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An all-weather, state-of-the-art sound system was installed at Memorial Stadium, the football stadium at the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana, features four MSL-10 loudspeakers, four M10A control electronics racks, and a fiber optic control network. C.V. Lloyde Music Center of Champaign, Illlinois, designed the new system, which was installed in July, 1995. The stadium, which seats 70,000, is used for home football games at the university.
The MSL-10s are installed in the stadium's new scoreboard. When it was built in 1994, the new scoreboard blocked the stadium's old scoreboard and speaker towers. To provide a sound system for the 1994 season, C.V. Lloyde Music Center rented the university four MSL-10s hung from scaffolding. "The university was pleased with the sound of the MSL-10s," says C.V. Lloyde, owner. "They knew that the stadium's sound system didn't absolutely require the kind of low-frequency response the MSL-10s were providing, but they hoped that whatever new system they installed would provide it."
In 1995, the university began considering proposals for a permanent sound system. After reviewing all the proposals, the university accepted C.V. Lloyde' Music Center's, which called for installing MSL-10s in the new scoreboard, installing under-balcony fills around the stadium, and controlling the entire system with the latest Crown IQ components, connected on a fiber optic network.
"The most important thing about this installation," says Lloyde, "is that by going first class, specifying the MSL-10s, we were able to be the lowest bidder, because of the high performance we delivered for the price."
Electronic equipment for the new sound system is distributed over four locations. A temperature-controlled room in the scoreboard holds the M10A amplifier racks. Two additional rooms under the long sides of the stadium hold other sound system electronics. The announce booth, high above the end zone opposite the scoreboard, holds the control panel for the entire system.
The sound crew found the MSL-10s surprisingly easy to install. "We booked a crane for the enitre day," says Stephen Morris, C.V. Lloyde Music Center's vice president, "but we had all four speakers bolted in position after only 45 minutes. They're installed in the top of the scoreboard. From there, they have a throw of about 850 feet."
Morris points out that the loudspeakers and racks in the scoreboard have to withstand brutal weather conditions. "There's a spring game every year in May," he says, "even though we may have had an ice storm in late April. Then, in August, when the temperature and humidity may be in the nineties, the speakers have to work for the first game of the regular season. That's why the equipment room in the scoreboard is temperature-controlled, all year round. The loudspeakers themselves have held up fine. They're delivering excellent sound pressure throughout the stadium, even when we have strong north-west winds."
"We think the new speakers are terrific," says Dana Brenner, associate athletic director at the university. "The sound quality's the best it's ever been in Memorial Stadium. We've been receiving favorable comments from our customers, both single-game ticket holders and season ticket holders."
Lloyde says the university's footballs announcer is also pleased with the system, particularly its frequency response, clarity, and dynamic range. "He has a background in radio broadcasting and appreciates a good system."
In addition to the MSL-10 and under-balcony loudspeakers, the sound system includes the latest Crown IQ equipment, programmed with a hierarchical ranking and EQ settings for each microphone in the sound system. Turning on a microphone with a higher priority than others causes the Crown IQ components to automatically EQ the entire system for that microphone. "This works well at football games," days Lloyde. "If a referee turns on his lavaliere mic, the system instantly adjusts itself for a mic down on the field, rather than for the announcer's mic in the booth. When the referee has finished announcing his decision, the system automatically adjusts itself again for the announcer." The fiber optic network connecting the EQ components ensures that this change occurs instantly.
Both Lloyde and Morris appreciate the support they received from Meyer Sound during the design and installation of the system. "We've had tremendous support from Meyer Sound," says Morris. "They addressed our initial concerns about the system's overall volume, and they made sure the system was installed and adjusted correctly."
Lloyde concurs. "everyone at Meyer Sound was extremely helpful from the very beginning," he says. "Bob McCarthy double-checked our designs, and throughout the installation was available to give us everything we needed. We also received a lot of help from Meyer's engineering manager, Pete Soper."
While C.V. Lloyde Music Center was installing the stadium, they received another order from the university, this time for five UPA-2s to augment the cluster of twelve UPA-2s in the Assembly Hall, the university basketballl stadium. "The order for UPA-2s was a pleasant surprise," says Lloyde, "and a testimonial to the quality of Meyer speakers."
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