Aiming your PA tops

[Steve Browning]

We all know that speakers distribute sound in a certain way.  Habit tends to be firing straight forward. 

 

That is unlikely to be the optimal solution, so how should we aim our PA top cabs for best results?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You should aim them as the room demands, which is to cover the most listeners possible. That's listeners, not people. We've all played those rooms where far too many are more interested in their conversations than the music. When I played those rooms I aimed the PA where it would be most appreciated, at the dance floor. 

[Downunderwonder]

Aka cross fired, the pub formation.

[Chienmortbb]

 Look at the dispersion angle of the speakers and the distance apart. Generally straight ahead with a slight toe-in. Too much cross-fireing will increase reflections and cause dead spots at the side of the front. 

 

[Phil Starr]

Hi Steve, I think it's well worth looking at this if you haven't aleady seen it. It shows the 'heatmap' for typical point source speakers on stands and straight ahead is pretty much what you want in most gigs. I think it's the heat map which is useful, it helps to be able to picture your cabs shining out sound into the room and you can take that mental picture with you to rooms that are sub optimal.

 

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

He fails to mention wall loading subs, which gives higher output. Not all venues can take advantage of that, but most can, and as sub output is omni-directional they can be placed to either side of the stage.