Orlando City Soccer Club didn’t skimp on the sound when it came to its newly-constructed Orlando City Soccer Club space. As integration firm Clair Solutions points out, the roofs are purposefully built to amplify crowd noise. The same goes for an impressive JBL sound system – part of an audio, video and networking solution developed by Clair Solutions and its partners on the project.
[related]
“The bid and interview process for Orlando City Stadium was extremely competitive,” says Tim Jacobs, project manager for Clair Solutions, in a press release.
“Populous was the architectural firm for the stadium, and WJHW consultant, Gary White, designed the sound reinforcement, broadcast cabling, and video production systems.
“Over the course of the roughly six-month installation process at Orlando City Soccer Club, Clair Solutions installed all of the audio for the building – including the bowl, the VIP lounge, bathrooms, locker rooms, and press area, as well as the broadcast cabling and the video replay system.
“Typical for a project of this size, timelines for project milestones were tight. Working with Jose Sandoval, project manager for Barton Mallow, we were able to stay on schedule and deliver the finished product on time.”
JBL Control 28T-60, JBL AM7212/00 WRX, JBL AW566, and JBL PD6322/66 WRX mounted to upper canopy.
Sound Reinforcement Strategy
The Clair Solutions team set up, programmed, and tested the entire JBL sound system under more controlled conditions at their facility in Manheim, Pa.
Dante digital audio and BSS HiQnet Audio Architect control are distributed from the mix booth to six separate amp rack locations over single mode fiber optics using Cisco SG500 switches.
In its press release, Clair explains that Dante digital audio and BSS HiQnet Audio Architect control are distributed from the mix booth to six separate amp rack locations over single mode fiber optics using Cisco SG500 switches.
Harman BluLink distributes digital audio within each amp rack location, where Crown amplifiers power the JBL loudspeakers distributed throughout the bowl, concourses, and restrooms.
A Soundcraft Expression 2 console located in the announcer’s booth serves as the main interface for the system, and a Soundcraft Si Expression 1 provides mixing capabilities in the video production booth.
Extron switches and controllers link systems, and to save space within the venue, an externally-positioned, stainless steel enclosure houses audio tie lines, Triax camera connections, fiber optic, data, and video ties between the dock and all camera positions around the Orlando City Stadium.
Scoreboard Video Control Room featuring Ross Video Carbonite switcher.
Choosing Microphones
Reflecting the unique advantages of different microphones for different applications, Clair Solutions installed models from Shure, Sennheiser, AKG, and Klover.
Clair Solutions installed microphone models from Shure, Sennheiser, AKG, and Klover.
Two Shure desktop microphones serve in the writing press booth for production announcements and two Shure handheld paging microphones allow for remote or on-field production pages.
Two Sennheiser wireless systems convey performances of the national anthem and other a cappella performances with solid musicality, and four wired AKG microphones join them to accommodate larger vocal groups.
One Sennheiser lavalier microphone used with a Klover parabolic collector pick up specific on-field sounds and voices for use in broadcasts.
Finally, two headset microphones, interfaced with two Studio Technologies announcer’s consoles, deliver public pages and commentary with intelligibility and intuitive control for the hard of hearing.
Ikegami HDC300 in use at the mid-field line.
Inside the Video Solution
Because different independent contractors for different Orlando City Soccer Club teams and events handle in-house video production for the stadium’s scoreboard, Clair Solutions worked hard to provide a powerful, open-architecture video replay JBL sound system with impeccable documentation, according to the press release.
“Every source, destination, and connection always get exactly the same label in all the documentation,” says Clair Solutions’ Seth Morth.
“We had to build a system that subcontractor A could use one way, subcontractor B could use a different way, and subcontractor C could use in a still different way,” says Seth Morth, engineering manager with Clair Solutions.
“It’s a real sandbox – users can configure it any which way, but the trade-off for all that power is the risk of making it too difficult to use.
“We fell back on industry best practices, including predictable signal flows and abundant, consistent documentation. Every source, destination, and connection always get exactly the same label in all the documentation.”
Major components in Orlando City Stadium in-house JBL sound system include:
- Ross Video Carbonite 2ME switcher
- Ross SDI-based NK-Series video and analog audio routers
- Ross video Blackstorm Video Server
- Ross MIRA Slo-Mo / Replay system
- An AJA FS-2 handles video signal conversion when necessary
- IHSE KVM matrix switches transmit video signals
- Several Ikegami HC-HD300 Cameras with Fujifilm lenses cover both the Orlando City Stadium and the stands
- Bittree B96H Series Video Patchbays provide robust connection points and Forecast Consoles and Middle Atlantic Products provide custom furniture and racks
