NORTHRIDGE, CA – The $125 million Valley Performing Arts Center at California State University, Northridge features 30,000 square feet of glass, 30,000 square feet of acoustical panels, 568 miles of internal wiring, a moveable orchestra platform and 622 floor diffusers used for soundless air conditioning. Los Angeles-based Pro Sound and Video also provided a JBL DriveRack-powered VerTec line array system.
With an 1,700-seat Great Hall and a 178-seat experimental theater along with rehearsal space, classrooms and other areas, the Valley Performing Arts Center hosts symphonic orchestras, dance, opera, theater, jazz and pop music, as well as film screenings and lectures. The Great Hall has already hosted entertainers including Shawn Colvin, Loudon Wainright III, Roseanne Cash and Joan Rivers.
The main sound reinforcement system includes 29 JBL VerTec VT4888DP-DA DP Series midsize powered line array elements equipped with JBL DrivePack technology and JBL's latest DPDA (DrivePack Digital Audio) input modules. The system is arranged in a left/center/right configuration-arrays of 10 on each side and a center cluster of nine.
These three arrays are augmented with two left/right arrays of four VT4882DP-DA midsize arrayable subwoofers each. The system relies on BSS London signal processing for EQ, routing and zoning control. Additional JBL Control Contractor and AE Compact Series loudspeakers are distributed throughout the space, powered by Crown CTs Series amplifiers.
Media and acoustical system consultants McKay Conant Hoover, Inc., specified the combination of powered line arrays and passive loudspeaker fill and paging loudspeaker locations.
The sound system design gives the venue a great deal of flexibility, and the digitally-networked, powered DP Series enclosures enabled the Pro Sound and Video installation team to maximize efficiency for pre-installation and onsite configuration time.
"The high-resolution VerTec line array system allows the engineers at the Valley Performing Arts Center to utilize the sound in multiple configurations, which all perform great," said Joe Byrne, project manager, pro sound and video. "The fine tuning was taken care of in a timely manner before our first event and the Great Hall has presented nothing but successful performances since opening. The overall sound in the hall is very smooth and the coverage is excellent. The VerTec line arrays seamlessly handle everything from spoken word to a rock show."
For more information, please visit www.harman.com and www.prosound.net.
