Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Line Array speakers

This is topic Line Array speakers - useful in movie theatres? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 01-04-2011, 11:37 AM:

Line array speakers appear to be an ideal component for movie theatres, but, considering that no one is using them, there must be some drawback.

Might it be that the dispersion angle is too wide, thus not allowing a tightly defined left center and right region for the audience?

Or might it have something to do with the B Chain audio processing equipment?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-04-2011, 11:46 AM:

Most of them just don't have the capability of the controled coverage and spl

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-04-2011, 01:14 PM:

What Gordon said, and another thing that so many people can't get through their thick heads (I am referring to so many folks who, in trying to save a buck on installs, try to substitute speakers) is that film tracks are mixed using speaker systems with the specific characteristics, and use of other speakers will result in very unsatisfactory sound.

Some examples I have encountered:

A home screening room where the vendor installed $50,000 "high-end" music speakers..they sounded great with music sources but were very harsh and made dialog unintelligible when running film.

Another room used live sound speakers from a major player in sound reinforcement, there was NO apparent separation from the screen channels.

There are reasons why there are so many types of speakers available...you MUST match the speaker's design to its intended use or you will suffer the consequences.

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 01-04-2011, 05:43 PM:

Not only they have wide horizontal coverage and low vertical (so you can point diferent are with array of them) in cinema as is stated you need to have sound comming from one place, so in that case you have big horns to achieve high pressure and coverage with single driver. Even array could be used with careful aligment, you still have problem that you can't aim that good and put em near screen. But, closes thing to array in cinema is JBL screen array which consist of number of mid driver which are made in that way so that drivers don't cancel each other. On other side, if array is not aimed or controlled in good manner you can have canceling or bad phase rasponse in some places at some frequencies.

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 01-04-2011, 07:07 PM:

There are a few line arrays out there in high end large houses.

They are very pricey of course and setting the vertical pattern is an issue.

Overkill for all but the largest of venues.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-04-2011, 09:53 PM:

I have an opinion...

Line Arrays are a bit overused in general. They have their place but rarely in cinema. I firmly feel that the suspension of disbelief depends on point sources coming from behind the screen and Line Arrays don't to that well.

I also believe that the sound should be reflective of the seated position. That is, if you sit in the rear of the theatre off to the far corner...then not only will your picture be smaller (perception) and skewed...so should the sound be to match that. It shouldn't sound too big...and I've heard that.

The only time I could see using a Line Array in a cinema is if the venue is SO big that one has to admit they are going to fail at presenting the sound in any semblance of proper anyway and is thus playing a came of compromises.

-Steve

Posted by Marin Zorica (Member # 1716) on 01-05-2011, 05:05 PM:

Steve did mentione good point, I did discuss that with some people, well....some people like to sit in middle of room, some on back, some on front.....we don't talk on issue when room is full of crowd and there is no place to sit, but people just "like" some seats in cinema, and as I notticed, most of people that sit from back don't like loud sound, as I did get from talk with some of my friends.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 01-05-2011, 11:42 PM:

Just out of curiosity...are there any studios in the Northern California area which mix / produce movie soundtracks?

It would be interesting to see one of these studios first hand.

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 01-06-2011, 12:41 AM:

Lucasfilm Skywalker ranch does a number of mixes for Pixar and many other clients.

Good luck getting an invite.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 01-06-2011, 01:01 AM:

quote: Sam D. Chavez
Good luck getting an invite.

Not surprising, but too bad. Apparently the Stag Theater has an amazing TAD 3-Way System.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 01-06-2011, 02:15 PM:

quote: Sam D. Chavez
Good luck getting an invite.

Sam, I'll buy you breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you could get us in there for a tour.

Food offer subject to change without prior notice.

But seriously, I'm sure I would learn a great deal from it.

Thanks for all the opinions / facts from everyone. [Razz]