New North Carolina venue equipped with Powersoft system

Isis, a new concert venue in Asheville, North Carolina, opened this month with a sound system featuring eight Powersoft power amplifiers.

Two Powersoft Duecanali 5204 DSP+AESOP and one Duecanali 3904 DSP+AESOP drive the main system of two EAW QX564 three-way loudspeakers in the music hall. A K8 DSP+AESOP provides power to a pair of EAW SB1002 subwoofers positioned below the stage, while one M28Q HDSP+ETH supplies power to the balcony fill system of four EAW MK8126 two-way loudspeakers.

An additional three Powersoft Duecanali 3904 DSP+AESOP amplifiers were set up specifically for the monitor system. Six EAW MicroWedge 12 floor monitors and a single 15-inch EAW MicroWedge Sub cover the stage.

Tom Brockenbrough Jr., principal of Summit Communications Systems, designed and installed the sound, lighting and video systems at the venue. In addition to the Powersoft amps and EAW speakers, Brockenbrough also supplied a Midas Pro2c digital mixing console to handle both front of house and monitor duties.

Ken Blecher, Powersoft EVP, introduced Brockenbrough to the amps on a visit to Asheville during the venue’s construction. “When Ken took the time to visit us during our selection process, we were sold," said Brockenbrough. "He cracked the lid of a K Series and it was obvious that they had changed the game. I’d never seen a design like this before. I am happy to say that Ken and Powersoft delivered in every way.

“I was pretty set on using EAW’s DSP, but as Ken demonstrated, I was able to load the EAW factory presets into PowerSoft’s DSP and was presented with a GUI also unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The process of building up virtual racks and applying EQ groups across multiple amplifiers is the most intuitive and user-friendly interface that you could ask for."

Brockenbrough, who will oversee the system at the music hall for the initial schedule of performances, is using Powersoft’s Armonía Pro Audio Suite PC software to control the eight Powersoft amplifiers from the front of house position, and has also configured presets within the software for a set-up of six two-way wedge mixes or four two-way wedge mixes plus a three-way mix, integrating the MicroWedge Sub.

”I’m proud to say that we’ve created a landmark. This system feels and sounds better than anything I’ve ever come across in a 350- to 400-head room, and we are just getting started,” concluded Brockenbrough.

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