HOUSTON — Some 1.8 million people attend the three-week-long Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year, but for about 120 pro audio professionals arriving in Houston in mid-March, the main focus was on a different breed of long horn. They were there to attend the Electro-Voice PA Roundup, hosted by Bosch’s Communications Systems Division.
Although a preoccupation with PA systems might not seem to have much in common with staying atop a dangerous animal that’s using most of its 2,000-pound muscle mass to buck you off, the Houston Rodeo happens to be where one of the largest Electro-Voice X-Line sound systems is deployed.
Every year, Houston-based EV partners LD Systems deploys the system for one of the biggest live concert event series in the world, with a total annual attendance of around 1.2 million. The EV system at Reliant Stadium includes 112 EV X-Line boxes powered by an equal number of EV P3000RL and TG-7 remote control amplifiers running IRIS-Net control and supervision software.
For the first time in 2009, all system processing was via EV NetMax with FIR-drive.
The PA Roundup’s program of seminars, demonstrations and presentations was held at LD Systems’ new 85,000 square foot facility, where the EV team brought guests up to date on the latest audio technologies, including FIR-drive, NetMax N8000-1500 processing, EV transducers, amplifiers, and rigging and a preview of IRIS-Net V2.0 system control and supervision software. The new PRO6 mixing console from Midas was also on hand.
The event saw a gathering of EV engineering, product management, and sales team members. Along with the familiar faces of senior EV engineers, product managers and tech support personnel, attendees were introduced to those responsible for engineering some of the company’s most recent audio innovations.
LD Systems’ Rob McKinley and Robert Ausmus gave a detailed presentation on their long association with the Houston Rodeo, describing their use of newer EV products.
The Q&A session focused on the IRIS-Net and NetMax processing and control solutions that have streamlined LD’s hardware deployment for the Rodeo while improving sonic performance. The guests also had the opportunity to visit the 73,000-capacity Reliant Stadium to hear LD’s efforts firsthand, at a Clint Black concert.
The event also featured Phil Scobee of Morris Entertainment and Harry Witz of Clair Global, who gave presentations covering their work with EV. Scobee walked guests through his X-Line/NetMax/IRIS-Net system design for the Kenny Chesney tour. Witz shared stories from his long association with EV and discussed his latest X-Array system design for AC/DC’s Black Ice world tour.
“We had an overwhelming response to the PA Roundup,” said Thomas Hansen, VP Americas, Communications Systems Division, Bosch Security Systems, Inc., “and regret we couldn’t invite everyone who showed interest in this limited space event.
“We were thrilled to welcome business partners from around the world,” Hansen added, noting that some came from as far away as Russia, Italy, and Brazil.
For more information, please visit www.boschcommunications.com.
