Genesis Audio Systems, a relatively new but already extremely busy production company, headed up by Jim Jorgensen and based in Phoenix, recently completed another successful commercial installation for the Bud Light Paseo project outside the America West Arena.
A major feature of the $67 million expansion project currently underway at AWA, the Bud Light Paseo is located adjacent to the east side of the popular arena, extending from Jefferson Street on the north to Jackson Street on the south. Its most dramatic physical feature is the 50 x 350-ft canopy, which provides shading and serves as a projection surface for spectacular lighting effects, still images and video. More than $1 million of state-of-the-art audio and video technology has been installed in the Bud Light Paseo, which features a new bar and a combination television studio/live performance stage that extends onto the Paseo from the arena.
This ambitious install involved four outdoor kiosks filled with lighting and projection equipment, and an audio system covering the entire east side with an even, balanced sound, plus a smaller audio system specifically designed to cover the entertainment stage area for small concerts.
Audio for Paseo is provided from an all-Martin W8LM system. Large steel columns hold the roof system in place. From five of these columns, four W8LM speaker enclosures (painted all white and specially built with weatherproof back panels), were hung, pointing practically straight down. On three of the posts, opposite the W8LM cluster, a single S218 enclosure is hung for low-frequency reinforcement. The entire system is driven by Crown Macrotech amps, and controlled with a Crown IQ-USM810 system controller. Source audio is provided via Pro-Tools in a 5.1 configuration. Individual control of each column allows the audio to travel with the video. A basketball can bounce from one end of the Paseo to the other in real time.
An additional audio system was installed on a small stage in the Paseo. This stage was intended for pre and post show commentary in broadcast situations, as well as smaller concerts surrounding larger events. This system is comprised of four W8LM enclosures per side as well as a WLX sub enclosure under the stage for additional bass extension. This system is operated from the Paseo control room in the basement of an adjacent building, with tie lines to one of the roof posts near the FOH position.
Each kiosk contains state-of-the-art lighting and projection, and enough air conditioning to keep the environment cool and functioning in the Arizona summer heat.
The canopy that was built over the Paseo was constructed of perforated steel and painted white in order to provide greater contrast and act as a screen, as the four projectors cover the entire block-long Paseo with individual video imagery.
Asked to convey any challenges in the audio design of the Bud Light Paseo, Genesis Audio’s Jorgensen commented, “The single biggest obstacle for audio was the sheer number of reflective surfaces. By using a very small line array with precise coverage patterns, we were able to control the area of coverage and not spill up onto the glass.
“The W8LM provides precise pattern control and still sounds full range. There are several products on the market that would work as a complement to a main array, but as a stand alone system with no processing required, this one simply sounds better.”
