D.A.S. Audio Injects Audible Excitement into HalloweenWhen the ghosts and goblins surfaced at two major Halloween events recently, the mood was scary fun. With all the partying, laughing, and other trick or treat activities, there was plenty of noise. What was crystal clear, however, were the announcements and the music emanating from two sound reinforcement system setups deployed by Raven PMG. Consisting of Aero 20A line arrays and LX-118A subwoofers from Valencia, Spain-based D.A.S. Audio, the sound was loud, proud, and it kept the spirits high. Raven PMG specializes in event production and execution, including sound for touring artists, sporting events, music festivals, and more. This Halloween, the company was contracted to handle sound services for Halloween New Orleans, a four day event designed to raise money for Project Lazarus, which helps people cope and live with HIV and AIDS. Equally notable, the company also handled sound for Hell's Gala, one of the largest Halloween parties in New Orleans. Jason Starkey, Raven PMG's audio systems coordinator, discussed his use of the D.A.S. Audio Aero Series 2 equipment. "Both projects took place, of course, on Halloween," Starkey says. "At the Halloween New Orleans event, we flew six D.A.S. Audio Aero 20A line array enclosures for the left and right sides of the stage and we ground stacked three LX-118A subwoofers per side. The venue had a rather low trim height and it was important to maintain a clear, uncluttered stage, so we did not feel the need for front fills. We also utilized two D.A.S. Action M12A powered stage monitors for the DJ booth." "For the Hell's Gala project," he says, "we deployed six Aero 20A enclosures per side and ground stacked three LX-118 subwoofers per side. We also used two Aero 20A enclosures for front fills. This show also had a VIP section on each side of the stage, for which we utilized a single Aero 20A. The entire setup was run through a D.A.S. DSP-4080 stereo / mono signal processor. Further, we utilized two Action M12A stage monitors for the DJ booth." When queried about those attributes of the D.A.S. Audio equipment that made these various loudspeakers the ideal choice for these two projects, Starkey offered the following comments. "Efficiency was an important concern with these two events," he said. "Both projects took take place on the same day and at venues that stayed busy, so in addition to delivering high quality sound, our load in times were very limited. With the Aero 20A rigging hardware, we were able to get stacks in the air in a fraction of the time it takes with other systems. At the SugarMill -- the site of Hell's Gala -- there are weight restrictions in regards to flying audio systems, so the amount of coverage we were able to get with the compact Aero 20A line array enclosure was a huge factor." As a relatively new customer of D.A.S. Audio, Starkey has been very impressed with both the company's business and support services. "The rigging capabilities of the D.A.S. Aero Series 2 was a huge consideration," he says. "Once we contacted Carlos Henao, D.A.S. Audio's U.S. Accounts Manager, and went down to Miami to hear some demos, it was a no brainer. The clarity and musicality of the Aero 20A and Aero 40A systems was astounding. It's really easy to get good sound out of these loudspeaker systems. I also like the implementation of the D.A.S.net software. Being able to run signal and networking through a single cable makes these cabinets more appealing than most powered loudspeakers. Currently, audio is a relatively small portion of Raven PMG's business. Because of this, however, our sound services need to be perfect every time we put gear out there if we intend to grow this segment of our operation. D.A.S. makes that possible." Starkey adds, "The way Carlos and the D.A.S. gang handle any questions we might have is the epitome of what customer service should be. Raven is a small company that prides itself in taking care of our customers as though they are family. With D.A.S. Audio, we feel they show us that same level of treatment." Before turning his attention to upcoming company business, Starkey offered these final thoughts, "Every aspect of these two events was fantastic. Both the performers and patrons were amazed by how great the equipment sounded. Being able to load out shows like these two projects quickly with the Aero 20's is a big plus. I think the success of these events and the planning of some future events and installs has really solidified our relationship with D.A.S. Audio. I can't wait to incorporate the UX-221A into our stock and get some Aero 40A's for our larger events." 
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