Nokia Theatre Goes Live in L.A. With JBL VerTec Line Arrays

Demonstrating the rider-friendly characteristics of JBL Professional VERTEC® line arrays, IPR Services recently sold and installed the new permanent sound reinforcement system at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The 7,100-seat performance venue features a massive VERTEC line array system, based around VT4889 large-format line array elements.

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the Nokia Theatre is part of L.A. Live, a 4 million-square-foot, $2.5 billion sports, residential and entertainment district adjacent to the Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center. The venue offers guests the intimacy of a mid-sized performance venue, with no seat further than 220 feet from the stage. Since opening, the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live has hosted performances by The Eagles, The Dixie Chicks, Neil Young, John Fogerty and Mary J. Blige, among others. This week the venue featured two scheduled nights of performances by rock power-trio Rush, with veteran soundmixer Brad Madix at front-of-house. “I am really liking the way Brad has the system sounding,” noted Keith Evans, in charge of the house sound system for the venue. “Very powerful, detailed and dynamic.”

With the goal of providing an audio system that would fully meet the demands of such accomplished artists as Rush who have a keen focus on sound quality, IPR Services installed a left/right line array configuration featuring 12 VT4889 large-format line array elements per side, four VT4889 line array elements per side for out fill, and two center arrays of three VT4889 line array elements each for down fill. Two flown center arrays of 11 VT4880A arrayable subwoofers (22 total) combine with left/right onstage stacks of eight VT4880A arrayable subwoofer per side to form an overall LCR subwoofer configuration with individual subwoofer arrays configured in forward/reverse firing cardioid mode. Coverage is complemented by two VT4889 line array elements integrated with the left/right subwoofer ground stacks and stage lip front fills consisting of six VT4887A compact line array loudspeakers. Crown amplifiers power the system, which also includes two Soundcraft Vi6 digital consoles.

According to Bob Patrick, owner of IPR Services, the decision to install VERTEC line arrays hinged on the product’s sonic qualities and rider-friendly attributes. “It’s important to have a rider-friendly system and VERTEC is one of the most rider-friendly line arrays in the industry,” he said. “Additionally, we have had tremendous success with VERTEC in past projects, such as the WaMu Theater in Seattle. So we installed the system at the Nokia Theatre with the highest level of confidence.”

“As a result of VERTEC’s popularity in the tour sound market, a growing number of performance venues are using VERTEC to provide rider-friendly, permanent sound reinforcement systems,” said David Scheirman, Vice President of Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “We are pleased to see the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live already receiving benefit from their investment. The venue is being well-served by the fidelity, output capabilities and precision coverage of VERTEC line arrays, as well as the system-integration expertise of IPR Services.”

For more information on IPR Services, please visit www.iprservices.com or call 626-893-4042.

About JBL Professional:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, JBL Professional is the world’s leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of professional loudspeakers for recording and broadcast, musician, cinema, touring sound, commercial sound and contracting applications. JBL Professional is part of the Harman International network of professional and consumer audio companies. For complete product and company information, go to the JBL Professional website at www.jblpro.com.


About the Harman Pro Group:
Headquartered in Northridge, California, the Harman Pro Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets. The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR. Harman Pro Group companies include AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, dbx, Crown International, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer.

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