San Diego, CA (December 11, 2013)—A Vue Audiotechnik al-8 line array system was recently put to use at Steve Miller’s performance at the Ferguson Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Newport News, VA.
The Vue line array was used in place of the house system at the Concert Hall on the campus of Newport University. Constructed in 2005, the 1,725-seat venue is a popular stop for national and international concert tours and theatrical productions.
“Steve has an extremely loyal following, so we’re accustomed to the bigger line arrays deployed in the larger venues where he typically performs,” explained long-time system engineer for Steve Miller, Tom Martinez. “When I heard we’d have a chance to try the Vue system, I was initially concerned that an 8-inch box wouldn’t provide enough output, or the warmth in the low mid-range that Steve likes. I made some calls and discovered that Mike Adams designs for Vue, and that Ken Berger is also involved in the company. I respect both of these guys immensely so I decided to forge ahead and see what the al-8 was made of.”
Dual al-8 arrays of 10 elements each were configured for 140-foot throw, 26-foot trim, two balconies up to 45 feet deep, and 90 degrees of vertical coverage. A pair of Vue h-15w powered two-way systems were used for additional coverage under each array. Five Vue V6 Systems Engines provided power and processing for the arrays.
“Steve likes a very warm guitar tone, and smooth mid frequencies,” Martinez added. “Most smaller line arrays sound harsh or inconsistent in those areas. The al-8 had all the warmth of a much larger line array and was extremely consistent.”
Getting sufficient coverage and output from the compact Vue line array was an additional concern for Martinez, who admits that he rarely takes chances with new systems in live situations.
“There’s always a certain amount of trial and error when working with a new system,” Martinez remarked. “But I was really impressed with how great the al-8 sounded from the moment we sent signal to it. With almost no tweaking, the imaging was spot on and the coverage was really consistent.”
Vue Audiotechnik
www.vueaudio.com
