KV2 VHD

[NeilW]

Hello

 

I'm going to be working as a systems tech / patch guy at a festival which will be using the KV2 VHD system for front of house, and so far, I haven't been able to find much information about the system. I'm up to scratch on the rest of the rig (PM3500 for house and Heritage 1000 for monitors) but am trying to find out a bit more about the VHD stuff before prep day! As far as I know, the stage will be in a marquee, with about 1000 people.

 

So has anyone got any first hand experience of the system, or know where I can find out more or download details?

 

Many Thanks

 

Neil

[dbuckley]

A quick <_< found http://www.kv2audio.com

 

It looks like VHD is a technology rather than a product, so to be forarmed you'll need the configuration of system being supplied.

 

Another system I'd like to hear that will probably never make it to NZ...

[NeilW]

Thanks, I had already taken a quick look at the site and not found anything particularly specific about the VHD, other than this press release http://www.kv2audio.com/press_releases/04-06-2005_2.shtml

It looks like VHD is the large format system using similar technology to the EX systems.

 

However, there isnt anything more specific on the KV2 site at the moment, and it doesnt seem like its a particularly common system in the UK either! We're going to be using it for a two day festival on a folk/ jazz style stage, and I will be sure to report back afterwards, hopefully with some pics and firsthand mixing experience as well!

 

In the mean time, any other information greatly received, if not, im sure we'll work something out!

 

Thanks again

 

Neil

[*bigrod*]

They've got a System over here in Yorkshire at Bradford Rios.

 

Not mixed on it yet (as I've not worked at Rios for ages...) but it consists of 1 Mid/High a side and 4x 18inch Subs a side (actually run hidden under the front line off the stage in one block).

 

Crossovers are Passive and built into the mid/high box, they're just using some KV2 type of line driver system to get into the amps, then the boxes.

 

Listening to it very, very briefly, it's got a extremely clear and powerful top end to it with quite a wide coverage for a single box system. The subs do what they should, but all in all my initial impressions when sticking a CD through it make me think it's got that kind of DJ- friendly smiley face graphic thing going on inside the box.

 

They've had it in there for about 6 months or more now, some guys in Harrogate are distributing the stuff methinks.

 

I'll make more of an accurate judgement when I get to mix on the stuff. :D

 

Hope that helps a bit...

 

Bradford rio venue spec.

 

r.

[Rob_Beech]

Rod,

 

Straying SLIGHTLY from the topic here, the link you gave shows some interesting information.

 

KV2 VHD can do 120db at the mix position easily all night

My Bold

 

I do hope that when you finally get a chance to mix on this rig you will not be prooving this point as unless the speakers are 30 feet in the air the people infront of the mix position are going to be in for a loud night. (actualy, even with the cabs 30 feet up they are)

 

 

Also, thats alot of channels of Eq in monitor world :D Potentially very nice eq aswell.

 

 

Rob

[dbuckley]

Forget atbout the poor buggers in front of the mix position, 120 at the mix position is well in excess of a loud enough night for my auld ears :D

[Rob_Beech]

Certainly is for me, We've all found ourselves mixing pretty loud but 120db at the mix position is a little more than pretty loud.

 

Rob

[NeilW]

Could be argued that having the capability to reach 120dB at FOH will ensure the system has plenty of headroom for more sensible levels...agree that its probably not too sensible to mix at that kind of level though! :D

 

If we weren't using KV2, the next choice from hire stock would probably have been ARCS, so it will be interesting to see how the VHD boxes compare to the L-Acoustics kit in terms of coverage and response. A single mid high box a side is potentially interesting in terms of reducing the problems surrounding the arraying of traditional cabs, such as comb filtering, although the ARCS are particularly easy to array nicely! Also, a rig that manages 120dB from one mid high box and 4 subs a side suggests that it's probably going to be a fairly efficient system! :(

 

Thank you for the info, will report back post gig with some opinions!

 

Neil

[*bigrod*]

Aye, that 120db statement came from the club owner who is shouting to all about how good the rig is. His PA knowlege is good but limited. Bigger numbers to him seem to mean a better rig! :D

 

He also DJ's there occasionally, hence my other comments on the rig..

 

As soon as I saw the 120 db line in the spec. I asked him to take it down as we all know it's completely foolish to state such a thing. (its marketing speak methinks....)

 

Its been 18 months since my last gig there, and the monitor rig now has a 48 channel Sienna on it. with Le400's for days run passively. nice... :(

 

r

[Rob_Beech]

going OT.

 

reminds me of an argument I got into with the technical manager at Butlins Minehead a few weeks back.

 

Centre Stage they use LE400's. Passive.

 

I was on stage performing rather than an engineer on this occasion. On getting an awfully dull sounding monitor I observed the switch and found it to be in the Active position. I asked one of the crew if the monitors were bi-amped an they said no. So I switched it to passive and all was well.

The following week I got collared by the tech manager there saying that all HIS monitors were run passively, and what was my problem with it.

 

I simply mentioned that I had one the other week that wa........ to be interrupted with they are ALL PASSIVE.

 

I finally got a word in and told him that I was stating the switch was in the wrong position, to which he replied, it shouldn't have been.

 

I said that many other keyboard players would not have realised the switch and would have struggled with that monitor all night which would quite frankly have been unacceptable.

 

Seems odd how you turn up as a muso and end up having DFA treatment and technical crap given to you.

 

Feel I must point out the crew there are fantastic at the moment.

 

 

Rob

[StevieR]

There was one being used at the Dent folk festival last week. We were supplying everything but the FOH and I didn't get a chance to hear it myself. The sound techs were pretty impressed with it though by all accounts.

 

Steve

[Andy Simmons]

Not wishing to break any rules, as I work for the company mentioned and I am one the guys from Harrogate. But if you need any technical details about VHD then email me, I don't think that breaks any rules if it does then sorry!

 

Cheers

 

Andy Simmons

 

Operations Director

KV2 Audio Europe

[NeilW]

Hi everyone

This past weekend I had the chance to work with the and hear KV2 VHD system in action at the Cornbury Festival 2nd Stage, and thought I'd share a bit about our experience with it. Quite simply, it is a very impressive system!

 

The rig we used consisted of one mid high box a side, one dual 15 inch sub a side and a pair of 1x 21 inch subs a side. This was powered with the KV2 VHD amp racks, which have two amplifier/processor units. The system connects together with a minimum of cabling, with the rack requiring 32A single phase mains, and an XLR signal, with an EP6 cable to the mid high box, and a pair of EP4 cables to the subs, completed with a short link between the two 21" subs.

We chose to ground stack all the subs in a column on each side of the stage, with the mid high boxes dead hung from the lighting truss, with a slight down angle to limit reflections from the sides of the tent. The rigging of the boxes was easy, particularly due to the light weight of the boxes, at just 70kg for the tops, and around 60kg for each of the subs. This was also noticeable when we loaded the trucks, as it was easy to slide the mid highs on top of a stack of subs, which also have well thought out wheel boards and stacking points; all the cabinets travel grills down onto the wheel board.

 

On to probably the most important factor... the sound of the system! We had a variety of acts through over the two days of the festival, from folk rock acts with drums and samplers, through 10 piece folk bands and onto solo guitar/vocalists. From what I heard when I was at f.oh, and the reaction from both our foh engineer and visiting guests, the rig performed very impressively! The clarity of the mid highs was simply stunning, but maintain a strong full range performance, and the 21" subs can shift some serious air when that was required of them! The coverage across the tent was smooth and even, aided by the need for only one mid high box a side. Of particular note was the sound for Martin Simpson, who had an SM58 for vocals and provided his own DI for his acoustic guitar. The system conveyed every nuance of both vocals and guitars, with just the right amount of power, despite some scheduling problems resulting in us competing with the main stage spill from the VDOSC rig.

 

Its probably worth mentioning that like any high end sound system, it is only as good as the rest of the system, including the original sources and the person who is in the driving seat! :D VHD is excellent at amplifying what is sent to it in a clear and powerful manner, but will of course show up any shortfalls in the other areas... although this wasn't a huge issue for most of the weekend.

 

Without wishing to sound too much like an advert, I have been thoroughly impressed with the system, and would seriously recommend that people who are looking for a medium large PA system to take a look at the VHD rig, and if something a little smaller is needed, the KV2 active range in general, which were used as truss flown outfills on this system. I have found KV2 to have an excellent philosophy to speaker systems and live sound in general. I have had the chance to meet a couple of the KV2 guys, including Andy Simmons who visited on Saturday afternoon, and was impressed by their helpfulness and willingness to share their knowledge and experience.

 

This has turned into something slightly longer than I intended but I think it is important that people get the chance to hear about first hand experience with perhaps less common systems! I would certainly have no issues with using the KV2 system again!

 

Thanks for reading

Neil

[steve.pie]

I crew for Event Sound and Light in Chelmsford, Essex. I've used it several times ( I think they had the 1st one in the UK ) It rocks - big time. Did a gig last year where we used 4 stacks per side of EAW 850 + SB1000's, just done it again with 1 x VHD system + 4 off 1 x 21"s under the stage. And it fits in a Mercedes Sprinter, so bye bye 71/2 tonner !! Its portable / stackable / liftable..... absolutely 1st class in every way.

[NeilW]

Hi, if anyone's interested there is a press release about VHD and the festival we used it on at the PLASA news page:

 

http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/story.asp?ID=-FVN183

 

Neil