TM400 enables sound installer to work quickly and efficiently
Phoenix, AZ – April 2007… As the Arizona desert continues its unabated population growth spurt, facilities for entertainment and additional services spring to life right along with the ever-blossoming communities that keep appearing. Such is the case with the recently completed University of Phoenix Stadium—home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals football team. Located in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, the new, fully air conditioned stadium, which encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space, seating capacity of 73,000, and was developed at a cost of approximately $455M, utilizes an ambitious audio/visual system that was conceived and installed by Miami, FL-based design/build firm Pro Sound. As part of the system alignment process, the Pro Sound team utilized a Lectrosonics TM400 Wireless System for Test and Measurement.
Completed in August 2006, the University of Phoenix Stadium was a massive project. The stadium features the first fully retractable natural grass playing field in North America, and with 160,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and 20,000 square feet of meeting room space, the facility is also a world-class venue for tradeshows and similar events.
Key personnel involved in the University of Phoenix Stadium project included Pro Sound Vice President Kelly Prince and Dave Shoemaker, Director of Operations, from the company’s Orlando, FL satellite office. According to Prince, “Pro Sound handled all audio and broadcast systems at the stadium. This included the audio broadcast control room, hooks for the mobile broadcast trucks, as well as the in-house control room. We purchased the Lectrosonics TM400 specifically for this project—with the big attraction being that the system would enable us to avoid having to run miles of cable in order to take our measurements. Our TM400 was used extensively to measure the new Meyer Sound system that we installed.”
Reflecting on the TM400’s performance, Prince (who specializes in system alignment) noted, “The TM400 was a tremendous time saver for us, as we avoided having to run all those cables. Initially, I was a bit concerned about the unit’s response in contrast to the performance of a wired measurement system, but after several comparisons, we found the TM400 delivered almost identical measurements—with slight differences in some close range results, and miniscule differences in terms of high frequency response.”
Shoemaker, who is also a system designer for the firm, was equally enthusiastic about the TM400. “I was particularly impressed by the fact that the TM400 delivered digital performance with its 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response,” said Shoemaker. “This is a big plus. Equally important is the fact that the TM400 has no companding circuitry, as this enables the system to handle the full frequency response of the sound without being compromised by any compression. When you’re taking measurements, a compandor would end up compromising the measurement results, which is unacceptable. As a measurement device, you want a wireless system to behave like a hard-wired mic, and the TM400 does exactly that.”
Shoemaker was also quick to point out yet another benefit of using the TM400. “The range between the microphone and the receiver was excellent,” said Shoemaker. “There were times when the mic was several hundred feet from where the receiver and computer were stationed, and still, the system’s performance was terrific. During the entire time we worked with the TM400, we experienced no dropouts or other issues at all. Overall performance was excellent.”
Since the University of Phoenix Stadium project, the Pro Sound team has used their TM400 on several additional jobs, and they continue to be enthusiastic about both their purchase and the support they’ve received from Lectrosonics. “The one time I contacted Lectrosonics about the TM400’s operation,” said Prince, “I got right through to a support technician. The tech knew exactly what I was talking about, and was able to provide the information I needed right away. Their support was both capable and responsive. You can’t ask for more than that. If you’re looking for a test and measurement system that has the ability to save a tremendous amount of time and effort on the job—without having to deal with all the cables when making multiple measurements, the TM400 is unquestionably the tool to use.”
For additional information on Pro Sound, visit the company online at www.prosound.net.
About the Lectrosonics TM400 Wireless System for Test and Measurement
With 24-bit, 88.2 kHz digital signal handling for compandor-free audio, 256 synthesized UHF frequencies, Digital Hybrid Wireless technology, and rugged all-metal construction, the TM400 comes standard with the UH400TM transmitter, R400A receiver, and CCTM400 water-resistant case. Components can be ordered individually and the R400A receiver can be ordered with a rack-mount front panel.
About Lectrosonics
Well respected within the film, broadcast, and theater technical communities since 1971, Lectrosonics wireless microphone systems and audio processing products are used daily in mission-critical applications by audio engineers familiar with the company's dedication to quality, customer service, and innovation. Lectrosonics is a US manufacturer based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
