FROM V-DOSC TO K-1: L-ACOUSTICS ENTERS ITS NEXT PHASE

The next two years will witness the gradual roll out of a new line source sound system from L-Acoustics. Branded K-1, the system is expected to represent another major chapter in the success story of the French manufacturer, which was founded in 1984 by visionary Dr. Christian Heil.

    Good reputations in the live pro audio world are hard to come by, and it took immense determination and self-belief for Heil to eventually bring the industry standard V-DOSC system to the market. Although his concept for the Diffuseur d’Ondes Sonores Cylindriques (Cylindrical Sound Wave Generator) was born in the ’80s, it wasn’t until late 1992 that the first V-DOSC prototypes began to circulate.

    Over the course of the remainder of that decade, the term ‘line array’ began to enter the vocabulary of sound engineers and rental companies, and the genre’s current mainstream popularity can be directly traced back to Heil’s pioneering work.

    It’s no wonder then, that when rumours of a new, 21st century equivalent of V-DOSC are being bandied about, professionals want to know more.

    TPi was recently able to speak to Dr. Heil and Stéphane Ecalle, L-Acoustics’ director of marketing, and find out more about K-1 and the future of the company’s V-DOSC Network.

    “L-Acoustics has effectively been involved for many years in a research program concerning the development of a system targeted for the very large audiences; officially the K-1 project,” said Heil. “The initial field testing stage is just about to materialise.”

    So what does K-1 look like? Is it the successor to V-DOSC? Heil: “An heir to V-DOSC is what most users anticipate, but K-1 is not intended to be a straight replacement for V-DOSC. The V-DOSC sequel will consist of a duet comprising KUDO and K-1. People might certainly comment on the similarities between K-1 and V-DOSC formats. However, one will have to analyse both the overall system design and the engineering inside the enclosure to acknowledge that format is not the only criterion to characterise the system.”

    Could you be more specific about your vision for K-1 and KUDO (K -Louver Modular Directivity United with DOSC Waveguide Technology) as a replacement for V-DOSC? Ecalle: “Our market vision consists of developing a scaled line source array offer. On one side, KUDO is particularly well adapted to the theatre and arena markets where vertical coverage and audience geometry require maximum flexibility. On the other side, K-1 features a fixed horizontal coverage pattern and a maximum 5° inter-element angle. This design is clearly optimised for very large stadium applications. The arena market segment will be the overlapping area for both systems where they will operate seamlessly.”

    Do you think sound engineers would share the view that KUDO and V-DOSC systems could be interchanged today? Heil: “We acknowledge that some V-DOSC engineers did not embrace our tonal balance choices for KUDO at the time of its introduction in 2005. We initially made a deliberate choice of offering just a single preset for all three K-Louver settings.

    “The previous DSP/amplifier drive platform did not conveniently offer signal processing on a per channel basis, so driving KUDO with different K-Louver settings within the same array was not an option.

    “Now, with the introduction of the LA8 amplified controller platform, we have remodelled all the KUDO preset libraries and offer 50°, 80° and 110° presets which generate a unique sonic signature for KUDO and V-DOSC systems. With the new KUDO preset library, the sound engineer has a 95% satisfactory tonal balance starting point that he can then adjust further with the contour EQ available in the LA Network Manager software.”

    Ecalle: “We have conducted exhaustive listening tests of the new KUDO preset library. As a result, V-DOSC engineers have started specifying KUDO with the LA8 platform as a substitute or a complement for V-DOSC. Until recently, the only missing link was universal touring rack, but s addressed this autumn with the release of the LA-RAK which will allow for digital and/or analogue signal distribution of all our systems, including KUDO and K-1. This will ensure compatibility between systems within the L-Acoustics rental network.”

PERSUASION
How do you plan to convince a community that has adopted V-DOSC as their system for many different applications? Ecalle: “This situation has been a reality for years, but the environment has changed dramatically since the introduction of V-DOSC in 1993. We have observed that the specification of a large scale system for a small- or medium-sized job is becoming increasingly challenging as the market is inevitably driven by live production limitations.”

    What can you tell us about the performance of the new K-1 system? Heil: “It is too early to provide any form of data, but the market expectations for the V-DOSC succession are in line with V-DOSC’s reputation, or should I say that the bar has been raised higher!

    “In order to surpass V-DOSC, let me just say that we had to put all our know how and our long-term experience of Wavefront Sculpture Technology into the new project. Some very talented system engineers were also involved and as a result I am confident regarding the superiority of the new K-1 system.

    “However, if our ultimate goal is to position K-1 combined with KUDO as the new benchmark for the stadium market, we will need to take the necessary time to finalise and validate the system before considering any formal market introduction.”

    How long do you estimate the initial testing phase of K-1 to last? Heil: “Several years... and as history has told us, a significant number of preset library releases have been necessary to satisfy the community of V-DOSC mixing engineers! Let’s not forget these years of tweaking. Due to the recent evolution of the new system architecture, it will have taken almost three years for KUDO to reach preset library acceptability since its inception in 2005. Therefore, the learning curve in the field is essential for K-1 and it will most probably take around two years before L-Acoustics considers the system ready for introduction.”

    So the K-1 system will not be marketed within two years? Heil: “It would not be reasonable to launch this system on to the international touring market prior to its validation by the ‘touring gurus’. Therefore an initial two-year phase seems mandatory. During this phase we will be looking into some forms of partnership to test the system under the most demanding real world situations.”

    How do you visualise this initial partnership for K-1? Heil: “We are contacting our V-DOSC and KUDO users who have an established presence on the international touring market. For those interested in this K-1 project, we will put together a special partnership for large productions and events. Renting is considered a possibility but I do not exclude any form of collaboration at this point in time.

    “We want to test and experiment with entirely new and hybrid system configurations in stadia including K-1 and KUDO combinations and new generation subwoofers, the whole system being driven with the LA8 amplified controllers integrated into the new touring rack.

    “Testing the new architecture is an ambitious program and there is no room for mistakes or lack of precision. Therefore, we will have to act cautiously in the early stages of this process. This is why we do not see any rush in the process of introducing K-1. Our first priority is to comprehensively test our new approach system from the top and consolidate the unification of our line source systems.”
   
EFFECTS OF SUPERSESSION?
With this announcement, is there a risk of massive V-DOSC resale for fear of its obsolescence against the new K-1 and KUDO combination? Heil: “Unfortunately I don’t have a crystal ball nor do I have any certainties on this particular point. The observation of past events shows us that it takes many years before a new system becomes an industry standard whatever its intrinsic qualities. It took V-DOSC 10 years to gain its reputation.

    Ecalle: “From another perspective, why would a V-DOSC owner consider selling an almost universally requested system on all the technical riders, especially as the systems they acquired years ago have given them one of the best return on investment in the industry?

    “As long as the system is rider-friendly, I believe we will see a long transition with prudent and progressive investments from the rental companies. As a matter of fact, V-DOSC production will be maintained to allow our existing clients to complement their inventories.”

NETWORKING
With these upcoming changes, how do you envision the future of the V-DOSC Network? Heil: “Generally speaking, it is necessary to adapt the different rental networks comprising of the V-DOSC partners, KUDO owners and other providers such as the dV-DOSC companies, and prepare them for a universal system approach. In fact, the V-DOSC Network concept is about to be extended to KUDO and K-1, and future systems.

    “The Network unification is on our agenda and all these rental companies will eventually be part of the same rental network of L-Acoustics line source arrays — the DOSC Rental Network. The concept will be largely inspired by the original V-DOSC Network.”

    How do you plan to structure this merged DOSC Network’? Ecalle: “The DOSC Network will be defined by a chart which will rely on three binding principles. Firstly, the segmentation of the market with a preliminary L-Acoustics audit of the rental activity. This will help determine the best possible system for the rental investor, depending on their activity.

    “We will distinguish three segments — Stadium (50,000), Arena (15,000) and theatre (5,000). There will be a minimum system size, or investment, to cover each segment. As an example, the stadium segment will be covered by K-1. This segment will require an investment of a minimum of 48 elements, the KUDO system, subwoofers and all related system components.

    “The second principle is about access to quality training. This has been a fundamental concept of the V-DOSC Network since its origins in 1993. Each company will undertake a comprehensive theoretical and practical training at the time of purchase of a system driven with the new amplified controller architecture.

    “This certification will allow the companies to keep in touch with the manufacturer in order to receive quality product update and support. The new training approach is being implemented as we speak. It is entirely modular and besides offering practical and theoretical topics spanning on two days, it can be completed with a full day on sound design using Soundvision 3D simulation software.

    “Universal system standard is the third principle. Each system will comply with a world standard encompassing enclosures, amplified controllers, subwoofers, signal and network distribution, cabling, etc.”

    Heil: “This third principle is inspired from extensive experience with the V-DOSC network. Users are today convinced that adopting a unique and universal standard allows them to work very fast, deliver repeatedly and consistently the expected performance level anywhere in the world, with highly qualified technicians sharing a common system language.

    “The standards facilitate co-operation between Network members without any technical interfacing issues. It took us years to build this but this is essential for today’s touring and regional markets.”

    Ecalle: “In other words, the DOSC Network is not only a platform of collaboration between members but an excellence label. By adopting the universal principles of its chart, the DOSC Network members will prove their commitment to human technical expertise and excellence of equipment Both are equally important in the long term success of the DOSC Network.”

COMING SOON...
What’s next on your agenda? Ecalle: “The DOSC Network will be implemented this coming autumn. Of course our existing V-DOSC partners and clients will be considered first and will automatically by-pass the audit phase.

    “The detailed organisation of the DOSC Network, its chart and the tools to facilitate co-operation between members will be put in place progressively during 2008. Most of the information will be published on our website in due course.”

    Heil: “As far as the initial field testing of K-1 and KUDO is concerned, I would like to invite our existing V-DOSC partners to contact us in order to find possible ways of collaboration for the preliminary phase depending on suitable summation of their touring projects and our evaluation goals. Questions and comments can be addressed by e-mail at: doscnetwork@l-acoustics.com.”

TPi

www.l-acoustics.com