Cairns based "Pro-gig" company, assisted by Australian distributor "Audiotech Systems Australia" have installed the world's first Outline mini-COM.P.A.S.S. in the Cairns Civic Theatre, in Far North Queensland.

The mini-COM.P.A.S.S. has the unique technical advantage to be able to adjust the horizontal plane. The COM.P.A.S.S., which is an acronym for COMpact Polar Adjustable Sound System, is a self-powered loudspeaker module with built-in DSP; flying hardware is also integrated.

COM.P.A.S.S has all the advantages over any traditional design whether it is line array or point source. The system was chosen from a 'shootout' of 5 major brands and was voted "most natural sounding" by all judges.

"Outline won the contract simply on its power output, overall clarity and ease of use", says Steve Barton - Chief Audio Supervisor for Cairns Civic theatre.

The adjustable horizontal dispersion was a major consideration factor due to FOH bridges either side of stage that deflected audio onto highly reflective surfaces. Judges were unanimously blown away by the natural clarity and reproduction of spoken word, music playback and general user friendliness of the array. The overall concept was that we could now focus the audio energy onto the 700 seated paying audience and not onto the walls and other surfaces. In the horizontal plane one can adjust the degree of dispersion asymmetrically between 60 and 150 degrees in 15 degree increments. Audio can be specifically directed to where it is required.

Mini-COM.P.A.S.S. consists of 4x5" mid-woofers together with 2 x 1" compression drivers mounted onto two D.P.R.W.G. (double parabolic reflective waveguide) as used in the hugely popular ‘Butterfly' line array, which now has global acclaim and recognition. The on-board dual channel 500-Watt amplifiers and DSP controller are fully ‘digital' which means installations are a made simpler.

The bottom end is ensured by a pair of Subtech 218 SP (double 18" sub), rigged on the back of the 2 arrays in the air on their own custom flying frame, designed and manufactured by Audiotech Systems Australia's engineering outfit.

The complete self-powered system is driven by the loudspeaker management device Outline Genius 26 controller. At the time of going to press, other mini-COM.P.A.S.S. installations are expected to be completed in all four corners of the globe including churches in Korea, a theatre in Iran, a live venue in Norway, another live venue in the United States.