I am new to using EASE. I have watched the YouTube videos put out by Turbosound and they helped me create what I think is a reasonable representation of my target audience area as well as adding my target sound sources. Now I could use some help interpreting what the program is showing me so I thought I'd start with this forum where I am already a member.
My goal is to use EASE to model our most challenging outdoor venue, which happens to be a winery, and then to try out different loudspeaker configurations to see what will provide the best coverage and SPL. I started with the DB Tech IG3T speakers because they fit within my other criteria which are as follows:
- Budget. I can afford 4 of these speakers.
- Lightweight which makes stacking easier
- Get the mid/highs as high as possible without rigging/flying speakers (see last paragraph)
- Built in presets for use in pairs
- Wide horizontal coverage
When I first viewed the results and saw all of the "cold" blue in the middle and rear of the audience areas, I thought these speakers were a bust. But then I looked at the SPL numbers and, if I'm reading them correctly, this setup will produce ~98dBA on the centerline, at the point where the deck starts (the rectangle at the rear of house right) which isn't pounding but seems reasonably loud to me.
My questions are as follows:
- What is controlling the initial SPL level of each speaker cluster and is it set correctly?
- Am I reading the SPL figures correctly and do people think 98dBA is reasonable at 135'?
- I am using Direct SPL A weighted, is that appropriate for a system with a 90 Hz HPF?
- Is "IG3T double" the right cabinet setting to use for a vertical pair of these speakers?
- I see white squares on the edges of the audience areas, especially house left, what is that telling me?
- Is there anything I should do to fix or improve my model?
I am trying to honor Tim McCullouch's maxim that there is no magic box, rather the key is getting the speaker system up in the air, but to do so without getting into the "rigging speakers" business. Mainly for safety, but also for budget, transportation, and time to setup and strike concerns. Please feel free to suggest other system possibilities or share your own solution for a venue like this winery.