Line Array vs Point Source vs Human Hearing

Point source systems and line array systems each have their advantages and issues. While it is important to utilize the optimal system for the application, line arrays have one significant advantage that is easy to understand and difficult to measure.

Oh, the white noise can be a bit loud and make my voice hard to hear, try using subtitles.

00:00 Intro
00:22 Test setup
00:50 Point source coverage
02:10 Two point speakers side by side
03:25 Four speakers side by side
04:02 Horizontal interference
04:25 Vertical vs horizontal
04:56 Unique aspects of a vertical line array vs human body
07:43 Outro

Also I have started a YouTube membership area where I release videos early and post exclusive additional content for the huge price of $4.99 a month. An area where I can better interact with sound humans outside of the general public. Come join us if you are interested!

[kevinleblanc]

Man I love listening to people who have forgotten more than I will ever are a *ucking genious Keep on learning and sharing it makes us all better Thanks Man

[xgamesnet]

This is hands down the best explanation of the actual, practical difference between line/point source arrays I’ve ever seen (and heard)

[MZod]

Love it. Not enough sound engineers talking about the human factor!

[theclamps]

Through all the learning I've done on line arrays, this aspect is one I've never come accross before or even thought about! Thanks for the great video and explaination!

[jeankazamer]

Has to be the simplest, clearest well best explained vertical line array theory i've watched/read . Many thanks for that beautifull short informative tube. :)

[slumdogjoe]

What a brilliant explanation! Especially why it's so effective from a human listening perspective.

[anthonysauro]

As a relatively new mixing engineer I feel like I hit a gold mine with your channel. Thanks for these Dave!

[KeefeBieggar]

Brilliant! I've been saying the same thing to people, you can take all the measurements you want and get lots of nice data, but if it sounds bad to your ear, is bad lol.

[peterblackmore]

Yeah, when I walk a venue with raked seating, it is easy to walk smoothly from one side to the other, but when I go up or down in equal steps, my ear/brain has a rest while moving from step to step. At a concert, once seated, our ears are pretty much vertically stable, but we move our heads horizontally - but I never really thought about that. You are amazing! Ha - once in a venue I sat down with my young adult daughters, and then did my usual visual check of the rigging, speakers etc. I looked back at the girls any they were laughing and then did an imitation of Dad scoping the venue. My wife never minds when I go to have a check of the mix position at interval.

[AaronAlso]

Dave you are a legend. I've been to many of the shows you managed the sound for; and they always have the best sound. You should be in a hall of fame somewhere.

[bennettshapiro]

So much of what we experience as sound is due to our physiology and evolution as a species. What frequencies we are most sensitive to, how we perceive sound versus what sound is actually there, etc. It always kills me how little of any room, we actually hear stereo in. We know that Sound from that other speaker is reaching our ears, but our brain has turned off that second speaker, and we are only hearing the speaker we are closest to. Designing sound systems that best correlate to the ways in which our brains perceive sound, is just as crucial as designing systems that account for our physical attributes.

Thanks much for doing this. These little reminders are so helpful in our daily endeavors to create the best sound experiences..

[TheJimboe]

Genius demonstration. So much better than a verbal or text explanation. Much respect ✊

[mrMikee]

A great video. It's been thirty years since my speaker building days and thinking about things like this. Brings back fond memories. Thanks.

[iglesiamontedesionoficial]

Surprisingly deep and simple explanation. Great to see spanish and others lenguajes in the subs, much appreciated the effort, thank you Dave.

[guitarstitch]

If you've got me at an event doing jumping jacks, subtle differences in the vertical dispersion are going to be the least of my concerns. I think it's a scientific fact that high frequencies drop off substantially when drowned out by the sound of your own beating heart.

Great demonstration, Dave. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these productions. The core concepts are useful to people at all levels, not just the pro-tour level.

[godsonbrowne]

This is the missing link to all that I've learned about point vs line source. Human hearing. Thanks for this.

[Miguelc]

For me, the biggest factor is that in a horizontal plane, all sources arrive almost at the same time in a line array. But in a horizontal array, all sources arrive at different times in a horizontal plane.

[mjbne]

I have issues with the audibility of the commentary, but the principles presented seem pretty solid.This demonstrates WHY my ears prefer coax studio monitors and line array PA systems. Kudos.

[JoelBursztyn]

Dave, thanks! very clear and significant explanation. After this video i am going to search for other videos you have done.

[carlstewart]

Nothing new to me, but still interesting to see it illustrated so expertly on a small scale. Well done, Dave. And thanks a bunch for taking the time and trouble to make these videos.