Baltzell Audio Design And ATK AudioTek Utilize JBL VERTEC® Line Arrays At 2009 Academy Awards

The 81st Annual Academy Awards took place February 22, 2009 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, commemorating the film industry’s most accomplished professionals and productions of 2008. For the event, Valencia, CA-based audio system provider ATK AudioTek deployed the sound reinforcement system, which was designed by Pat Baltzell of Baltzell Audio Design and included JBL VERTEC® line arrays.

One of the biggest nights in entertainment, the 81st Annual Academy Awards were broadcast live on ABC and were hosted by Hugh Jackman. The evening’s highlights included “Slumdog Millionaire” winning Best Motion Picture of the Year, Sean Penn taking home Best Leading Actor for his performance in “Milk,” and Kate Winslet earning Best Leading Actress for her role in “The Reader.”

As with numerous high-profile events in recent months, including the Presidential Inauguration, the GRAMMY Awards and the EMMY Awards, Pat Baltzell designed an audio system built around JBL VERTEC line arrays. “I have had tremendous success working with VERTEC for some of the most-watched events of the year,” Baltzell said. “The Academy Awards presented another opportunity to utilize the easy rigging and reliable performance of VERTEC line arrays.”

The main PA system included two arrays in a left-right configuration, each containing 14 JBL VERTEC VT4889 full-size line array elements. Additionally, 140 JBL Control 25T surface-mount loudspeakers were set up underneath the audience seats in critical-listening VIP areas for the nominees and special guests. These were powered by Crown I-Tech 4000 amps.

Additional JBL elements in the overall system design included MS28 low-profile loudspeakers for under-balcony fill, along with two EON 10 G2 portable loudspeakers for backstage announcements, and six EON 15 G2 portable loudspeakers for red carpet announcements.

According to Baltzell, the VERTEC line arrays once again performed to expectations. “I was able to tune the system very quickly and focus my attention on mixing for the variety of performances and presenters throughout the evening,” Baltzell said. “The VERTEC line arrays allow me to operate with confidence in the technology, which makes a huge difference.”

“Our continued collaboration with Pat Baltzell for events like the EMMY Awards, the Super Bowl, and now the Academy Awards, has proven to be very successful, and the VERTEC line arrays have played a significant role in that success,” said Scott Harmala, Vice President of Engineering, ATK AudioTek.

For more information on ATK AudioTek, please visit www.atkcorp.com

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Soundcraft Announces Lower-Priced Si2 Addition To Si Series Digital Console Family

Digital consoles seem to be freely flowing from the Soundcraft Studer team these days, as a new member of the Si Series is announced. The Soundcraft Si2 is a smaller partner to the Si3, launched only in September last year, and is bound to appeal to those wanting a compact and highly-featured digital console at a competitive price.

The Si2 comes in a smaller footprint than its bigger brother, and has 48 mic inputs mapped on 24 faders (the Si3 has 64 inputs), but this is where the differences end. The Si2, like the Si3, has four dedicated Stereo Line channels, four dedicated FX Returns from the four stereo Lexicon FX processors, 8 balanced insert sends and 8 balanced insert returns. Si2 is complete with 24 Group/Aux busses available at all times, 8 matrix busses and a full complement of monitor talkback and main bus outputs. One of the most unique and compelling features of the Si series is that every input and output has its own dedicated input (output) socket on the back of the console.

Like the Si3, the Si2 uses a combination of rotary encoders and OLED screens on every channel so the engineer mixes at source, without recourse to a central screen; an interface welcomed by many engineers since the console’s launch last year. Four assignable on-board lexicon effect engines supplement 4 stereo inputs to provide a really powerful mix package in a width of 1.4m for a UK list price of £17,950.

This package will be highly suited for installations where a smaller footprint is critical, such as theaters, houses of worship and smaller tour sound systems.

With all input and output connections and power supply on board, the Si2 can simply drop in where an existing analog console sits, utilizing existing copper cable snakes and splitter systems.

For more information and to find out what the reviewers are saying, visit www.soundcraftdigital.com.

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