Line arrays, festivals, rain

[MarkOne]

A little slice of Ibiza comes to our little seaside town each year, with a weekend dance music festival run by the Cafe Mambo people.

A stretch of beach opposite our building is turned into an arena for a few thousand partygoers, covered by a couple of 8 box line arrays, and what sounds like an acre of subs.

Last night there was torrential rain (it didn’t seem to deter the punters, in the least) but it got me wondering, do these line array boxes come with an ip rating? I guess if you’re doing a festival there must be consideration for the elements.

[The Red Bladder]

Yes, they're supposed to be compliant with IP55. If not, then they go under the stage covering or get their own roofing and side covers. It should be all laid out in the insurance paperwork and will be a part of any permit docs. (Daughter-in-law is a Bühnentechnikmeister - master stage technician.)

[MarkOne]

Thanks, yes, the speaker drops are on their own truss towers, exposed to the elements. guess the same goes for the big jumbo screens also out in the open.

I’m now curious how they design ip55 which states: Protected from jets of water from any direction with no harmful effects. into a speaker and still manage good hf performance

[The Red Bladder]

There are plenty of waterproof cloth types that are more or less acoustically transparent - just think of all those incontinence trousers!

DiL is of course a Bühnentechnikerin Meister (female master stage technician - oh, we do love them compound words for obscure things!)

[MarkOne]

There are plenty of waterproof cloth types that are more or less acoustically transparent - just think of all those incontinence trousers!

As far as I can see, the internet is largely silent on the subject of the acoustic transparency of incontinence pants.

But I get the spirit of the post.

[Dave Rowles]

I’m now curious how they design ip55 which states: Protected from jets of water from any direction with no harmful effects. into a speaker and still manage good hf performance

The key is harmful effects. The performance of the speaker may be affected by terrible weather conditions, but the "harmful effects" would be failure that resulted in electrocution.

As long as the internal wiring/magnet cannot get wet, and the seal with the speakercon doesn't allow water inside, then the speaker won't fail, or electrocute anyone. Obviously the amps that drive them are going to be in a very safe dry area, and that's where all the dangerous electricity is anyway.

[tomas]

DiL is of course a Bühnentechnikerin Meister (female master stage technician - oh, we do love them compound words for obscure things!)

Don't you mean that she is a Bühnentechnikmeisterin?

Sincerely,
Der Grammargestapo

[shufflebeat]

There are plenty of waterproof cloth types that are more or less acoustically transparent - just think of all those incontinence trousers!

As far as I can see, the internet is largely silent on the subject of the acoustic transparency of incontinence pants.

Or perhaps in incontinence trousers no one can hear you scream - which would render the material totally unsuitable for the task described.

[The Red Bladder]

DiL is of course a Bühnentechnikerin Meister (female master stage technician - oh, we do love them compound words for obscure things!)

Don't you mean that she is a Bühnentechnikmeisterin?
Sincerely,
Der Grammargestapo

Zum Glück heißt sie nicht Barbara und sie backt meines Wissens auch keinen Rhabarberkuchen – obwohl, wenn ich es mir recht überlege, erinnert mich unser ältester Sohn schon an einen Barbaren!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkBf0dbs5I

[shufflebeat]

That’s easy for you to say.