Home of the NFL Detroit Lions, Ford Field recently installed a QSC Q-Sys integrated system platform (two Q-Sys Core 3000 main frames and 27 Q-Sys I/O frames) to replace the original system, which was a mixture of analog and networked digital audio using a variety of processors and technology. Durrell Sports Audio handled the system redesign, which occurred just three weeks prior to the 2010 National College Hockey League Playoffs.
According to Durrell audio consultant/integrator John W. Horrell, “Q-Sys is a single point-to-point type of technology that allows the routing of audio inputs to any specific point, which offered us a huge improvement over the series-connected DSP boxes in the old system.” The system can be controlled and monitored via a networked computer system. “[We] provide our national clients with links to their computerized audio systems from our offices here in Nashville. During the NFL season, we have engineers monitoring all the games being played each Sunday. With Q-Sys, we were able to set up management parameters that alert us if there is something that should be looked at.”
Ford Field had a number of QSC PowerLight 4 and 6 amps, which were still serving reliably. As Q-Sys is backward-compatible with these DataPort-equipped amplifiers, Durrell fully integrated those amps into the Q-Sys design, and can control and monitor them just like the newer PL3 and CX models that were added to the inventory.
