VerTec line arrays used for Philippines Justin Bieber concert
Published: ASIA
PHILIPPINES: A JBL VerTec line array system described as ‘massive’ was recently used for a Manila concert by Justin Bieber at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. The concert was part of Bieber’s current world tour and reportedly attracted approximately 70,000 spectators.
The front of house system deployed for the concert was supplied by Soundcheck of Manila and comprised 72 VerTec midsize line array elements, arranged in main left-right arrays of 16 each along with two eight-element out-fill arrays and additional signal-delayed arrays.
The system was a mix of VT4888 and powered VT4888DP-DA units equipped with JBL DrivePack technology and the manufacturer’s new DPDA (digital audio) input modules with BSS Omnidrive HD processing. Adding significant low end to the rig’s performance meanwhile was an almost 1:1 ratio of subwoofers versus full range enclosures, with 20 arrayable subwoofers flown in left-right arrays of 10 each, plus a further 24 ground-stacked ultra-long excursion subs.
‘We tuned and aligned the flown VT4880 subs to match and enhance the low-frequency bandpass of our primary line arrays, and then concentrated the sub-low frequencies with the VT4880A subwoofer arrays,’ explained Soundcheck owner Jaime Godinez. ‘This format with a five-way DSP configuration gave us the really ‘big’ sound we were looking for in an open-air setting. Justin Bieber is typically a Clair Global touring account, so the production had extremely high expectations.’
Elsewhere, two signal-delay tower rings, comprising a total of four towers, were in place. These were set at approximately 90m and 140m from the stage. Each tower supported six JBL VT4888DP-DA powered midsize elements plus dual 18-inch subs. Eight VT4888DP cabinets plus eight VRX918SP subwoofers were also used side-fills, while front-fills were catered for with eight VRX932LAP loudspeakers and four VRX918SP subs. Onstage sound was via 12 VRX915M monitors.
All subwoofer crossover and speaker processing was achieved with Crown I-Tech amplifiers, with HD12000s in use for the VT4880As and I-Tech 6000s powering the VT4880s. HiQnet System Architect software was used for remote control and monitoring of the networked system, while a Soundcraft Vi6 digital console was also supplied.