JBL & BSS ROCK WITH METALLICA
BSS FDS-366T Omnidrive Compact plus loudspeaker management systems are being used to drive the JBL VerTec line array systems for Metallica's Madly In Anger European tour. This is the first high-profile outing for BSS FDS-366T's new V2.0 firmware, with Whiseworks-NTM crossover filters and VerTec.
The outstanding audio performance is the result of a collaboration between Rich Rowley of BSS and Scott Opie of JBL, the first implementation of a new NTM tuning designed especially for the JBL VerTec line-array system. Metallica is the first international act to use the new settings, a neat reminder of the first collaboration between Rich Rowley and Metallica's long-term FOH engineer 'Big' Mick Hughes (above) back in 1995 when BSS introduced its first Omnidrive units.
The V2.0 firmware uses filter technology that allows loudspeakers to be taken closer to their operating bandwidths without fear of over-excursion. The technology can make a substantial difference to almost any large loudspeaker system set-up.
Another innovation from BSS, the SB2 software package, is also making its presence felt on the Metallica gigs. The new package offers control of multiple FDS-366T units from a wireless tablet PC, using a complete custom interface which can be personalised to the engineer, and allowing wireless control from anywhere within the venue.
The VerTec system is broken down into five different zones. In the main hangs, there are three zones - for the tops, medium-throws and nearfields - with three Omnidrive Compacts driving these (left and right). A further device drives the side hangs, and the fifth is deployed on two different subwoofer zones, and also sends a signal to the cluster of four VerTecs providing the centre fill.
Commented Big Mick: "Rich told me about the new software, and since I was all set to use VerTec, it made perfect sense to use the Thiele settings; these work very well - the system is way more optimised and it allows us to do our own EQ on top. Once we'd tuned it, I could immediately see the benefits of this new filter."
While he is no stranger to tablet driven devices, this is the first time Big Mick has been able to control different bands of the PA. "This is because we have access to the loudspeaker managements systems," he explained. "It's great to be able to visualise the crossovers and delays and have monitor reference via the custom pages. It means I can wander off anywhere I want to with the crossover tablet inside a stadium - it provides me with enormous flexibility."
Systems engineer Scott Minkley confirmed the FOH man's findings: "The SB2 software works really well and we are able to design our own custom pages to control all the units together or individually. We can open up a mute page showing the Metallica subs - with a single button we can unmute the entire system except for our subs and as Metallica come on stage we drop our subs in and really liven things up! The software is outstanding, and works great, especially the facility to custom-design our own settings."
He is also impressed with the crossover filter. "Now the crossover point between the components is a lot more true - we don't have the leakage and therefore it runs more efficiently. The result is that the whole system runs a lot smoother, it sounds a lot better."
The massive VerTec system was supplied by SSE, and totalled 128 VT4889 elements. These were split across two identical systems that leapfrogged across Europe, ensuring the band's gruelling itinerary was serviced by the very best of production values throughout. Mixing on a Midas XL4, Big Mick first heard the VerTec system whilst in Japan engineering Slipknot, and immediately realised its potential for stadium work.
The other control and monitor set up has come from Michigan-based Thunder Audio, the band's US tour sound vendor. The standard configuration for this six-week section has been two main hangs of 18 VT4889s, two side hangs of 12 elements each and a centre cluster of four for front centre fill. With 180 feet between stacks, the VerTec has impressed everyone in terms of power and coverage, which has been so uniform that they didn't need any delays.
The Metallica tour returns to the US and continues until the end of November, when it will end after 21 months on the road.