Recently making their worldwide debut at Prolight + Sound 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany, L-Acoustics’ new ARCS WIDE and ARCS FOCUS systems are based on two constant curvature enclosures holding distinct directivity pattern and SPL capabilities.
ARCS WIDE and ARCS FOCUS
Intended for medium-throw applications in rental productions and fixed installations, these line sources promise acoustic properties and versatility for many applications, including FOH L/R systems, central clusters, side-fill monitors, distributed systems and complementary fills.
The main systems components comprise ARCS WIDE (30×90 degrees, HxV) element, wide coverage; ARCS FOCUS (15×90 degrees, HxV) element, focused energy; SB18m low frequency extension, operating down to 32 Hz; and LA4 or LA8 amplified controllers
The ARCS WIDE or ARCS FOCUS line sources provide high SPL with reliable acoustic coupling, LF performance and constant tonal balance over distance. Both systems can be deployed as either a horizontal or vertical array.
In the coupling plane, the ARCS WIDE and ARCS FOCUS yield a sharp directivity pattern, particularly valuable to sector audience fields while avoiding reflective surfaces. In the other plane, both systems provide a smooth 90-degree symmetric directivity pattern.
The ARCS WIDE is suited to achieve an extensive coverage with few elements, offering a compact array that preserves sight lines. L-Acoustics states that the total coverage angle of an ARCS WIDE line source is proportional to the number N of enclosures in the array, i.e., N x 30 degrees.
The ARCS FOCUS line source focuses the same acoustic energy within half of the coverage angle, i.e. N x 15 degrees. The ARCS FOCUS is said to be suited to achieve a narrower coverage, offering a higher SPL with a more extended throw than its sibling.
Find more information on L-Acoustics ARCS WIDE and ARCS FOCUS systems.
LA Network Manager 2 system
In addition to the Prolight + Sound 2012 launch of its new ARCS WIDE and ARCS FOCUS systems, L-Acoustics announced the release of its new LA Network Manager 2 software (for PC only) and its suite of interactive tutorials.
Completely rewritten from scratch on both network communication and GUI standpoints, LA Network Manager 2 features an application-driven approach that takes the user through the workflow steps of Setup, Tuning, and Live by implementing the tools required for each task into their own dedicated page. A graphical interface optimized for tablet PC use allows for placing units and groups in the workspace in a way that reflects their location in the field. The software offers automatic discovery of the units connected to the network, including hot-plugged units, and new tools such as Unit Matcher, Custom Preset Builder and Preset Bank Builder. With the software, users can assign units to multiple groups for advanced system management and tuning strategies.
LA Network Manager 2 software is available for free download from L-Acoustics’ Website.
