Ranking high in the nightlife scene of Cabo San Lucas, El Squid Roe brings a nightclub and restaurant under one roof and attracts hordes of fun-seeking tourists every evening. The energy of the venue is now complemented by an L-Acoustcs ARCS WiFo sound reinforcement system colour matched to tie in with El Squid Roe’s vibrant decor.
What might have seemed a crazy idea to some in 1989, when the founders Carlos Anderson and Billy abandoned a well-established Mexican restaurant to launch El Squid Roe in an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the Baja California Desert, has turned out to be a runaway success. Thirty years later, the location is renowned as the best party venue in Los Cabos and attracts celebrities such as Beyoncé, U2 and Alex Rodriguez.
L-Acoustics loudspeakers were not unknown to El Squid Roe prior to their permanent installation, as the equipment was rented on several occasions before the club embarked on a major update of the existing PA. Leading Mexican A/V equipment supplier Vari Internacional handled the installation, calling on 34 years of experience to deliver a first-class result.
The venue occupies three floors with an open-air dance floor, five full bars, a restaurant, clothing store as well as private VIP areas, which makes covering the multiroomed space a challenge to the team, with acoustic issues also being a major concern.
‘One of the key challenges we had to tackle were the acoustics,’ explains Vari Internacional Live Sound Sales Engineer, Allan Fernandez. ‘Architecturally, both the roof and main structure of the venue are made of metal, which greatly affects sound quality. On top of that, there were copious amounts of posters and decorations on the walls, which we also had to consider when choosing the system.’
L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D acoustical modelling software was used to help deal with such a complex setting, enabling the team to see accurate visual representations of their calculations, as well as to check for any irregularities that they could evaluate and correct. L-Acoustics Application Engineer Alex Soto was also on site, supporting the Vari team with his knowledge of system configuration and calibration expertise.
To provide even coverage throughout the venue, the final system comprised left/right main arrays of two ARCS Focus and an ARCS Wide, with a single ground stack of two KS28 in a gradient configuration, plus four SB18i subs flown in a standard configuration. Providing fill on level one were LR arrays of two X12 and one 5XT co-axials; on level two, one ARCS Wide per side, with an SB18 plus a single 5XT were deployed, with two X12 providing fill. On level three a further two X12 again provided fill.
Once the system was installed, both the Vari and El Squid Roe teams immediately noticed the difference in performance. ‘It required very little adjustment and the sound was impeccable,’ Fernandez reports. ‘The intention was to deliver a solution that would greatly improve sound quality, and having the venue fitted out with ARCS WiFo was simply amazing.
‘We were told that several of El Squid Roe’s customers complemented the venue on its improved audio, stating that the music sounded not just audible but punchy and crystal-clear. Also, having ARCS in red meant that we could complement the club’s colour scheme – which was noticed by the customers and applauded by the team.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com
