternum, especially right before the start of the show when they did a little level test to "U Can't Touch This".

The amount of equipment used at a show like this is staggering. I was just wondering if anyone uses this type of equipment at their gigs, not necessarily that amount, but that level of equipment?
 
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I have done a few outdoor functions that had an attendance of 2 - 3,000 people. Outdoor stage in Boston for a Caribbean Carnival. That attendance was the largest but I really can't say how much there was, I know it was over 5,000, people were coming and going. I had my equipment supplemented with Rental Gear! I will have to look for the photos and scan them in.
 
LOL, Well, when I bought my Subs in 1978 they were Tour Grade and all the stuff I have rented and used outdoors were Tour Grade. Each at their time. For example the CV Earthquakes were Tour Grade at their time now not so much so.
 
You can get close as a DJ ... Danley, JTR and Ramsdell subs come to mind .. lots of low end but in a moveable sized box. Higher end top boxes from Vue Audioteknik, the TT series from RCF, some of the EAW boxes, etc. produce high quality, high volume sound. You do pay for it though, both in weight and cost.
 
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We've never done a concert THAT big.
Just be glad you were seated in the "sweet spot" of the room.
(which is directly related to the position of the sound guy)
 
Hey Nick, I attended a Who show in Rupp Arena about 30 years ago and it was one of the worst sounding shows I've ever experienced. Then again I was sitting stage left way up in the rafters. Glad your experience was better than mine.
 
I've probably been to 20 shows in Rupp in my lifetime. I think the venue can sound great, like the show on Saturday, but I believe it really takes some special work. Even Blake Shelton commented that he is not used to playing in a building that has seats that far up. Those of you who have been in Rupp know what I am talking about.

I remember Metallica, Def Leppard, Brad Paisley, and Sugarland sounding pretty darned good. I remember Alan Jackson, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Hank Williams, Jr. sounding terrible.

DRzinc, that is an impressive setup. I would love to get to work with that kind of gear someday.
 
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NickC said:
I've probably been to 20 shows in Rupp in my lifetime. I think the venue can sound great, like the show on Saturday, but I believe it really takes some special work. Even Blake Shelton commented that he is not used to playing in a building that has seats that far up. Those of you who have been in Rupp know what I am talking about.

I remember Metallica, Def Leppard, Brad Paisley, and Sugarland sounding pretty darned good. I remember Alan Jackson, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Hank Williams, Jr. sounding terrible.

DRzinc, that is an impressive setup. I would love to get to work with that kind of gear someday.
Click to expand...

The setup is great but the best part of that day is the ladies in many states of undress....
 
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I run some tour grade stuff.. Can put (24) boxes together (12) tops and (12) 2x18's Have the flybars also.
Would handle 3,000 - 5,000 outdoors with authority.

Nothing like a Clair rig.... But more than gets the job done

And they arent from 1977 either
 
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Here's a before, during and after from this weekend's Celtic festival.
This is about as big as we get.
(considering this is one of FIVE stages)
IMG_1843.JPG IMG_1845.JPG IMG_1846.JPG
 
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I would love to get some of this stuff eventually...but it will never fill a band rider...nor will it quickly find its way on the big scene. But I can tell you I know one of the owners and this stuff sounds legit to me even if the site doesn't bear many documents about the gear. It still very much in the works with patenting etc. www.bigeloudspeakers.com

EDIT: I should have mentioned that one of the builders is well aquainted with BFM designs and I have heard them. I haven't heard the new "BIG E" waveguide stuff yet.
 
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