Prior to Covid-19, River City Christian Church in Rancho Cordova, California needed to expand its facilities due to a surge in attendance. Leadership hired an architect, who recommended a change from all flat seating to stadium style arena seating. By also reducing the stage thrust, this would expand capacity from 850 to around 1200. “In addition, the previous control booth was up on the balcony but the new one has been relocated to the audience area, so we can hear exactly what the audience is experiencing,” shares the church’s Director of Technology, Brian Webber.
Tasked with replacing the systems, Webber contacted Keith Wackford at Sacramento Production Services (SACPS). Both men are long-term colleagues who have over a ten-year history working with Martin Audio systems. Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision (WPS) PA was chosen following a demo “which blew me away,” says Webber. But the decision had not been straightforward as they first reviewed two other globally recognized brands; but Webber always had his eye on WPS.
“When SACPS first bought a WPM system a few years ago and it was obvious the tech behind it was next generation,” Webber observes. “But then we got WPS on demo and put that next to the WPM, and I knew I had to have it. I was super impressed with the smooth, rich sound. It was a no-brainer.”
He recognized it would be a challenge to work within the room’s acoustics. “But it’s great to have the audio only where it needed to be and not where you don’t. You really can’t hear anything behind the PA, no slapback, and all the energy is focused to the seating areas. We loaded the Display export file into the iKON amps and other than notching out a couple of frequencies, we basically ran the system straight out of the box.”
The design features eight elements per side, in two PA hangs spread 40ft apart—trimmed to avoid obstructing sightlines to the new LED video display.
Five Martin Audio SXC118 subwoofers have been placed in an arc across the front, powered by six channels of process-controlled Martin Audio iKON iK42 amplifiers, and optimized using Martin Audio’s proprietary sub array calculator as well as EASE prediction software. They were chosen for both their size and their ability to utilize a cardioid pattern to send more of the bass to the listening areas and have a high rejection to the rear of the speaker, thus eliminating low frequency information onto the stage.
Martin Audio CDD (Coaxial Differential Dispersion) series has been selected for fill duties. “The two CDD115’s cover the extreme sides as it’s a super wide building,” continues Webber, adding that a further four CDD6 take care of frontfills. All the main PA hangs and CDDs are run from iK81 8-channel amplifiers and iK81’s power the main PA hang, in 1-box resolution.
Finally, River City Christian also utilizes Martin Audio in its children’s room where CDD12’s and CCD8’s have also been installed.
Martin Audio’s proprietary Display software modeled the room, with optimizations carried out by Keith Wackford. “We worked with [Martin Audio’s] Joe Lima on to get a design concept going—based on EASE data—and input the numbers into Display.
“Joe went through the Display file while final system tuning was occurring and was able to make a few final tweaks to the file, reducing the dB offset from first seat to last. We achieved total feedback rejection, despite the PA being quite a bit upstage thanks to the Hard Avoid functions of Wavefront Precision. You couldn’t have got away with any other rig.”
This was complemented by further onsite tweaks and calculations to the design as the system went in—the measurements reconfirmed by Martin Audio’s Will Harris, along with Keith Wackford. A laser measurement was also taken at installation stage to verify that the field drawings matched those within Display. The goal was to make sure the system would meet or exceed client expectations.
WPS also had to display its versatility as it is tasked with reinforcing two styles of service: a classic worship, with choir and orchestra, with pastor and celebrants on radio mics, and a more modern, high energy service, featuring a five-piece worship band.
Finally, the installation is also neat and aesthetically pleasing as the installation team has managed to avoid using obtrusive rigging. “Guide ropes would have been completely detrimental to the look. In fact, the CDD6’s almost looks like they are floating on the downstage edge,” says Wackford.
Summing up, he says, “Consistency is one of the most impressive parts of this installation; from front to back and left to right the coverage at every seat is amazing. People we have brought in to hear the new sound system have all commented on its consistency. Furthermore, there’s nothing harsh about the sound—it’s easy to listen to for hours, it’s just so smooth and you don’t get fatigued. The system simply tailors the speaker presets to the room via the Display file.”
Webber agrees saying, “The ability to custom build a system and tailor it to your building without having to boost anything is scarcely believable.”
Having previously rented a sound system solely for outdoor use during the pandemic, the church is relieved to have moved back indoors once again—with the necessary precautions in place—while congregants still have the opportunity to log in and attend virtually if they prefer.
For more information: https://martin-audio.com
