MSI Production Services deployed a full JBL by HARMAN VTX Series system to
power an eclectic line-up of performers at Bayside Summer Nights: Summer Pops
2016. The live concert series featured performances by the San Diego Symphony,
Diana Ross, Chris Botti, Trace Adkins, Bernadette Peters, Amy Grant and more. MSI
Production Services provided and installed a new JBL VTX system, which delivered
exceptional clarity, output and reliability throughout the summer.
In the past, muddy sound quality and inconsistent results had caused issues for the
San Diego Symphony organization. In order to improve the audio quality for this
year’s festival, the symphony hired Academy Award-winning sound engineer Shawn
Murphy to design a new sound system. Versatility was extremely important, since
the system needed to handle intricate symphonic performances, rock and roll, hip-
hop, jazz, country and more. The VTX system was a perfect match for the
symphony, thanks to its clear and transparent sound, high output and wide
coverage angle.
“Summer Pops 2016 featured a wide variety of programming, and the symphony
needed a PA that would sound great for everything from the Mambo Kings to a
Beatles tribute to Diana Ross,’ said Tom Bollard, Technical Director at MSI
Production Services. “The nice thing about the JBL VTX system is that it sounds
great for rock and roll, offers plenty of low-end response for hip-hop and sounds
fantastic for symphonic music. We’ve run many different genres of music through it,
and it sounded great every time.’
The system MSI Production deployed for the festival included two main hangs made
up of 14 VTX V20 loudspeakers, 15 VT4886 subcompact loudspeakers and 18 S25
subwoofers. The system was powered by Crown VRack 12000HD and I-Tech
4x3500HD systems, and the MSI team used JBL HiQnet Performance Manager 2.1
software to configure and monitor the entire system. The HARMAN team was onsite
throughout the installation to provide technical support. MSI Production Services has
enjoyed a long relationship with HARMAN, thanks to their industry-leading customer
service and reliability.
“The HARMAN team was exceedingly helpful, and I have a long, very positive
history with them,’ said Bollard. “They were there for the installation, the first
tuning and even the first concert—that level of service is outstanding. Once we had
the VTX system up and running, we handed it over to the engineer, and he was very
happy with the sound right off the bat. It made my job so much easier.’
“The response to the JBL VTX system has been overwhelmingly positive,’ he
continued. “The musicians at the symphony are thrilled with the sound, and the FOH
engineers are very pleased. We’ve also interviewed lots of guests at the rock and
roll shows, and they love the sound as well. The entire project was a very powerful
and positive experience.’
