Software for this conundrum has been developed, but it can’t turn a 3-dimensional debacle endemic to stereo into a 2-dimensional solution via EQ, if that makes sense.
So a geometric problem for sure. But I’d hold that speakers of
any kind are not designed to solve problems, per se. They’re (ideally) designed to optimize a given costs/benefits performance relationship based on their purpose.
It may seem like I’m arguing nuances of meanings, but think of it this way: your own speakers (
@srrxr71 ) are notoriously successful at turning a seat into a pair of “megacephalophones”. Line arrays ideally try to do the opposite.
Absolutely. You said
try to do. That’s a part of the problem but also inverse square law is huge part of the problem.
So let’s say even if feed these line arrays a mono signal it’s still not going to be fun to be directly in front of one of them.
This is going to be an unsolvable problem for large audiences i suppose. I suppose we will just have to live with what is possible for such venues and accept the compromises.
For small audiences perhaps we can beam form to each individual.
The craziest PA system I’ve ever heard was the one they installed in Las Vegas for Beatles - Love by Cirque du Soleil.
That place must have had 5000-10000 transducers easily. Each seat had maybe 3. One behind each ear and sub under the seat. Maybe 5? With a quad pattern on the headrest? I don’t remember but it was impressive.
This is on top of all the other PA speakers they had.
Still can I say what I heard in my seat is close what somebody heard 3 seats over?
The megacephalophones setup for me is just great. It’s the same setup the mixing engineer used.
When it comes to line arrays I’ve only heard them outdoors I don’t think I’ve yet heard one indoors. So indoors it gets to another level of complexity unless the indoors is an anechoic chamber.
Who knows someone hears near the wall or away from the wall?
I was looking at some Bose line arrays and they actually have inserts which can vary the horizontal dispersion between 50-120 degrees. So maybe the 50 degree insert will make them also megacephalophones as well.
If I had to put line arrays near a wall I’d probably deploy those. And maybe keep a pair closer to the center (but far enough from each other) with a wider horizontal dispersion.
But then again I really have no idea how all that stuff works. However it seems the PA side of this industry is in the middle of a renaissance as well. People are going crazy over some new Danleys and some other new ones that just came out.
They seem to be learning and improving too.