d&b CCL Takes Tassie by Storm

d&b’s latest addition, CCL (Compact Cardioid Line Array), is a compact, lightweight, and powerful PA system designed for small to medium applications where space and weight constraints are often present. With all the signature d&b sonic characteristics in such a  compact form factor, CCL is designed to deliver clarity and control with impressive output for its size. Other traits such as rapid deployment, precise directivity, and efficient amplification, make it a compelling new tool for production companies needing a space-efficient, nimble, yet powerful PA solution.

A business like VJAM, for example – a Tasmanian production company based out of Launceston with a full roster of corporate, live sound, festival and install projects on the boil at any one time. VJAM is stoked to be one of the first rental partners anywhere in the world to take delivery of CCL.

Matt Neil is a true believer in the d&b offering. As VJAM’s General Manager, Matt has bought and spec’d d&b systems for well over a decade. The Launceston warehouse stocks a rig on its shelves for every size and application, including XSL, KSL, Y-Series, M-Series monitors, and now CCL.

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

Matt tells the story of how CCL first ended up on his radar during a phone call with Shane Bailey (boss of ANZ d&b distributor, NAS) about replacing VJAM’s outgoing Q-Series system with second-hand V-Series boxes.

“Shane intimated that I should probably hold off. I trust Shane’s judgment on that sort of thing. Then in February, we heard about CCL coming out. It was a much better product that was going to grow with us over a longer period. Shane and the team at NAS were instrumental in helping us secure one of the first CCL systems in the country.”

STRAIGHT TO MOFO

After spending a couple of demo days at NAS HQ in Melbourne, the CCL system was shipped off to VJAM’s Launceston warehouse before heading straight to the Playhouse Theatre in Hobart less than 24 hours later for its maiden deployment at the Dark Mofo winter festival.

The deployment of CCL at Dark Mofo was just one small part of a much larger d&b presence that VJAM provided to the festival.

“This year, Dark Mofo saw us deploy every single d&b box we have – KSL, XSL, CCL, J, all of our Y point source boxes, M4 and M6 monitor packages – to many different venues. I think we had about 118 boxes across Hobart for the two-week festival.”

PLAY TIME

The Playhouse Theatre is a relatively compact venue. CCL fit like a glove.

“When we first started looking at the right system to put into that venue, there were quite a few options that we were toying with,” explains Matt. “When it became apparent that CCL was going to arrive in time and we could make the whole timeline match, we put the venue into ArrayCalc and had a look at how CCL would deploy in the venue – and it was pretty much a perfect match.”

The system comprised of four CCL8 elements and two CCL-SUBs per side. Powering the whole system were two d&b D40 amplifiers.

“The amp efficiency is just incredible for this type of venue, and especially in a festival like this where we have so many different loudspeaker systems deployed at various events all over Hobart.”

A wide range of acts performed at the Playhouse Theatre over the two weeks of the festival, from world music, electronic music, to full bands. Feedback was universally positive, by FOH engineers and punters alike. The subs in particular made an impression for their tightness and clean transient response.

“The CCL subs are fabulous,” says Matt. “They are a very musical sub with great output. I found them to be really responsive and very high fidelity in the sense that you can hear the transients.”

LONG TERM INVESTMENT

While the initial outlay for a d&b system is substantial, VJAM has experienced firsthand the long-term value.“ It is an expensive product, but we feel the value of that return on investment over a longer period,” says Matt. “Our Q-Series system was still working week in and week out on corporate shows right up until our new systems arrived. We never replaced one driver through the entire time of us owning Q-Series. There was no maintenance that was due to failure – that’s just testament to the quality.”

The scalability, efficiency and weight-saving of the CCL boxes make them an easy choice for many venues and event types.

“At 17 kilos per box, it means that we can put CCL in places that other systems can’t really go. We can hang it on truss lines where there are serious weight restrictions where Q-Series couldn’t even go and we’d normally be looking at a point source option to fill that hole. Sonically, it’s just the new generation of the d&b sound. Q-Series is a great, musical-sounding box, but CCL is very much a different beast, and is going to see us through the next 15 to 20 years. The return on investment from d&b surpasses most in the industry, in my opinion. We’re looking forward to having more CCL boxes join us later this year and we’re excited to grow with it.”

VJAM: vjam.com.au
NAS: nas.solutions
d&b audiotechnik: dbaudio.com