J Sound Services Specifies Yamaha and EtherSound for Ovation-Produced Event J Sound Services, of Nashville, recently designed a complete audio system for event planner Ovation, hired by the National Wild Turkey Federation for a corporate event featuring a concert by Trace Atkins, The Band Perry, and several other musical acts. Held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel Delta Ballroom, the audio system design was based around a Yamaha PM5D-EX as the main mixing system, EtherSound, and Yamaha ES devices to distribute audio. Jason Spence, owner of J Sound Services, was hired as the production mixer for the event. "There are a couple of reasons I chose to distribute audio using Yamaha components and EtherSound," says Spence. "The event was held in a hotel ballroom where labor charges are astronomical. Utilizing CAT5 instead of hundreds of pounds of copper to distribute the multiple channels of I/O saved time and money. I chose Yamaha network components for their seamless integration with EtherSound, Yamaha product reliability, and sound quality. With zero margin for error on this gig, I had complete faith in the gear. The ability of the Yamaha PM5D to operate at 96K and its sound quality in addition to its add-on effects of classic compressors, tape emulators, etc., I knew sonically I was in good shape." The system was able to distribute digital I/O to three different mix locations, PA drive lines, back of house and record feeds at 96K, all over CAT5 with no degradation of audio. The total networkable system I/O was 112 in x 56 out. Due to cable paths, the CAT5 ran from the Yamaha DCU5D, located at the front of house with the PM5D, to a Yamaha DSP5D expander residing backstage, a distance of nearly 600'. Spence inserted an active gigabit switch between locations to ensure that proper signal strength was maintained. The guest front-of-house and monitor mix position utilized a Yamaha M7CL digital audio console for most acts, and a Yamaha SB168-ES stage box was used to pickup all necessary I/O at the guest position. "Our challenge was to create an audio environment able to accommodate a multi-functional program consisting of presentations, live auction, awards, and several concerts," says Rachel Heitzer, product manager for Ovation. "If that wasn't enough, the show was presented to 2,000 attendees during a plated meal service, silent auction, and gaming. We hired J Sound Services with the goal to create an intelligible, even sound supporting all the functions even when the ambient level in the room was well over 85db. Thanks to their thorough design, implementation and total understanding of what the system needed to do for our client, the event was truly a success." 
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