JEM Productions Takes Delivery of First RCF HDL50-A Large Format Line Array in U.S.

Earlier this year, RCF announced the expansion to the popular HDL Series with the new high-powered, large-format HDL50-A line array system. First to take delivery of the product in the United States is Wisconsin-based JEM Productions.
“We have deployed various RCF gear for events from literally five people to over 15,000 and have always been able to perfectly flex our systems to meet the demand of the venue,” says JEM owner Joe Ellis. “When it came time for us to enter the large format market earlier this year, the timing was perfect with the release of the new HDL50-A and SUB9007-AS, and once we heard it we knew our future included this system.” JEM relied on RCF partner Soundworks Systems (www.soundworkssystems.com) to coordinate a product demonstration and purchase of the system.
The HDL50-A is an active three-way line array module, designed specifically for large events — both indoors and outdoors - equipped with two 12” woofers, four symmetrical 6.5” midrange transducers and two 2” high frequency compression drivers driven by onboard 4400-watt RMS digital amplifiers. The system is completed with the SUB9007-AS, an active 6800-watt dual 21” subwoofer.
JEM Productions was founded in 2011 initially to support local bands. At the time, owner Joe Ellis was an airline pilot with the sound company being a part-time operation. “After medical issues forced me out of the sky in 2012,” says Ellis, “and demand grew from other bands and venues for our services, we focused our energy on expanding into the market full time.” JEM now services clients across the country providing audio, lighting, staging and transportation for events ranging in size from small meetings to multi-day, multi-stage festivals. “Crystal clear, tasteful sound reinforcement is what built our company and what anchors our reputation as a first class provider of professional production,” notes Ellis on the philosophy of the company.
Aside from the sound, another major reason JEM Productions chose RCF is because of the support. “Whether a very small or very large system, it is critical to our success to fully support our products,” says Ellis. “Nothing helps us do that better than having a great support network behind us – like RCF.
One of the first concerts using the system featured six-time Dove Award winner Francesca Bettinelli performing in an outdoor event at the Thrivent Celebrates Hope concert in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. For support with the new system RCF sent in Product Specialist Oscar Mora to assist in deploying the system in its inaugural run. “It was a very acoustically challenging venue with a Grammy nominated artist performing a free concert for a record breaking audience,” notes Ellis. “Mora’s aid in training and operation of the system is exactly what helps us maintain our reputation as a partner our clients can absolutely count on to exceed their expectations.”
One of the first major events JEM put the system to use was at the three-day Sub Octave Music Festival at the Outback Ranch in Minnesota. The event featured over 40 bands of various genres from electronic dance music to art-rock to the weekend of camping, music and arts.
“With the launch of the HDL50-A system and us being one of the first in the U.S. to purchase, we had a timing conflict with our first large festival slated for the system and having enough inventory physically in the States,” says Ellis. “RCF was amazing and sent us the supplemental boxes and transport carts we were missing from their own demo system so we could get the job done!” For the festival, JEM had two hangs of 8 HDL50-A complemented by 12 SUB9007-AS, plus some additional RCF HDL20-A and NX12-SMA monitor cabinets.
What was truly amazing says Ellis, “is that with a 28 box system absolutely cranking EDM, we were clamping peaks of less than 30-amps of power! Unbelievably efficient.”