Installations Goin’ To A Go Go… The World Famous Whisky a Go Go Finally Has An Audio System To Match Its Rep By DavidJohnFarinella usic fans around the world would show Contreras and Hines non-line ar- running noise and making sure be hard pressed to name a venue ray solutions. “I thought the line array all of our lines were matched up,” M that’s had the history that the was wrong and, I think it was a bit of a Hines says. “Of course, the first Whisky a Go Go has had since its opening set up, but they asked me what I would time we ran it one side was right on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in 1964. put in there,” he recalls. “I said that what I and the other side was a little mis- Indeed, the famed club has hosted a virtual wouldn’t put it is a line array. The line ar- matched. So, we had to go back who’s who of rock ‘n’ roll royalty that starts ray was battling the room.” through and get everything copa- at The Byrds and The Doors in the 1960s, The team opted for a more convention- cetic. Once we did that it was like runs through The Kinks and The Who and al box that included four EV Xi-1153s and the system wasn’t fighting itself Dave Brown, Quantum Sales & Technology, who reps E-V, continues with such bands as Roxy Music, four Xi1122MHA speakers that are powered and it was able to breathe. It was with Leonard Contreras, lead tech for Whisky a Go Go. Nirvana, Soundgarden and The Police. by a pair of TG7s and 10 TG5 amps with beautiful.” To be sure, fans have seen some of the RCM-26 DSP cards. A NetMax N8000 matrix The only real adjustment world’s best. Seen, yes. Heard? Well, kind controller with IrisNet is used to monitor came when the outside 1122s of… Yes, the Whisky had a full-fledged PA the system. The gear was purchased from had to be angled away from the sidewall. “The room is ba- sically a box and you’re hitting “They asked me what I would put in it at an angle, so you’re aiming there. I said that what I wouldn’t put towards the corners,” Hines ex- plains. “The outside ones were it is a line array. The line array was really close to the walls and we battling the room.” —Jason Hines had to gain shade those and re- ally check phasing a lot. It was getting a lot of reflection and Dave Brown with E-V gear. and yes, it was tuned for the room, but Rat Sound in Oxnard, Calif. The MTL-4 subs it was phasing out almost. We there was just something missing from had been replaced within the last six years also delayed the inside cabinets the custom-made boxes that were built in and did not need to be replaced. The most a little to make it more unison 1986 and included all JBL components. “It vintage piece of gear at the club is the when you walk from one side of was a big, bulky looking system,” reports desk, which is an Amek 501. the room to another. That made the Whisky’s lead tech Leonard Contreras. Picking and purchasing the gear was the transition from one cabinet “It was a nice sounding PA for its time and one thing, installing it was another. Yet, to the other smooth.” there was plenty of power, but it was get- the most difficult thing the crew had to Even after investing in all ting old and tired.” overcome was finding the time to get it that gear, Hines points out So, the tech team and Whisky owners done, since the club is booked with lo- that the room was not soni- started to look around for a new system cal, national and touring acts. “It took us cally treated. “We talked about last summer. Ideas were kicked around two days,” Hines recalls. “We did it non- it, but ultimately the manage- and even a system or two was auditioned, stop, because we didn’t really have a lot ment didn’t like the idea of including a Renkus-Heinz line array. “It of downtime.” The crew of four Whisky changing the look of the room,” sounded amazing,” allows Whisky head staffers, along with Brown who came in he says. “Only the back wall engineer Jason Hines. “It was active box- to help tune the system with Smaart Live, of the stage has a curtain and es, which wasn’t our preference, but for got it all done. some foam behind it. It’s noth- a demo rig, it was great.” He adds, how- ing special.” Blood, Sweat and Red Bull FOH ever, that “at the end of the day, it wasn’t At the same time, Contre- The Whisky a Go Go crew opted against line giving us enough coverage. The back of After pulling the old system down, the ras points out the problems arrays and in favor of four EV Xi-1153s and the room was really hot and the side of team started to prep the area for the new are few. “The room is small, so four Xi1122MHA speakers. the room was a little bit dull. It’s a pretty Fly-Ware. “The place is three stories with there aren’t a lot of headaches,” short throw room, so the line array wasn’t the main room being the first two stories he says. “About the only time the way we wanted to go.” and there are offices above,” Hines ex- something comes up is when plains. “We had to hang the system from a band comes in and wants to Don’t Line Up FOH the subfloor of the third floor. To get to crank up their amps.” Contreras, who doubles as a touring those I-beams we had to cut away a ton of Contreras, who has been at FOH engineer for such bands as Devil- mesh and drywall. Then we put our chains the Whisky for 14 years now, Driver, recalled that he had heard Electro- and hoists up there.” believes the installation lives Voice on the road and he made a call to Once that was done, a couple of the up to the history of the room. David Brown, who reps the brand. Brown guys got to work prepping the cable, sol- “It’s a small, intimate, live rock came down to the room, took a look dering and running the lines. “Once we got and roll venue,” he says. “The around and then opened his laptop to everything pinned it was just a matter of PA does justice to that.” A NetMax N8000 controller with IrisNet is 20 MAY 2009 www.fohonline.com used to monitor the system..