Once a year, New York’s Buffalo Convention Center plays host ot the World’s Largest Disco – pulling 7,000 revellers and DJs spinning classic ’70s tracks through a 300kW sound system.

The event has its roots in the 1970s and saw an unpreceneted parade of ’70s regalia as it danced its way through the night. Delivering the audio fuel for the event were 84 JBL VerTec line array loudspeakers.

‘If you’re doing the sound for The World’s Largest Disco, the system has to be no-holds-barred,’ says Ray DiBiase, President of Northeastern Production Systems, who provided the sound, lighting and video systems for the event. ‘The music is the reason everyone was there and we had to move 7,000 people with loud, bass-heavy sound in a room that’s the biggest dancefloor in New York State.’

While the music was retro, the sound system NPS brought in was anything but, comprising JBL VerTec VT4889 line array elements, VT4886 subcompact line array elements and VT4880 arrayable subwoofers. Eight VT4889 loudspeakers were hung from each side of the main stage, with six VT4886 boxes on each side, and 24 VT4880 subwoofers ground-stacked six wide and two high on each side of the stage. An additional LR array of eight VT4888 delays and another eight VT4889s for centre rear delay were also used. Six VT4886 loudspeakers per side provided backup, hung from the upstage lighting truss.

In addition, an LR configuration of four VT4888 loudspeakers per side, stacked on dual VT4882 subwoofers, served as the main system for the VIP Room at the event. Crown VZ5000 and MA2400 amplifiers powered the main VT4889 line arrays and the VT4888 delay loudspeakers. Crown IT8000 and IT12000HD amplifiers powered the VT4880 and VT4882 subwoofers, VT4886s and the rest of the VT4888 and VT4889 boxes. NPS also used Harman HiQnet System Architect to link three dbx 4800 DriveRacks to a tablet computer with a wireless router.

‘There were people everywhere, and we had to make sure that the music was heard and just as importantly, felt by everyone,’ DiBiase says. ‘As any sound reinforcement pro knows, thousands of bodies can absorb a lot of sound, aside from the fact that the party was in such a big room. Getting even and consistent coverage was a must. It was also a total party atmosphere with everyone making a lot of noise, and the system had to be heard above all that.’

‘Aside from their sheer ability to pump out the volume, the VerYeca can play loud yet stay clean, clear and articulate. Since their coverage pattern is controlled and predictable, they lend themselves to installations where you have to position speakers all around the venue.

‘The VerTec line arrays were a huge part of the success of The World’s Largest Disco,’ he adds. ‘They really kept the people going.’

The event is a charity fundraiser held by Conesus Fest for Charity to raise funds for Camp Good Days and Special Times, a summer camp for children with cancer.

More: www.northeasternproduction.com
More: www.jblpro.com