New England audio production company Paddle Out Productions recently deployed its expanded Martin Audio WPM line array system at the Cheshire Fairground drive-in music venue.
The venue – essentially a huge open field allowing up to 425 cars parked in every other space – hosted performances from the likes of Guster and Grace Potter.
Organising such an event in a large and socially distanced space has had its challenges for the events team, and Ryan Burhans of Paddle Out Productions admits that in a space like Cheshire Fairground, sound quality and audience coverage were his top priorities.
“I was nervous with the size of the field that we weren’t going to fill those ‘Rock and Roll’ shoes that are expected now and again,” he explained. “For example, we had a louder band, Blue Oyster Cult, who were due to perform and I was worried if we would hit the right SPL the guys were expecting. But we were cruising from the beginning.”
Paddle Out Productions equipped the venue with 12 Martin Audio WPM speakers per side, powered by two iKON amplifiers using a two-box resolution for the main PA. In addition, hangs of W8LM were used for the delay towers at around 250 feet, of the 650-foot-long field.