EAW K F 8 6 0, KF860 Arrays User Manual

USER MANUAL

for

KF860 ARRAYS

Juno Awards

GM Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Application: Live Sound

Devices Used: KF860, KF850, JF260, KF940, SM200, MX8600

Touring Company: Rocky Mountain Sound

The Laws of Physics / The Art of Listening

EASTERN ACOUSTIC WORKS
PRODUCT USAGE GUIDE:
AN INTRODUCTION

This is the fourth installment in the Eastern Acoustic W orks
Product Usage Guide series. The goal of this series is to offer
concise, accurate guidance on the use EA W loudspeaker
products.

Each guide will offer a concise overview of a particular
product series and illustrate the most common methods
of use. This chapter will focus on the application of the
six most common KF860 Series Virtual Line Array
configurations.

KF860 SERIES

The KF860/VLA Series comprises two

high-output modules optimized to

create vertical line arrays. The Series
comprises two modules – the KF860

which features a 60°horizontal
coverage pattern, and the KF861

which features a 90°pattern for

nearfield coverage . Nominal vertical

coverage is 30°but the each arra y's true

vertical pattern is determined by the size and
configuration of the array as well as by digital signal
processor settings.

Each module contains 2x 15-in woofers, 2x horn-loaded
1 0-in mid frequency cone drivers , and 2x 2-in exit/75mm
voice coil compression drivers on constant directivity horns.

KF860 SERIES BACKGROUND
AND DESCRIPTION

The KF860/VLA Series was originally developed to help
solve specific problems for high-end entertainment industry
events that featured both live and broadcast audiences.
The key design parameters were minimal array size , high
output and broadband pattern control.

Part of the KF860 Series solution was the application
of configuration-specific digital signal processing (DSP)
to maintain pattern control over an exceptionally wide
bandwidth. Settings vary depending on the number of
modules in the array and the angle between adjacent
modules.Thus two crucial elements of any KF860 Series
application are accurately splaying the enclosures and
applying the correct DSP settings.

BUILDING AND PROCESSING
KF860 SERIES ARRAYS

To maintain accurate and repeatable arra y angles, EA W
developed a unique, all-steel rigging s ystem for the KF860
Series that eliminates guesswork. The steel rigging plates that
link modules together fit into steel-tubing brackets on each
end of the module and are secured with quick-release pins.
The reader will find a complete explanation of this rigging
system on pages 7 and 8 of this guide as well as in the
companion publication, KF860 Hardware Instructions.

EA W has developed appropriate settings for the MX8600
Close Coupled Digital Processor to control each of the
KF860 array configurations discussed in this guide. These
settings are available from the ftp (file transfer protocol)
section of EA W's website (www .ea w .com) or can be faxed as
text files for manual entry . These settings are appropriate to
the MX8600 and only the MX8600. Do not attempt to use
these settings in any other DSP unit. Contact EA W's
Application Support Group for more information.

HANGING AND AIMING
KF860 SERIES ARRAYS

Hanging KF860 arrays requires the use of a dedicated
"bumper bar" developed for EA W by A TM, Inc. The bumper
bar accepts the top portion of the rigging plates at twelve
pre-configured locations.

The top module of any array will be aimed at an angle
determined by the bumper bar location selected and the size
and configuration of the array . As most application require
the array to be hung above the intended co verage area, the
bar has been designed to aim the array's output down.
However , the bar can be rev ersed to aim the array's output in
an upward direction. A chart indicating all possible angles
that can be obtained from the rigging system can be found
on page 8 of this guide.

EA W has developed a specially modified hand truck to
assist in rigging KF860 Series arrays. Specific instruction on
its use can be found at EA W's website or by contacting EAW
and requesting the KF860 Rigging Hardware Instructions.

15°

TWO-HIGH KF860 CONFIGURATION

Typical Uses: Distributed ground-stacked clusters, delay
clusters on lifts or scaffolds.
Coverage: 20 degrees (specific angles determined b y aiming)
Bumper Bar Trim Height (nominal): N/A

Splay: The boxes are nominally splayed 10 degrees, which is
the tight-packed configuration. The coverage angle can be
opened up or tightened by splaying more or less than the
nominal 1 0 degrees. Ground-stacking note???

Ground-Stacked Application Shown

5°

-10°

5°

Aiming: The cluster should be aimed so that the seam
between the two boxes points at the farthest seat. This
configuration is tuned for a 200 ft throw .

Processors: Only one EA W MX8600 processor is required.

• For manual entry – use file2xKF860.TXT which may be
found at ftp://ftp.eaw .com/PPSTfiles/KF860.

• For ECORE – use file 2xKF860.EACwhich ma y be found
at ftp://ftp.eaw .com/Process/MX8600

THREE-HIGH KF860 CONFIGURATION

Typical Uses: Theatres
Coverage: +10 degrees to -60 degrees
Bumper Bar Trim Height (nominal): 22 ft

Splay: The three boxes are aimed +5, -1 0, & -35 degrees , so the
boxes should be rigged with 15 degree (upper to middle box),
and 25 degree (middle to downfill box) splays.

Aiming: The cluster should be aimed so that the top box
points at the highest seating area. This configuration is tuned
for a 1 00 ft throw to the farthest seat.

-35°

Processors: One processor should drive the upper two boxes.
This processor is referred to as “main” in the settings.
A second processor should drive the lowest box. This
processor is referred to as “downfill” in the settings.

• For manual entry – use file3xKF860.TXT which may be
found at ftp://ftp.eaw .com/PPSTfiles/KF860.

• For ECORE – use file 3xKF860.EACwhich ma y be found
at ftp://ftp.eaw .com/Process/MX8600