Dublin-based AV Rental Company CAVS has recently incorporated a Subsidiary Company called CELTIC SOUND Ltd. This Company has been established to handle the management of the recently purchased V-DOSC concert system. The initial inventory of 24 V-DOSC, 16 SB218 Subs, plus LA Amplification and XTA DSP sees a new direction for CAVS - hence the establishment of Celtic Sound -. Fran Quigley, Managing Director of CAVS sees this development as follows: "We have experienced a huge increase in our audio contracts over the past two years and some of these projects prompted the idea for the purchase of a large format concert system. Ireland is a unique market - and as we saw a gap in that market, we decided to fill it.

Celtic Sound Ltd is a dry hire audio company, providing equipment for rental only. We present V-DOSC as a turnkey system package including the cabinets, amplification, DSP, power distribution and motors, along with the services of a CVE (Certified V-DOSC Engineer), all configured to the international V-DOSC touring standard. We plan to expand upon this idea and inventory over the coming months."

So far the system has been used by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mama Mia! Tour, White Stripes, The Darkness, Arrested Development, New York Dolls and The Electric Picnic, among others.

info@celticsound.ie

The 115XT HiQ combines extremely high SPL output capability with exceptional clarity, fidelity and pattern control. The optimum combination of the 15" loudspeaker and the 1.4" neodymium compression driver in a coaxial assembly results in exceptional power response stability with high immunity to feedback. Conical waveguide loading focuses mid/high frequency energy over a 45-degree axi-symmetrical pattern while at the same time loading the 15" loudspeaker for improved upper mid bass efficiency. The ultra-compact format and low profile of the 115XT HiQ allows for optimum sightlines even in the most confined locations. With the flexibility of dual angle configurations, the 115XT HiQ can be used for either short- or long-throw monitoring. And when used with the SB118 (or other L-ACOUSTICS subwoofers), the 115XT HiQ provides a high performance side fill or drum monitoring solution. The 115XT HiQ is also ideal for distributed sound reinforcement and can be used in medium power FOH applications for theatres, clubs, multi-purpose venues or corporate events. Pole mount sockets are included as standard and optional rigging accessories include an adjustable U-bracket and a vertical coupling adapter. OEM factory presets are available for approved digital processors, providing flexible solutions for a wide variety of 2- and 3- (+sub) way operating modes.

SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT THE 115XT HiQ:

Alain Schneebeli, Director of HYPERSON and Stage Monitor Engineer for Phil Collins' First Final Farewell Tour 2004:

The L-ACOUSTICS 115XT HiQ was chosen to complement the system with two pairs of 115XT HiQs used for two of the three drum kits on stage and a single 115XT HiQ serving as a floor wedge for bass player extraordinaire Leland Sklar. Alain Schneebeli explains: "the 115XT HiQ is an excellent choice and we are very pleased with its high performance; as a drum monitor it works exceptionally well even without additional subwoofers".
www.hyperson.ch

Stage Audio Services - 1st UK company to buy L-ACOUSTICS 115XT HiQ:

Long time ARCS owners, STAGE AUDIO SERVICES based in Stourbridge West Midlands have just purchased a complete monitor system consisting of 12 L-ACOUSTICS 115XT HiQ and 2 SB118 subs. Kevin Mobberley, Managing Director of Studio Audio Services comments: "We were looking for a new high end monitor system to compliment our L-ACOUSTICS ARCS inventory and the 115XT HiQ was the only logical choice. Not only is it a great wedge monitor but it's also multi purpose so we can use it for corporate or small to medium-sized shows as a stand alone cabinet. Being able to fly the boxes with the quick release multiangle bracket or put them on poles gives us the ultimate versatility from what is a very cost effective product." Stage Audio Services will be using their 115XT HiQs on The Wonderstuff, and Bowling For Soup respective tours, and for the BBC "One Big Weekend." Stage Audio Services: +44 (0)1384 263 629

Roger Scheepers, head of Audio Department Cape Town GEARHOUSE Branch (South Africa):

"The 115XT HiQs have been recently used for Michael Franks & Earl Klugh concerts lately. As centre fills, the 30° vertical axis maximizes the tight spread of the speaker as well as being very good looking in this application. As stage monitors they deliver excellent quality sound at high SPL. Later, on Joyous Celebrations, a gospel show, some 115XT HiQs were used as monitors for the band as well as flown side fills for the choir, which proved most effective. The engineer was impressed that we had no equalization on the wedges as well as the SPL. Then, we did the Cape Town Fashion Week with 20 115XT HiQs on a centre truss. There where a lot of compliments not only about the sound achieved but also the aesthetically pleasing rigging system. More than once we were asked "Where are the subs?". Finally we used 4 units on stands for a small Sony Ericsson corporate launch; once again: compliments… Definitely, for any distributed PA application, you are looking for 115XT HiQ!"
www.gearhouse.co.za

ACOUSTICAL SIMULATION PROGRAM DEDICATED TO L-ACOUSTICS® PRODUCTS

The first 3D acoustical simulation software is entirely dedicated to L-ACOUSTICS products, and allows designers to predict L-ACOUSTICS products behavior through emulation of two L-ACOUSTICS technologies :
- WST (Wavefront Sculpture Technology®) : V-DOSC®, dV-DOSC®, ARCS;
- Coaxial Point Source Technology: XT, MTD.

This state-of-the-art software's advantages are: real-time calculation of SPL and visualization of system coverage, easy-to-use, intuitive 3D graphical interface, selectable user modes for different operator profiles, coverage mode provides a practical tool for the touring sound engineer, mapping mode provides more detailed information for the audio consultant, mechanical Data providing physical information for the installer.

APPLICATIONS :

Benefiting from its long term experience in the modeling of acoustic sound sources, L-ACOUSTICS introduces the first 3D sound design program capable of operating in real time. Designed with a convenient, intuitive graphical user interface, "SOUNDVISION" allows for the calculation of sound pressure level (SPL) and coverage mapping for complex sound system or venue configurations.

Room geometry and loudspeaker locations are defined in 3D and simplified operating modes allow the user to work in 2D to rapidly enter data. According to user preference, either horizontal (plan) or vertical (cut) views can be selected to enter room coordinates or to define loudspeaker placement/aiming. SPL plus coverage mapping are then based on direct sound calculations over the defined audience geometry where each loudspeaker model is calibrated based on a user reference preset.

Designed for Microsoft Windows, "SOUNDVISION" features a user-friendly interface with multiple toolboxes that allow for convenient entry of room and loudspeaker data while at the same time displaying coverage or mapping results along with 2D cut view Target and Source information. All toolboxes can be displayed simultaneously, providing the user with a complete control interface that allows for rapid system optimization.

SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT "SOUNDVISION" :

- Florent Bernard, freelance Certified V-DOSC Engineer - on the Scotland Murray Field (93 V-DOSC, 18 dV-DOSC, 50 SB218) and Manchester shows (94 V-DOSC, 18 dV-DOSC, 50 SB218) commented: "To design a PA system for a 65,000 audience stadium is not an easy thing to do, especially for a show like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The "SOUNDVISION" software developed by L-ACOUSTICS has been a tremendous aid for me since during the sound design phase it allowed me to very quickly validate my approach. With its high speed performance and the invaluable information that surfaced from the 3D simulations, I was better able to optimise my sound design. One of the main assets of this software is the real-time 3D visualisation which allows the sound designer to make the best decisions even for the most complex cases. Finally, it was an excellent support tool that permitted me to present and illustrate my project in the best light."

- Mattias Winther, Stockholm Audio System (Sweden) CVE: "Recently, we did the Concert House in Stockholm. We had Mingus big band playing on/through dV-DOSC and when putting the "SOUNDVISION" setup in it did reflect what I've heard live. Amazing!"

- Richard Smith, Sound Harmonics (South Africa): "SOUNDVSION" is great. It has just helped me secure another church installation! (The client was very impressed.)"

- Faz Salleh, Sennheiser Asia's Project Manager (Singapore), about Hard Rock Café in Djakarta: "Precise ARCS directivity control combined with L-Acoustics "SOUNDVISION" 3D simulation software allowed the sound designers to accurately predict system behaviour and coverage or pattern control."SOUNDVISION" has tremendously strengthened L-ACOUSTICS technical support for consultants, end-users and distributors by establishing a common and standardized platform. Although, thousands of miles apart, "SOUNDVISION" files containing pertinent project data, i.e. audience geometry, speaker placement, SPL mapping, mechanical data can be shared, analyzed, discussed and edited by sound designers."

Views of "SOUNDVISION", on 2004 Phil Collins' First Final Farewell Tour:

Paul Bauman, L-ACOUSTICS Director of Technical Support, participated in the sound design for Phil Collins' First Final Farewell Tour:

- Are there real time savings when using "SOUNDVISION" to configure a PA?
"For advance design work, once the room has been entered, "SOUNDVISION" is very easy to use - just drop the stage in and your rigging plot and go from there. Determining the coverage and install parameters is fast and efficient if you're working from a standard rigging plot and basic system configuration but the real advantage is being able to work in more detail in 3D. It's kind of like playing a video game!"

- Regarding the possibility for Sound Engineers to use "SOUNDVISION" to replicate all of the tour's venues, Paul replies: "I utilized L-ACOUSTICS latest 3D modeling software "SOUNDVISION" to perform simulations for the majority of stadia and arenas where the Phil Collins tour plays. "SOUNDVISION" proved to be invaluable in optimizing the system coverage on a venue-by-venue basis, particularly the offstage dV-DOSC hangs. Being able to optimize the system coverage in 3D and precisely predetermine all system installation parameters will provide better sonic results plus save time in a touring situation".