EAW Ups the Audio Ante for American Country Awards

Sound reinforcement provider ATK Audiotek deployed the Anya system by EAW (Eastern Acoustic Works) in collaboration with RAT Sound to deliver an amazing audio experience at the 4^th Annual American Country Awards (ACAs) held this week at Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas. The all-star line-up of America’s most popular country artists connected with every fan in attendance through Anya’s unique ability to adapt performance in order to perfectly match the requirements of the venue.

“EAW’s Anya performed as promised and beyond,” exclaims Mikael Stewart, ATK’s vice president of special events and the ACA’s FOH production sound mixer. “The coverage, clarity, and headroom met all expectations, as with any EAW product. It provided all the necessary elements required by a multi-performance award show. The dialogue levels and music quality was top notch.”

Pre-show modeling of the arena in EAW Resolution Software predicted an optimal system of 40 Anya modules hung 3 columns per side in a 10-6-4 configuration. Each of these 20 module arrays was able to provide 180 degree horizontal coverage from a consolidated cluster without the need for independent side hangs. And Anya’s ability to rapidly adapt coverage gave ATK the ability to modify trim height and make required changes to system coverage almost instantly, without rehanging the system.

“The Anya system was very powerful, and punchy,” says Ron Reaves, the FOH music mixer who is best-known for mixing The Grammy Awards. “It’s a very musical PA system, in a very modern package. All of the acts were happy with the FOH mix, and I had a great time mixing the show on this system.”

“For us, it’s all about enabling the connection between artist and audience. It’s about the experience,” states EAW President Jeff Rocha. “Seeing each and every fan engaged in the performances, which included an emotionally powerful, crystal clear tribute to Patsy Cline from LeAnn Rimes, makes all of the years of Anya development worthwhile. We are thrilled to know that fans across the globe will soon feel the impact that this revolutionary technology has on the experience of live performance.”