When Steve Miller made a tour stop in Newport News, Virginia, system engineer Tom Martinez and FOH engineer, Scott Boorey took the opportunity to put Vue Audiotechnik’s new al-8 Line Array System to the test.
The Vue system took the place of the house system at the Ferguson Center for the Arts Concert Hall on the campus of Newport University – a 1,725-seat venue that regularly hosts national and international concert tours, and theatrical productions.
‘Steve has an extremely loyal following, so we’re accustomed to the bigger line arrays in larger venues where he typically performs,’ Martinez says.
‘When I heard we’d have a chance to try the Vue system, I was initially concerned that an 8-inch box wouldn’t provide enough output, or the warmth in the low mid-range that Steve likes. I made some calls and discovered that Mike Adams designs for Vue, and that Ken Berger is also involved in the company. I respect both of these guys immensely so I decided to forge ahead and see what the al-8 was made of.’
Dual al-8 arrays of ten elements each were configured for 140-ft throw, 26-ft trim, two balconies up to 45-ft deep with 90° of vertical coverage. A pair of 15W two-way systems were used for additional coverage under each array. Five Vue V6 Systems Engines provided all the power and processing for the arrays.
‘The Vue al-8 absolutely surpassed my expectations,’ Martinez reports. ‘Steve likes a very warm guitar tone, and smooth mid frequencies. Most smaller line arrays sound harsh or inconsistent in those areas. The al-8 had all the warmth of a much larger line array and was extremely consistent.’
Getting adequate coverage and output from the compact Vue line array was an additional concern for Martinez, who admits that he rarely takes chances with new systems in live situations. Fortunately, the al-8 had little difficulty keeping pace: ‘There’s always a certain amount of trial and error when working with a new system,’ Martinez says. ‘But I was really impressed with how great the al-8 sounded from the moment we sent signal to it. With almost no tweaking, the imaging was spot on and the coverage was really consistent.’
Low frequencies came courtesy of four Vue hs-28 subwoofers. The compact dimensions of the hs-28 subs allowed for on-stage placement, which left additional space for VIP seating in front. ‘The subs are a very nice complement to the al-8 array,’ says Scott Boorey. ‘They provided great warmth and exceptional low-end punch. They’re really impressive for their size.’
Rounding out the system was a Midas Heritage 3000 console at FOH, and artist-owned in-ear monitors.
‘We typically travel with our own FOH and monitor systems to ensure consistency,’ says Martinez. ‘Essentially we match each speaker system to our mix as opposed to making big console adjustments.’
Boorey and Martinez took a chance on the new Vue line array when others may have opted for familiarity. In the end the al-8 not only delivered but also offered a few surprises for the veteran crew: ‘For such a new company it’s clear that Vue is off to a great start,’ Boorey says. ‘This is a really capable line array with some very compelling technology inside. Vue has definitely got my attention.’
More: www.vueaudio.com
