SR system Radio City NYC - Moody Blues

[robertbartsch]

My wife and I have attended many concerts this summer - some in very good forums and others in poor venues.

Radio City NYC was the best indoor venue so far. The open outdoor forum at Bethel NY (Woodstock) was the best overall.

The stacks of flying JBLs inside this small hall in NYC (seating est. about 4K) was more than adequate to blow the roof off. This hall was specifically designed in the early 20th centery to provide excellent accustics.

Unfortunately, the engineers keep the sound pressure level very low - my estimate would be around 85db. They did not crank it once during the three hour show.

See the atttached photo of the flying JBL cabs.

[robertbartsch]

I believe the official seating capacity at Radio City is 5500.

Anyway, I think the bass cabs are the smaller flying cabs are located left and right of the two main stacks.

I assume these cabs belong to the hall and not to the Moodys but I could be wrong.

[Don Mascali]

I assume these cabs belong to the hall and not to the Moodys but I could be wrong.

I guess it would be a PIA to fly those at each venue.

[doodlebug]

I recently saw Lyle Lovett and his Large Band at Mountain Winery in Saratoga (San Jose), CA with JBL arrays in use there.

The sound was excellent, not overbearing and quite clear and comfortable befitting the venue and laid-back evening overlooking Silicon Valley.

The band was ripping, too, with the first number being a Charlie Parker tune taken at bebop tempo. Not bad for a country band with half the players from Nashville.

Cheers,

David

[boputnam]

I assume these cabs belong to the hall and not to the Moodys but I could be wrong.

Those Vertec line arrays were spec'd by the Moody Blues - they were flown for that show. There is no full-time installed line arrays at RCMH. Load-in would have started about 6am is my guess, and soundcheck at 3'ish.

Anyway, I think the bass cabs are the smaller flying cabs are located left and right of the two main stacks.

The two longest hangs look like 4889's (x 15 ea), with some smaller 4887's (x 2 ea) off the tail as front fills. The subs are the two smaller hangs of 4880's (x 8 ea). Oldmics would know the models better than I do.

Unfortunately, the engineers keep the sound pressure level very low - my estimate would be around 85db. They did not crank it once during the three hour show.

I would thank him. You likely had great definition and full sound without needing high SPL. High SPL could have caused real trouble with extra room loading and "painting the walls" with reflected waves. I notice there is almost no backline on stage, and no wedges. I'll bet the stage volume is really low too, so the FOH guy had a great chance to deliver a nice even mix without fighting stage wash. Nice...

Great pic!

[Robh3606]

Just saw Steely Dan at the Beacon. Same thing not that loud bit really good definition and clarity. I will take the SPL vs Clarity trade any day. Line arrays were used there as well. The individual horns and vocals on the back-up singers were all clear and easy to hear and understand.

Rob

[DavidF]

I recently saw Lyle Lovett and his Large Band at Mountain Winery in Saratoga (San Jose), CA with JBL arrays in use there.

The sound was excellent, not overbearing and quite clear and comfortable befitting the venue and laid-back evening overlooking Silicon Valley.

The band was ripping, too, with the first number being a Charlie Parker tune taken at bebop tempo. Not bad for a country band with half the players from Nashville.

Cheers,

David

Whoa, what's a NC boy doing up in the hills of Saratoga? Wife and I always thought this place was special but after spending a couple million to upgrade that hill top is too, too nice. JBL equipment is installed. Sitting in the sixth row for Huey Lewis was a surprise for me though. I thought that the front row seating lacked proper vocal mix. Figured I was below the throw of the flying PA and left with the stage fronts that seemed muted. Stange mix that night. Guitars and bass of the lead in group sounded fine but again the vocals seemed buried. No problems when we were sitting futher back.

[doodlebug]

Whoa, what's a NC boy doing up in the hills of Saratoga?

Used to own a house in Capitola and work in the valley - 20 years with HP and now retired from there. I still go back and house-sit for folks I keep up with.

For Lyle Lovette, I had a good seat up in the middle section above the stage and _very_ inline with the flying arrays but a clear, unobstructed view of the entire stage. Like sitting at home and watching the DVD on a _huge_ monitor.

Plenty of great venues out there......

Cheers,

David

[DavidF]

"...Unfortunately, the engineers keep the sound pressure level very low - my estimate would be around 85db. They did not crank it once during the three hour show.

See the atttached photo of the flying JBL cabs.

The last 3 or 4 shows MB shows I have attended were always with VerTec PA support. In a show at the Paramount in Oakland CA a couple of years ago I thought the level was just too loud. We were center, midway back. Not often I actually would prefer less sound pressure but yeah, it was too loud. It was an old theater so likely these old venues are difficult to tame.