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| Photos by Arden Ash. |
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| Photos by Arden Ash. |
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| Photos by Arden Ash. |
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| Photos by Arden Ash. |
“The design process went through three distinct phases,” recalls Rock Church’s former construction manager, Robert Cloyd, “culminating in a horizontal line array that works very well within the new worship center.” The L- Acoustics sound system was supplied and installed by Phoenix-based AVDB (Audio Video Design Build) Group.
There were a number of important design criteria for the Rock Church’s new facility, Cloyd offers. “The original format supported a pair of large-format video screens located either side of the sanctuary’s main stage area. We decided that rather than run a three-cluster system – left, center and right, located around the pair of screens – we would install a single central video screen, and provide line arrays to the left and right, and a center cluster. Eventually, to provide enhanced sight lines, our final design included a pair of horizontal line arrays of KUDO cabinets augmented with dV-DOSC cabinets for a center cluster and ARCS enclosures for side-fill coverage. We needed a versatile, high-power system to handle not only the church services but the wide variety of musical, theatrical and even civic uses that might be required by various users of the new sanctuary.” The Rock Church’s contemporary, high-energy worship style often places demands on the PA similar to a full-throttle rock-and-roll concert performance.
According to AVDB CEO Scott Oosthuizen, “The left and right arrays are made up of eight KUDO full-range, active three-way enclosures per side, with eight dV-DOSC full-range, two-way enclosures in the center.” A side-fill system for stage-left/right plus the above/below-balcony areas consists of eight ARCS active two-way enclosures. A separate delay system features four additional dV-DOSC enclosures “arranged as two pairs to cover the far balcony,” Oosthuizen adds.
Uniquely, and to provide dramatically improved sight lines, the L-Acoustics KUDO enclosures are arranged horizontally rather than vertically using KLIFT rigging bumpers. Each quad-amplified KUDO enclosure houses a pair of 12-inch LF and four five-inch MF drivers, in addition to a pair of 1.75-inch DOSC HF compression drivers. “The KUDO cabinets are configured in hi-pass, three-way mode, allowing them to be close-coupled with the six existing custom double-18-inch subwoofers crossed over at 60 Hz,” Oosthuizen explains. “Three presets optimize the frequency response according to the value of K-LOUVER settings of 50, 80 or 110 degrees.”
Using L-Acoustics’ Soundvision real-time, 3D acoustical modeling software, the sanctuary’s sound reinforcement system was “designed and installed to prevent standing waves, slap-back echo, and maintain highly predictable audio dispersion to all floor and balcony seats,” notes Oosthuizen. “Shaped surfaces designed by Vance Breshears of Sound Technology Consultants were implemented to diffract audio waves at critical acoustical junction points and surfaces. High-density fiberglass battens were installed on the side and back walls of the sanctuary [to help] absorb audio waves before they became an acoustical problem.”
“The combination of L-Acoustics KUDO and dV-DOSC systems works perfectly for the Rock Church installation,” Cloyd concludes. Now with DPR Inc., the construction manager offers that “the Church is very happy with the results. The horizontal configuration solved the line-of-sight problems and very nicely accommodates the current and future needs of the church.”