Line Array User’s Manual
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Line Array User’s Manual
Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you have a question about line
arrays or run into a problem
using one of our line arrays,
call our technical support staff.
Phone: 949 588 9997
Ask for:
Jim Mobley (Extension 104)
Jonas Domkus (Extension 135)
E-mail
Jim@renkus-heinz.com
Jonas@renkus-heinz.com
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Line Array User’s Manual
PLEASE take a little time to learn how to get great results with y our
Renkus-Heinz Line Array System. It’s a small investment that will
generate a large pa yoff: more satisfied clients, more efficient
operations and better recognition for your skill as a sound
reinforcement prof essional.
INTRODUCTION
Renkus-Heinz Engineering has developed unique appr oaches to the line array
The Isophasic Plane Wave Generator lens sha pes high frequency response so that vertical arrays produce a
continuous, coherent wavefront whose curvature can be shaped to the audience area by curving the array.
The Midrange Diffraction Baffle used in the PN102/LA and PNX102/LA modules moves the woofers’ acoustic
centers closer together in the horizontal plane to eliminate “coverage collapse” in the crossover region.
The CDT1.5 CoEntrant Driver used in the STLA/9 and STXLA/9 integrates 6.5 inch carbon fiber cone and 2.5
inch voice coil titanium compression drivers into a high output wideband point source.
Line Arrays are not hard to use when you understand how they w ork…
The R&D behind our Line Arra y Systems is grounded in years of practical experience with the problems of
delivering refer ence r eproduction for large audiences at prof essional SPLs. Our engineered solutions include a
simple yet highly accurate software design tool – AimW are. The flying hardware is ke y ed to the design software
and will easily enable you to fly your array at the height and angle determined using AimWare, and with the
proper curvature. Self-powered line array modules include all the system optimization and protection functions
needed to ensure peak performance. Externally-powered modules use RH-Engineered controllers to pro vde
the same high performance with centralized power amplifier racks.
… but curved vertical arrays r equir e diff erent design techniques…
For the past 20 years, sound reinforcement professionals ha ve worked with horizontal arrays that use
megaphone-variant horns to deliver “[more or less] equal power to equal angles.” Vertical arra ys (so-called “line
arrays”) are designed to deliver “[more or less] equal power to equal areas.” This is the key to consistent SPL
and frequency response from the front to the rear of the audience area.
... and unfamiliar operational practices.
Over the years, system designers and operators have developed a number of signal processing techniques to
disguise and partly overcome the limitations of “constant directivity” horns: for more information on these
techniques and their limitations, see our White Papers on the True Array Principle and Refer ence Point Array
design. “Frequency shading,” “amplitude shading,” “system tuning,” all of these are tools of the advanced sound
system operator .
WHILE THESE TECHNIQUES ARE APPLICABLE T O LINE ARRAY S, THEY OFFER LIMITED IMPRO VEMENT TO
THE LINE ARRAYS PERFORMANCE. Instead of enhancing the ar ray’s performance the y could severely degrade
it. This is because line array performance depends on all array modules receiving the same signal at the same lev el,
in order to produce a continuous, coherent wavefr ont. Coverage control is achiev ed by mainly by tilting and
curving the array relative to it’s hang height. Subtle amplitude shading of the bottom most loudspeakers can
improve fr ont to back coverage consistency, but it needs to be used with care.
For more information on line array design practices, refer to pages 10 to 12 of this manual.
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Line Array User’s Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TECHNICAL SUPPORT ......................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................3
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................. 4
LINE ARRA Y SYSTEM COMPONENTS ......................................................................................... 6
PN102/LA SYSTEM.........................................................................................................................................................6
PNX102/LA SYSTEM .....................................................................................................................................................6
ALL PN/LA SYSTEMS.....................................................................................................................................................6
STLA L
INE ARRA Y SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................................................7
STXLA LINE ARRAY SYSTEMS ..............................................................................................................................................7
ALL STLA SYSTEMS .............................................................................................................................................................7
ALL LA SYSTEMS............................................................................................................................................................8
ARRAY DESIGN USING AIMWARE.............................................................................................10
Basic CONCEPTS.............................................................................................................................................................. 10
LINE SOURCE COUPLING ONLY OCCURS AT LONGER WAVELENGTHS/LO WER FREQUENCIES ..................................................... 10
THE LONGER THE LINE, THE LOWER THE FREQUENCIES IT WILL CONTROL AND THE TIGHTER THE BEAM ................................... 10
HIGH FREQUENCIES ARE ALWA Y S RADIA TED FR O M SEP ARATE SOURCES AND WA VEGUIDES........................................................ 10
VERTICAL ARRAYS TAKE ONE OF THREE POSSIBLE SHAPES: FLAT “|”, SYMMETRICALLY CURVED “)” AND
asymmetrically curved “J”....................................................................................................................................... 12
VARIANTS OF THE “J” PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF APPLICATIONS .................................................. 12
LINE ARRAYS ARE NOT “POINT AND SHOOT” SYSTEMS.......................................................................................................... 12
AIMWARE PROVIDES A VISUAL INTERFACE TO THE COMPLEX MATH BEHIND VERTICAL ARRAY OPTIMIZA TION............................. 12
SYSTEM SETUP: ELECTRONICS .................................................................................................13
STLA SELF-POWERED SYSTEMS......................................................................................................................................... 13
Source Signal............................................................................................................................................................. 13
STXLA ELECTRONICS ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
STX Amplifier Selection.......................................................................................................................................... 13
PN/LA ELECTRONICS ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
Source Signal............................................................................................................................................................. 14
PNX/LA ELECTRONICS.................................................................................................................................................... 14
PNX Amplifier Selection......................................................................................................................................... 14
RIGGING PROCEDURES .............................................................................................................. 15
SAFETY FIRST ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Flying Loudspeakers Safely ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Ground Stacking Loudspeakers Safel y.................................................................................................................. 16
Training & Education ............................................................................................................................................... 16
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Line Array User’s Manual
Setup Procedures..........................................................................................................................17
Landing The System & Loading Out ...........................................................................................24
TROUBLESHOO TING & SYSTEM CHECK LIST........................................................................................ 27
X12, X14, X24 ANALOG CONTROLLERS...................................................................................................................................27
D26 DIGITA L CONTROLLER ............................................................................................................................................... 27
EXTERNAL AMPLIFIERS ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
SIGNAL PATH – FOR SELF-POWERED SYSTEMS....................................................................................................................... 27
LOUDSPEAKER WIRING ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
VERTICAL ARRAY CONFIGURATION .................................................................................................................................... 28
FINAL PRE-SOUND-CHECK CHECK ................................................................................................................................... 28
INSTALLATION T OOLS AND SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ........................................................................ 28
ECOMMENDED INSTALLATION TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT .............................................................................................................................. 28
R
TESTING AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................................................................... 29
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Line Array User’s Manual
Thank you for selecting a Renkus-Heinz Line Array System. This manual is intended to help you obtain optimum
performance from your system. Your system is one of the four types described below and on the next page.
PN/PNX SYPN/PNX SY
PN/PNX SY
PN/PNX SYPN/PNX SY
PN102/LA SYSTEMS
PN102/LA Self-Powered Line Array Module. 2x 10" LF drivers with Midrange Acoustic Diffraction Baffles and two
1" exit HF drivers on an Isophasic Plane Wa v e Generator. Engineered for use in vertical arra ys; integral two-
point flying hardware. Self-powered with the PN-1 PowerNet amplif ier: R-Control optional.
PNX102/LA SYSTEMS
STEMSSTEMS
STEMS
STEMSSTEMS
PN102/LA & PNX102/LA
PNX102/LA Line Arra y Module. Designed for bi-amp power with external amplifiers using X-Series analog or
D26 digital controllers for Loudspeak er Specif ic Pr ocessing and protection. Uses the same components and
pattern control technologies as the self-power ed PN102/LA module.
The PNX102LA uses 16 Ohm LF and 16 Ohm HF driver configurations. This enables a single amplif ier to drive
a number of array modules.
ALL PN102/LA & PNX102/LA SYSTEMS
RHANG/LA Fly Bar. Coupled with the two-point angle-setting system on Renkus-Heinz Line Array modules,
it provides a safe, flexible and simple means of flying vertical arrays up to12 deep.
RHANG/LA Tie Bars and Quick-Disconnect pins provide a choice of splay angles and metal-to-metal reliability.
102Dolly holds up to 4 PN102/LA or PNX102/LA modules.
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Line Array User’s Manual
STLA/STXLA SYSTLA/STXLA SY
STLA/STXLA SY
STLA/STXLA SYSTLA/STXLA SY
STLA Line Array Systems
STLA/9 Self-Power ed Line Array Module. 136 dB peak output, yet under 200 lbs. 2x 12" LF drivers and two
CDT1.5 CoEntrant Drivers on an Isophasic Plane Wa v e Generator. Engineered for use in vertical arrays; integral
two-point flying hardwar e. Self-powered with the PM-3 Pow erNet Tri-Amplifier: R-Contr ol optional and
CobraNet inputs optional.
Subwoofer: DR18-2 self-powered dual 18” subwoofer recommended.
STEMSSTEMS
STEMS
STEMSSTEMS
STXLA Line Arra y Systems
STXLA/9 Line Arra y Module. Designed for tri-amp power with external amplifiers using the X14 Controller fo r
Loudspeaker Specific Processing. Uses the same components and pattern control technologies as the self-powered
STLA/9 module.
Subwoofer: DRS18-2 externally-power ed dual 18” subwoofer recommended.
All STLA Systems
RHANGSTLA Fly Bar. Coupled with the two-point angle-setting system on Renkus-Heinz Line Ar ray modules, it
provides a safe, flexible and simple means of flying vertical arrays up to12 deep.
RHANGSTLA Tie Bars and Quick-Disconnect pins provide a choice of splay angles and metal-to-metal reliability.
STDolly holds up to 4 STLA/9 or STXLA/9 modules
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Line Array User’s Manual
ALL LA SYSTEMS
RH Engineering has developed an acoustic lens of the “path length refractor” type in order to change the output of
a horn/driver into a planar wav efr ont. A schematic of the HF section of a Renkus-Heinz Line Array Module looks
like this:
Renkus-Heinz line array modules use pattern contr ol techniques that have been borrowed fr om microwave
research. Since microwaves have characteristics similiar to high frequency sound waves, these techniques are useful
for creating continuous HF wavefronts. The Path Length Equalization Technology used in this device has a significant
advantage over other techniques (such as reflectors and obstacle arrays). Reflectors and obstacle arrays operate
over a relativ ely nar row bandwidth: perhaps four octaves. This limitation is due to the transition from the “ray
model” (reflection) to the “wave model” (refraction and diffraction) that occurs as wav elengths become long in
relation to the reflector or the obstacles.
The path length refractor, how e v er, can generate planar wavefr onts o ver a wide operating band. When higher
frequencies pass through the device, it operates on the “ray model,” as illustrated below:
When the “wav e model” takes over due to the longer wa v elengths, the path length refractor lens functions as
closely spaced array of diffraction slots, as illustrated on the next page.
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Line Array User’s Manual
THE STLA’S COENTRANT DRIVER
The patented CoEntrant Driver integrates the output of a cone transducer and a compression driver into a single
high output, wideband point source. Coupling these devices with Complex Conic horns has generated a number
of highly effective horizontal array modules – the ST Series of products.
The new CDT 1.5 CoEntrant driver has been dev eloped f or use in high output line array modules. It integrates a
6.5 inch carbon fiber cone transducer with a 2.5 inch voice coil compression driv er. The CDT1.5 can be crossed
over as low as 350 Hz, allowing a properly designed waveguide to control dispersion over a fr equency range of
almost six octaves.
CDT (COENTRANT DRIVER TECHNOLOGY) & PWGT: (PLANE WAVE GENERA TOR
TECHNOLOGY): AN IDEAL COMBINA TION
Because of its ability to function as a diffraction slot array at lower frequencies and as a path length refractor at
higher frequencies, the Plane Wa v e Generator is able to control vertical dispersion over the entir e operating
bandwidth of the CDT1.5. A vertical array of these devices will produce a coher ent wavefront from 350 Hz to
19 kHz. The sound system design can shape the vertical dispersion of this wavefront b y altering the splay angle
between modules. This is the k e y to ada pting the line ar ray’s output to a particular venue in or der to deliv er
consistent SPL from front to r ear.
For more information on Path Length Equalization Technology and the Plane Wave Generator, please refer to the
Renkus-Heinz White Paper on “New Approaches to Line Array Module Design. ”
Renkus-Heinz AimWare. Windows software simplifies the design and implementation of PN/PNX and ST/STX
line arrays. Please consult the Renkus-Heinz web site (rh.com or renkus-heinz.com) to download the latest
software releases.
Tie Bars and Quick-Release Pins are included with each Renkus-Heinz Line Array module. They provide simple
selection of inter-module splay angles within a metal-to-metal load bearing system that is independent of the
enclosure structure.
Please devote your time and attention to r eading this man ual. A compr ehensiv e understanding of line array theory ,
curved vertical arrays and specif ic features of your Renkus-Heinz Line Array System will help you to operate these
products safely and obtain optimal performance.
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