FEATURES: LIVE SOUND
The Bose system in the pit lane
Seven amplifier huts are
positioned around the track
‘Every second speaker is on a
separate circuit in case of impact,’
explains project engineer Paul
Barrett. ‘That way, we can keep the
PA up and running and spread the
load over multiple amp channels
whilst we x any issues.’
‘We were using installation ties
for the cabling, but we found that
if a car hit a section, they were too
strong and didn’t break as easily,’
adds Campbell Waller, installation
manager - track PA. ‘We changed
the xing method and with a couple
of big incidents into the wall (since
then) this means we haven’t had to
repair anything.’
The TOA CS304 speakers are
powered by Lab.gruppen ampli ers
housed in seven locations positioned
around the track in custom designed
‘huts’. Each hut features Socomec
UPS, ampli ers, network audio
bridges and FM tuner backup. Signal
distribution is via the Australian
Grand Prix Corporation’s bre-optic
network surrounding the track.
All audio distribution, meanwhile,
is via MediaMatrix. From The PA
People’s main hub – established
four weeks prior to race-day – audio
is directed to and from MediaMatrix
nodes in the seven ampli er huts,
and network interfaces mounted in
Yamaha LS9 digital mixers in the F1
Press and National Press centres.
Other network pick-up and drop off
points include the National Media
Tent, camera positions, The Action
Zone and the V8 Supercars area.
‘It would be challenging to manage
an event like the GP without using
networked DSP,’ notes Mr Barrett.
‘We can pre-build all of the audio
routing and intelligence into the
system. The MediaMatrix rack is then
dropped into our operations room in
the main compound and it’s all up
and running pretty painlessly.’
‘Our involvement with the F1 event
not only includes the distributed
audio system, but we also provide
numerous smaller PA systems for the
corporate stands, press conferences
and localised entertainment activities
that occur around the F1 site,’ adds
Des Williamson, project manager
for The PA People. ‘We also provide
the audio system that supports the
anthem singing and presentations in
the Pit Lane as well as a 12 screen
video-wall system that is installed
A Bose system provided
reinforcement for the podium
ceremony
within race control; this allows all
race of cials to monitor the track in
real-time during the race. To assist
us in our operations we set-up a fully
tted-out compound, complete with
of ce, lunchroom and equipment
storage areas and this forms the
base of our operations on site.’
The all-important podium is
provided with sound reinforcement
comprising long-throw Bose LT4402
Series 2 cabinets suspended from
the main compound and projecting
to the stands. The hangs are
supplemented by Bose 9702s plus
further enclosures mounted beneath
the podium. A Yamaha LS9-32
with an SB168-ES stage-box is used
for mixing.
‘The Bose speakers are everything
that runs in the pit lane and for the
podium presentation,’ says Mr Moca.
‘Those are obviously quite substantial
because after the race we all still
need to hear what’s going on. When
you’ve got over 100,000 people
storming through the fences trying to
get onto the main straight, we want
to make sure they can hear what’s
happening on the podium.’
Other systems installed and
managed during the event included
PA horns throughout the pit and
garage areas for emergency paging
and relays, and 28km of cabling
around the barriers described as
‘treated more like a permanent
installation’ to avoid failures.
Additionally, the main compound is
permanently wired with 100V line
speaker cabling to built-in ceiling
speakers and constant voltage
control lines, all patched directly to
The PA People operations room.
The main highlight on the visual
side are the super-screens, and this
is something Mr Moca believes has
seen some serious improvements.
‘The super-screens are using better
and better technology. Formula One
management, has improved the size
of the graphics on the screens – you
used to see really small graphics,
now they’re really large and crisp.
We actually had some comments
from our corporate customers
who said that they really enjoyed
watching the super-screens because
they’re just so informative and you
can just see everything – that’s
improved over the years.’
Teamwork is always critical in
the success of pop-up events, no
matter what the size, and this is
something that has been important
for the Grand Prix. ‘We have a great
team of people on site that have
been involved with the event since
we were awarded the contract,’
says Matt Kirby, manager of event
communications with The PA
People. ‘Having a consistent team,
who completely understand the
nature of the event, and particularly
understand the high expectations of
quality that come with the Formula
One brand, is key to delivering a
successful result each and every year.’
‘I think the key thing that’s made
The PA People so easy to deal with is
their staff,’ agrees Mr Moca. ‘Nothing
is too hard – I can always pick up
the phone and ask for something
outrageous and they deliver.
‘They started off just supplying me
with the track PA system, over the
years they’ve won the contract to
supply the UPS’, they also supply the
race control screens now,’ continues
Mr Moca. ‘I always challenge them
and say “what else do I really need?”
and they