Firehouse Productions Deploys JBL/Crown System for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Providing sound reinforcement for a star-studded event featuring some of the biggest names in rock and roll, Red Hook, New York-based Firehouse Productions supplied Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers and JBL VERTEC line array loudspeakers for the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, staged on March 14 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

The event featured performances by some of the inductees including Bruce Springsteen, Judy Collins, John Mayer, and Elton John. Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, and Darlene Love were also among those inducted at the ceremony. All inductees are ultimately enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, which exists to educate its audiences on the global impact of the rock and roll art form.

Firehouse deployed 24 Crown I-Tech 12000HD amplifiers to power the system, which included 10 VERTEC VT4889 full-size line array elements and eight VT4880A full-size ultra-long excursion arrayable subwoofers per side. Twelve JBL VRX932LA-1 Constant Curvature loudspeakers were also used for signal-delayed fill locations throughout the room.

"Crown I-Tech HD has continued to be our amplifier of choice for major live events such as this. These amps have allowed us to do more with less boxes and the sonic integrity is unmatched by anything else out there," stated Mark Dittmar, lead design and integration engineer for Firehouse Productions. "And, since the ceremony is televised, we need to ensure the PA is not visible in camera shots while at the same time making sure there is adequate sound coverage throughout the venue. JBL's VerTec give us a lot of focused power in a small form factor, which allows us to integrate it into the set nicely," Dittmar added.