The designs for this (and AFAIK all previous) ShoWest ballroom stereo "product reel" presentations have originated in my office, so blame me, not QSC. But, as those who know me well will testify, I am truly a lazy sack of s**t, so if there was a way to do the Paris Ballroom well without using all those amps, I'd be doing it!

John Gordon has done a good job describing the load of stuff we use, let me just point out why. The room is really, really big in length and width, but it is way too low. (Of course, prior to the room's construction, we were brought out to consult with the architects on how to best provide for the projection of film, and of course not one of our suggestions were incorporated.)

To get even coverage we use multiple triamped stage speakers with a variety of "Q's", that is, different horn patterns for near, middle and far from the screen.

For the surrounds we use biamped speakers with Q's for near and far on many surround time delay circuits.

The 5.1 channels get divided by zone of coverage, then by horn pattern, then get bi- or tri-amped, time delayed to correct for cabinet placement, eq'd parametrically, blah, blah, blah. It's the need to use all these specially tailored zones, which is in part due to the low ceiling, that forces us to use so many amp channels.

As to your comments about "What does this have to do with reality...", I guess its kinda like the connection between NASCAR and buying the family minivan, one hopes that somthing is learned in the over-the-top activities that finds its way into the everyday product.

John Pytlak:

You're right they're always too loud. I try to mitigate that by two methods. First, by using adequate power we try to prevent the distortion that is what most folks really mean by "ear splitting volume". Second with the system described above we're able to achive a suprisingly even level throughout the entire room. Last year actual objective measurements indicated no channel varied by more than 4 dBc in the seating area. This eliminates the "suit" standing near the projection booth from hearing a low level and demanding that the system is cranked to a level that makes the ears of the people in the first 50 tables bleed. Still, if they're paying way into six figures to feed rubber chicken to these people, the rule seems to be "Its My Party, And I'll (run it so f'in loud they'll) Cry If I Want To" Sorry...there's no excuse for that sort of thing.....

I agree the ShowEast video was lame. At ShoWest this time there's only one film "product reel" so far, and one on video. We are running some film (TBD) in Jubilee and Theatre De Arts also. BL&S is doing the technical stuff again, aided as always by Local 720 folks.

Jeffry:

We try to adress the "studio executive" setting the level too loud by electropolitical means; we have the controls run by an individual capable of coerceing the "suits" into rational thought due to his position in the industry.

Sorry I blabbed on so long. You can come kick me at booth 1617.