Johannesburg-based Stage Audio Works recently held a training seminar on d&b audiotechnik line array technology at their Strijdom Park training centre on 5 and 6 November, 2013. Burton Reid, the preeminent local d&b expert, disseminated a multi-part course aimed at introducing the participants to line array theory and the use of the d&b ArrayCalc and R1 remote control software. The ArrayCalc software enables d&b system designers to plan T, Q and J series line array systems and configure distributed subwoofer arrays while the R1 allows remote setup and management of d&b loudspeaker systems.
Day one of the seminar kicked off with a brief history of d&b audiotechnik and an outline of the d&b System Reality – d&b’s holistic approach to designing entire systems as opposed to merely system components. A section on basic audio theory was next, priming the trainees for line array theory which followed. Next an overview of d&b products was presented including the Q-, T-, and V-series loudspeaker systems which preceded a section on d&b D-series amplifiers and the d&b CAN remote network topology. After a short break the ArrayCalc software was presented in depth where participants were given a hypothetical system scenario to tackle.
Day two of the seminar an R1 practical exercise was held. In this exercise each trainee learned how to program an R1 control file from that ground up that contains all control elements for a virtual system. Also presented was a d&b factory tour, a section on directional low frequency sources and rigging systems. The day ended at 13:00 and all trainees that attended both days received attendance certificates.
