PROVANTAGE / Production Notes 09
Line array or point source? Start with the audience geometry.
Loudspeaker format should follow coverage, throw, vertical control, rigging, sightlines, low-frequency strategy and deployment constraints—not event prestige or box count.
The selection principle
START WITH
THE APPLICATION.
Model the venue and audience first. Select the smallest coherent system that can deliver the required coverage, headroom and control with safe, practical deployment.
Equipment follows the production decision.
Five-question selection check
Geometry
How wide, deep, steep and vertically layered is the audience area?
Control
How much vertical and horizontal directivity is needed to avoid ceilings, walls and stage microphones?
Throw
Can the system maintain useful consistency from nearest to farthest listeners?
Deployment
What rigging, ground-support, trim-height, sightline and access limits apply?
Programme
What headroom, bandwidth and low-frequency behaviour does the content require?
Application notes
Context changes the answer.
Point source
Often effective for compact rooms, distributed systems, fills and audiences that can be covered coherently from one or several controlled positions.
Line source
Variable-curvature arrays can shape vertical coverage over deeper or tiered audiences when array length, element count, trim and prediction support the design.
Hybrid system
Main arrays, point-source fills, front fills and delayed zones may work together when every transition is deliberately predicted and aligned.
The common mistake
Choosing a line array because the event is important
A prestigious event does not change acoustics. An oversized or inadequately deployed array can create poorer near-field coverage, excessive spill and unnecessary rigging complexity.
Operational checklist
Brief. Test. Document.
01 / Build an audience and venue model
02 / Set coverage and level targets
03 / Compare viable source locations
04 / Predict each candidate system
05 / Resolve rigging, sightlines and power
06 / Measure, align and walk the deployed system
Technical sources
Primary references.
These sources support the technical principles. They do not imply endorsement, inventory ownership or a universal equipment recommendation.
The PROVANTAGE position
A better brief produces a more dependable system.
We select, place and operate production technology around the room, programme, people and consequences of failure.
Plan the technical brief