d & b audiotechnik Yi12 & Yi8 array on main island stage
St-Laurent points out , as the arrays at both stages are mostly shielded by their roofs , “ but with the winds we can get here , the water can definitely find its way to them – and that ’ s on top of the salty sea air that surrounds us .”
Pays de la Sagouine ’ s technical team also acquired a new Soundcraft Vi1 digital console to share between the two stages . As St-Laurent explains , they needed a desk with at least 40 inputs and , most importantly , local I / O , as they would be using their existing analog snake for the foreseeable future , even though plans are in place to eventually switch to digital .
“ I wanted some nice , high-end preamps to go with these nice new high-end loudspeakers ,” St-Laurent adds about what steered him towards the Vi1 specifically .
Many of the performances happening between the two island stages and in the restaurant feature actors using wireless units . As of now , Pays de la Sagouine ’ s inventory includes 14 Shure UHF-R receivers with 14 accompanying UR1 bodypack transmitters . Among the mic options are eight Shure Beta 58 UR2s , Beta 53 headworn microphones , and some Sennheiser MKE2 lav mics with TA4F connectors .
In part , it was the dynamic musical theatre-style performances and subsequent use of wireless mics on the restaurant stage that informed its new audio package . Outside of some inconsistencies in coverage across the indoor venue , there were ongoing issues with onstage bleed from the mains .
St-Laurent explained to Vey and Cormier that he was using up to a dozen headset mics and thus required minimal PA sound on stage to avoid drastic frequency cuts in his mixes . “ Basically , he wanted the most natural sound possible [ from the performers ],” Vey explains .
Other challenges pertained to the width of the room and the lack of distance between the stage and the first row of seating in the intimate space . That configuration contributed to ongoing issues with poor front and side coverage in the venue .
The restaurant now features a pair of d & b 24S-D dipole point source loudspeakers for primary reinforcement , with one cabinet per
side above the lip of the stage . The dipole design means the horn sits in the centre between a pair of 12-in . drivers . This offers off-axis rejection in the mid range , meaning the two drivers are essentially out of phase on stage and in the surrounding areas while the audience area benefits from full and proper coverage .
A small complement of four d & b E6 multipurpose loudspeakers handles fills for the space – two on the front lip of the stage and two on the side walls – while four B6 subwoofers kick out the low end . Like their counterparts on the island , the restaurant ’ s subs are also weather resistant should the need arise to supplement either outdoor system . Power for the mains and subs comes courtesy of a d & b D30 amplifier while a single D10 drives the fills .
“ Again , the d & b family of products really made it simple to get good , even sound across the room ,” says Vey . “ The small fill speakers blended very well with the mains , making the transition totally transparent .”
Vey says that Francois Corbin , GM of d & b audiotechnik Canada , was instrumental in putting together these packages thanks in large part to an in-depth knowledge of the proprietary ArrayCalc simulation software , particularly for the trickier restaurant space .
“ He ’ s an expert with ArrayCalc and knows his product extremely well ,” says Vey . “ He took the requests from the client along with the images and measurements of the two venues and provided equipment lists and plots of the room coverage for the systems we were proposing .”
That , St-Laurent says , made his decision as easy as it could be . “ When I saw those models , I could see exactly what they were proposing and that every concern we had with the previous system would be addressed . Now , it ’ s a lot better , with far more even coverage .”
While the restaurant ’ s PA benefitted from a total overhaul , it will continue to use its relatively new Behringer X32 at the FOH position . St-Laurent says he and his team have been more than impressed with the control and flexibility it affords them , not to mention the ability to mix remotely via tablet .
Both systems were up and running before the end of the 2017 season , getting a particularly thorough run through their paces during Pays de la Sagouine ’ s programming for Acadian Day . The August 15 th celebration featured performances by four bands on the main island stage throughout the evening , and as St-Laurent reports , “ It was a pretty good test and the results were great ! We definitely got the performance and value we were looking for .”
d & b audiotechnik B6 subwoofers
36 • PROFESSIONAL SOUND