Live Sound Subwoofer System Design

Presenter:
Adam J. Hill, University of Derby - Derby, Derbyshire, UK; Gand Concert Sound - Elk Grove Village, IL, USA

There is little reason this day in age to accept undesirable low-frequency sound coverage in live sound reinforcement. The theories behind subwoofer system optimization are well-known within academia and various branches of industry, although this knowledge isn't always fully-translated into practical terms for end-users. This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of how to achieve desirable low-frequency sound coverage including: subwoofer polar response control, array and cluster configuration, signal routing/processing options, performance stage effects, source decorrelation, acoustic barriers and perceptual considerations. The tutorial is suitable for practitioners, academics, and students alike, providing practical approaches to low-frequency sound control and highlighting recent technological advancements.