JF Sound Corp. deployed a large-format dBTechnologies VIO system for the 53rd edition of Clamor a Dios, held on the north side of the Puerto Rico Capitol in San Juan.
Led by Puerto Rican evangelist Jorge Raschke, the annual interdenominational gathering brought Christian worship music, prayer and messages of faith to the Capitol grounds. The program began at 10:00 a.m. and continued for more than four hours, with the congregation remaining in place through a heavy downpour.
Led by system designer and front-of-house engineer Juan Fuentes, JF Sound designed the system to cover a 300-foot-wide outdoor audience area on the Capitol grounds, extending approximately 300 feet in depth from the Capitol steps.
The system was built around 24 VIO L1610 three-way line-array modules distributed across four hangs. Two served as the main system, providing the throw required to reach the rear of the audience area, while two additional hangs addressed its considerable width as out-fills. Four of the new VIO L1608 three-way line-array modules provided front-fill coverage for the first rows, supported by eight VIO S218 subwoofers.
On stage, four ultra-compact VIO X206 loudspeakers were flown from the truss as low-profile stage fills, minimizing visual obstruction around the performance area. Four of the latest VIO W12T active coaxial wedges provided stage monitoring. A Yamaha CL5 was used at front of house, with a Yamaha DM7 handling the monitor mixes.
“The site required both distance and considerable horizontal coverage, so we designed the system as four VIO L1610 hangs,” said Fuentes. “The two main arrays carried the program to the rear of the audience area, while the out-fill hangs extended coverage across its full width. The VIO L1608s allowed us to cover the first rows with a compact system that integrated naturally with the larger arrays.”
Changing temperature, humidity and wind conditions during an outdoor event can affect the way sound travels over distance, particularly at higher frequencies. Throughout the low-pressure weather system and heavy rain, the VIO system-maintained even coverage across the audience area. Aurora Net software provided real-time system monitoring and control of EQ, delay and levels, giving the JF Sound team the ability to respond to changing atmospheric conditions from front of house.
JF Sound has worked with dBTechnologies VIO systems for approximately two years and maintains an extensive inventory spanning the VIO touring portfolio, including VIO L1610 and L1608 line arrays, VIO X206 and X205 point-source systems, VIO subwoofers and VIO stage monitors.
“What stands out to me about VIO is its ability to produce a strong, coherent result across systems of very different sizes,” Fuentes added. “We can combine the different elements of the VIO family to address the venue, the audience area and the requirements on stage while maintaining the same overall sonic character.”
Fuentes mixed the event at front of house and was also responsible for system design and alignment. Luis Guzmán served as monitor engineer, supported by front-of-house assistant Carlos Alvalle and stage technicians Elias Pacheco and José Fuentes. Lizza M. Rivera served as production manager.
