Harman Professional Solutions Delivers Uplifting Sound at National Catholic Youth ConferenceHarman Professional Solutions' JBL VTX line arrays and Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers were at the heart of a comprehensive sound system deployed by CTS Audio during the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, the NCYC featured a variety of spoken word, live music, and dramatic performances. Given the event's diverse programming, CTS Audio -- which has supplied the sound reinforcement for the biennial event for more than 15 years -- needed an audio system that could accommodate a wide variety of performances in a large stadium environment. CTS Audio once again designed and deployed a Harman Professional Solutions audio system solution tailored to fit the conference's unique needs. The event was configured in the round, with the main speaker system featuring a total of 90 JBL VTX V25-II full-size line arrays (in six columns of 15 loudspeakers each) and six hangs of six VTX S28 subwoofers, each flown behind the columns of VTX V25-IIs. At each end of the stadium, 24 JBL VTX V20 midsize line arrays served as delay loudspeakers. A set of 132 Crown I-Tech 12000 HD amplifiers powered the system. In addition, CTS Audio configured and monitored the audio system with JBL HiQnet Performance Manager software. Jon Schwarz, lead system designer for CTS Audio, said that the VTX V25-II elements and the VTX S28 subs were used in X-mode (in X-mode, the VTX V25-II operates in full range mode and down to 33Hz). The VTX S28s are used from 80Hz and below, which creates an overlap between the V25-II and the subwoofers, and provides a substantial amount of low end. "This was a huge advantage for us," said Schwarz. "We achieved the same amount of low end from the VTX V25-II elements as we would using a significantly higher number of different loudspeakers. This really streamlined setup and ensured that we didn't go over the weight capacity." The VTX V25-II units feature a fourth-generation, high-frequency waveguide that improves long-throw performance, control, and maximum output. The new system, coupled with newly developed V5 presets for I-Tech HD amplifiers, can achieve very high sound pressure levels while remaining linear, with an absolute minimum of distortion. "The majority of content for the NCYC came from podium microphones, headsets, and lavalieres," said Schwarz. "The clarity, presence, and gain we got from the VTX V-25-II system was a tremendous advantage." According to Mike Taylor, vice president of CTS Audio, another challenge they faced was the proper time-alignment of the loudspeakers. "We were faced with a complex task of achieving direct sound rather than reflections in such a large stadium," said Taylor. "With the VTX V25-II, the power and control is such that you get the same in-your-face clarity 300' from the system as you do near-field. In addition, the VTX V20s brought every whisper and nuance to the people sitting in the seats farthest away from the stage." This is the third year CTS Audio has used VTX line array elements for the National Catholic Youth Conference, and Taylor is pleased with the new additions to the system. "The event was a huge success," said Taylor. "Harman Professional Solutions knocked it out of the park with their updates to the VTX line-array system. We've been working on the NCYC for more than a decade, and the VTX25-II took the sound to a higher level." 
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