D.A.S. Audio at ADAC Supercross, Dortmund, Germany

From January 5-6, the Westfalenhallen exhibition center in Dortmund, Germany hosted the 29th edition of the ADAC Supercross A total of 9,000 spectators each day watched the racing and freestyle exploits of the motocross drivers with bated breath over the course of the two-day event. D.A.S. Audio provided the sound system.

Venue specifications, as well as the direction of the action, meant that centrally positioned LED screens were essential. The live event was broadcast onto huge LED screens hung in the center of the venue. Music clips, advertisements, statements, progress reports, greetings, and awards ceremonies were recorded and broadcast to every seat in the hall, and every spectator seated around the perimeter of the venue could see at least one full unobstructed LED screen.

The sound reinforcement challenges were (1) providing uniform, 360-degree sound coverage, and (2) taking into account the distance from the spectators in the first rows, which varied between 20 and 45m. Additional factors included the anticipated background noise stemming from the roar of 10 motocross motorbikes at a time driving past fans as well as the resulting cheering of all those spectators.

In the preliminary planning meetings for this project, it quickly became clear to Lars Schnier, D.A.S. Audio's system designer in Germany, that, "It's a jungle out there. The only way to win this fight is with every weapon in your arsenal at the ready." He quickly decided on the company's large format Aero 50 line array system to cover the venue's long throw requirements. The Aero 50 , a passive, three-way full range loudspeaker system incorporating dual 15" low frequency transducers, four 8" speakers for the midrange, and two neodymium compression high frequency drivers with 1.5"exits, provided the sonic muscle for an event of this scope. Each line array cluster consisted of six elements in order to cover the longer distances in the oval.

The longer diameter of the venue was fitted on one side with Aero 12A compact powered line array enclosures and, on the other side, with an Aero 28A system to test and compare the two options. The under-balcony sound system consisted of 24 Variant 25A powered, mid-high line array elements -- rigged under the galleries in order to minimize shadows in the rows furthest back.

Sixteen Lab.gruppen FP10000Q power amps -- augmented by four Lake LM26 controllers -- provided amplification and processing for the Aero 50's as well as signal distribution to the Aero 12A and Aero 28A enclosures. This equipment was distributed throughout the ceiling areas using the accessible rigging in the hall. All system controllers for the Aero 50 loudspeakers, along with the D.A.S. DSP-4080 signal processors for the Aero 12A and Aero 28A enclosures, were controlled by a wireless remote. At the end of the installation, Lars Schnier and his system assistant, Lucas Gripshöfer, had 24 discreet audio zones to measure, level, and bring into phase with each other.

The two clusters of eight Aero 12A'swere positioned to provide coverage over an angle of roughly 28 degrees. The system, as tuned and positioned by Schnier, provided consistent coverage for the entire horizontal and vertical area as far as the adjacent Aero 50 units.

The results of all of the measurements, loudspeaker placement, and fine-tuning resulted in uninterrupted views of all of the LED screens and a full-range sound system that provided the high level of speech intelligibility and even coverage throughout the venue that the various event managers, technicians, and VIP guests had hoped for, the company says.