Football Field Outdoor Audio

This project provided a robust outdoor audio solution for a football field and adjacent baseball field. Featuring three Community R.5-96MAX cabinets, a R2-52MAX cabinet, and an IS8-218WR subwoofer cabinet, this solution provides more than sufficient reproduction throughout the venue. The three R.5-96MAX cabinets are the mains mounted across the press box to provide direct reproduction for the bleachers and football field. The R2-52MAX is dedicated to the nearby baseball diamond and provided full-range reproduction centered on home plate providing complete projected coverage of the baseball bleachers and field. The IS8-218WR subwoofer can provide hybrid use with either the football field, baseball diamond, or the multipurpose green space behind the press box. At the request of the client, we were able to repurpose their original audio solution for use on the back of the press box reproducing audio for the nearby parking area and multipurpose green space. The three zones of this solution are fed through a Midas M32C digital audio mixer controlled remotely by an iPad connected to Wi-Fi surrounding the press box. This provides flexibility for the operator to roam around the venue without the need to be tethered to a traditional audio mixer. The speaker cabinets are powered by several Community ALC hybrid mixer/amplifiers that are equalized and digitally limited to the speakers with which they are paired. This potent combination of components results in a superiorly pleasing experience. Other features of this design include two wireless handheld microphones that connect through outdoor weather-rated amplified antennas that provide coverage of the entire venue. We included a traditional XLR input/output wall plate in a weatherized enclosure on the front of the press box for future expansion and integration with other systems/components. The rack-mounted components of this build are securely housed in a robust wall-mounted rack enclosure located remotely in an HVAC-controlled space with the added assurance of thermostat-operated rack ventilation. A local electrician installed six twenty-amp circuits at our direction to ensure proper electrical handling of the amplifiers and other system components. A hybrid Furman and Middle Atlantic power sequencing and conditioning solution was chosen to ensure adequate power distribution and control via a single button press on a keypad located in the press box. This design was meticulously developed to meet every need of the client and then some. The client is looking forward to the first use this coming football season.