Speaker design project for Pyromusicals

[4pyros]

Hi I am new to the forms and looking for some advice and help with a unique project. I am helping with the design of a sound system that we will build to provide the music for firework shows (Pyromusicals). This is unique because this application does not have many of the limitations of an outdoors concert and I have not been able to find any information as to the best setup to use for Pyromusicals. We are starting from scratch, basically, and would like the best bang for our buck.


The owner of the fireworks company has become a dealer for Eminence Speakers to get the best price and is planing on getting amps from QSC.


He has already purchased speakers from Eminence with out much thought on the cabinets for them.
He has two HF drivers with horns, APT200s and PSD3006-8 which as far as I know just need a box of any size because they have horns. The subs he got are KAPPA PRO15s and KILOMAX PRO-18A,which as far as I can tell are best suited for vented enclosures and may not be the best for our setup. At this time we are considering changing the sub choice to single 15 inch sub horns and the subs he purchased will be traded in or sold.


The owners original expectations where to cover the hole hearing spectrum (20-20Khz). After a few reality checks on outdoor system performance we have have lowered our expectations to a more reasonable 40 to 50hz on the low end and as high as we can get out of the HF drivers he has.


Right now we need to come up with the best sub-woofer for our application and spec out power requirements so we can order the amps.


If we consider the following parameters for this project I am thinking we should go with some horn loaded 15”subs. At first I mentioned the LAB15 speaker by Eminence only to come to the realization half an hour later that there has been a box designed for this speaker yet like the LAB12 speaker. So I am back to ground zero trying to find a tried and tested design that we can build that best meets our requirements. At this point I am thinking a folded tapped horn for the LAB 15s. What do you think?


The parameters for this project include the following;


The venues will be about 500 -1000 people in a football field size outdoors setting.
No stage so we don't have to worry about rear consolation.
We are thinking about 4 stacks of speakers spaced out on the ground in front of the audience and very close to them. Within 50 feet.
The size of the subs are not a big consideration where as we will already have trucks and crew their to set up the fireworks.
The power will come from QSC amps power by rented generators.
I am looking at try amplification with a EQ or DSP for crossover settings.
Are hope is to get better than 100DB at 50 to 100 feet across 40 to 15K Hz.
As simple design as we can get for DIY.
Using horn extensions for the larger shows.
Need to use Eminence speakers.
Needs to be a tried and tested design. I can not experiment with the owners money but if it is a tested design than the sky's the limit.


Any ideas for the DIY subs? Let me know if I left out any relevant information. Andy

[blamus]

I'm sure Bill would have some experience here

http://billfitzmaurice.net/

Check out his DIY designs. Post in his forums too.

[tb46]

Take a look at these threads:

jbell's set of four tapped horns

Single sheet TH challenge

Tapped horns using the Eminence 3015LF would be a cost-effective solution for the low end. These are tried and true solutions. You need to work on your project definition as to acoustic output power, transport size/weight, and you'll need something to cover the range from the tapped horn-or other subwoofer-to the high frequency horn.

Regards,

[jbell]

Pretty sure that 40hz isn't going to cut it....

Here's Tom's recording.
Danley Sound Labs - Technical Downloads

3015lf in tapped horn is a good thought though.... I did 114db 40hz sine wave at 30feet with only 50watts per cab on my big cabinet.

[tb46]

Hi jbell,

I hope they are just trying to augment an actual fireworks performance. To get to realistic levels per the Danley's recordings, you might be looking at the Matterhorn :-).

Regards,

[jbell]

Originally Posted by tb46

Hi jbell,

I hope they are just trying to augment an actual fireworks performance. To get to realistic levels per the Danley's recordings, you might be looking at the Matterhorn :-).

Regards,

you're right... I went back and double checked, and I think I misread the original post. I thought they were trying to reproduce fireworks, not just music to coordinate with fireworks...

In that case, yea should be easy and relatively cheap to accomplish with all eminence stuff.

[4pyros]

Yes the sound system would be to provide the music for the shows. In front of an audience with the fireworks about 500 feet behind. We would like for them to fell the bass but it is not a prerequisite. The fireworks are loud so the music will have to loud to but I am not trying to drowned them out. We have been renting systems, some good some bad. We are looking at maximizing a system for Pyromusicals and having more control over the sound reproduction. Thanks Andy

[4pyros]

I am still leaning towards a simple horn with a removable flare extenshoin. Any thoughts?
Has any made one? Andy

[Pano]

That's an interesting idea, a horn that you can take apart for transport. Means longer set-up and strike time, of course.

I suppose you have plenty of space to set it up in when you do the shows, yeah?

[4pyros]

panomaniac; Yes we have lots of room! We are thare all day setting up the fireworks so time is not a big deal. We will be doing 20 or so Pyromusicals a year, some small some big and so a two peace sub mite be best. Andy