CEDARVILLE, OH — The James T. Jeremiah chapel at Cedarville University has been updated with an Electro-Voice XLD line array loudspeaker installation.
Designed by Todd Gathany and Jeff Sanderson of consultants Onpoint Designs and integrated by Kelly Baum and Kyle Anderson of AGI Professional, the system features 36 XLD281 line array elements in a configuration with two 10-box main arrays and two eight-box side arrays, 12 XCS312 cardioid subwoofers and two NetMax N8000 processors.
Cedarville University’s chapel auditorium was built in 1996 and originally featured main arrays and a delay ring from another manufacturer. The new system was specified to meet the chapel’s needs for both preaching and worship.
“The old system was installed back when the contemporary Christian music scene was gaining speed back in the mid-1990s,” said Gathany, “but over time it became clear that it just couldn’t keep up with their needs and the demands of the touring acts performing there. It was time for an upgrade, and since we’d used it with great results in a number of other projects, we immediately saw the XLD as a solution for this space.
“That being said, we didn’t close the door to other manufacturers and we tested product from two others,” Gathany added. “We then took the client to the InfoComm trade show and the XLD became a favorite right away. Once we saw the engineering data and the price and compared it to Cedarville’s needs and budget, the XLD was the best fit.
“In addition to the XLD spec, we have plenty of low-end reinforcement via 12 XCS312 cardioid pattern subwoofers — easily one of the best subs we’ve ever heard,” Gathany added. Two XCS312s are flown behind each of the main arrays; the remaining eight are flown in a separate array in the space behind the mains.
“It’s a phenomenal package,” Gathany continued. “The system is controlled and processed via two NetMax N8000 units running IRIS-Net software. Between the ease-of-use of IRIS-Net and the performance enhancements of the FIR filtering they have a really excellent-sounding, streamlined solution for all their processing needs.”
Gathany credited XLD “sonic warmth,” adding “in these days of highly compressed digital audio, you often hear a lot of harshness on playback material. This can rip your head off through the wrong horn. Digital audio is not very forgiving to a sub-par audio system. Not the case with EV. The XLD gives nice body to vocals and is very musical in general.
“I talked to Matt Gumm, audio tech at Cedarville, after the installation and he said the system is working out great,” Gathany added. “He told me he used to have to fight feedback on the stage, whereas now any EQ adjustments are just to fine-tune an already solid-sounding room. Audience comments have also been extremely positive.”
Onpoint Design and AGI Professional worked with EV sales representatives Left Coast Marketing on the project, with technical support from EV’s Robert Deyarmond, Stu Schatz and the late Monte Wise.
For more information, please visit www.electrovoice.com.
