PA / Video Systems at Michigan Stadium

Submitted by MichiganPhotoRod on

As we approach the third anniversary of the completion of the $226 million stadium expansion project, I have another web find to share with the community of some of the upgrades that went into it, as I have reported here periodically when I have come across the info on the web. This time, it’s on the PA and video systems.  I'm not an audio or video technician, just a fact finder passing along perhaps some interesting information.

The PA system includes 28 Meyer Sound MILO 60 line array loudspeakers, eight SB-3F sound field synthesis loudspeakers, four MSL-4 loudspeakers, a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 408 processors, and an RMS remote monitoring system.

    See more about the PA system at http://www.meyersound.com/news/2012/michigan_stadium/    

 

And for information on the video boards, go to http://www.telsystemsusa.com/our-work/projects?nid=60&field_categories_tid=All

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Hearted Ale

July 24th, 2013 at 7:36 AM ^

Loud speakers at both endzones would create a really annoying echo since most spectators would not be equidistant from the speakers. An alternative to loud speakers would be many smaller speakers spread around the stadium (think Comerica Park). As long as the speakers aren't loud enough to travel across the field there wouldn't be echo. The problem with that system is there is no place to put speakers in an open air bowl stadium.

quigley.blue

July 24th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^

The impressive thing is the sensitivity.  I believe these are about 550 watts per loudspeaker, but have a sensitivity of 140 dB.  For reference, a high-end home speaker has a sensitivity of about 90-95 dB.  A speaker that gains 3 dB in sensitivity requires half the power to drive them at an equivlent sound level,  A typical PA or concert loundspeaker might have a sensitivity of 110 dB, which means these speakers are extremely efficient.  Caveat this that the primary drivers I'm talking about sacrifice low-frequency for their size and efficiency, and all of this really means nothing about loudness.

LB

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^

I glanced at the title on the board and came away with something about the sound systems in the PA and Michigan Stadiums. 

TheGhostofChappuis

July 23rd, 2013 at 9:56 PM ^

I'm confused.  Is this some kind of an upgrade, or are you just recapping what was put in place years ago?

MichiganPhotoRod

July 24th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^

I'm sorry I wasn't as specific as I could have been. The information is regarding the upgrades as part of the overall $226 million expansion project....or technically what occurred immediatelly thereafter as we know these were done after the 2010 rededication. This post was not meant to suggest they've made these upgrades since the 2012 season. I have edited the original post to make it more clear.

MGoStrength

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:24 PM ^

Any chance we ever get any color on those boxes?  I don't believe the new paint job includes it, right?  I just kinda think it looks a little bland.  Even just throwing up all the years of conference championships or NC or retired numbers, or even just the name of the stadium in maize.   Anything to get some color on that thing would really make it stand out.

inthebluelot

July 23rd, 2013 at 11:31 PM ^

Have degraded significantly since UTL. By that, I mean it was super clean and loud for that game, even though the video boards were a complete mess for much of the game which was an embarrassment to DB and all who take pride in our atmosphere. Anyway, the sound is garbled, muffled and generally pretty shitty considering the investment that was made. I think it needs some major tweaks by a certified sound engineer.

ChelseaRick

July 24th, 2013 at 7:11 AM ^

I am told that the sound is only broadcast from the north because it would cancel otherwise.  Does that make sense to anyone?

I am at the top of the south endzone, the greatest distance from the speakers and video board (can't see the one at the south) so sound is way off and the stats are way small.  But I can stand or sit as I like!

readyourguard

July 24th, 2013 at 9:10 AM ^

What's really frustrating is, I don't remember anyone having trouble hearing Carl or The Band prior to installing this super awesome/ridiculously expensive sound system.

MH20

July 24th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^

I sit in the lower portion of section 4 and almost regularly had a hard time hearing the band, especially when the opponent brought theirs (which is/was nearly every time) or when there was a lot of cheering (after a TD, turnover, etc.).  I'd have to imagine that folks in the SW corner really had a hard time hearing the band.

I can the hear them now, but as has been mentioned by most, it does sound about half a beat off at times, due to the echo.