Loudspeakers and Line Arrays play an essential role in live sound reinforcement. The main goal of line arrays is to evenly distribute the full frequency range and "loudness" of the performance to the audience, regardless of where people are located. Stagehands and sound technicians work together before a live performance to achieve the optimal sound quality for audience satisfaction during their live event experience. Typically, traditional line arrays are installed by technicians at ground level. Using motorized hoists, speakers are suspended or "fly" to be fixed at a specific height and achieve their J-shaped curve, provided the stage or room is able to properly accommodate the weight and to the size of the speakers. Each horizontal or vertical calibration and directional approximation of the loudspeakers must have been carried out before the flight of the array. Recently, it has become possible to direct or point a line array without physically moving the speakers, thanks to digital technology. Some companies like Renkus-Heinz and Martin Audio have developed various digitally and electronically controlled speaker arrays. While the specifics, whys and hows of each company's technology may vary, it appears that the primary goal of each is the ability to calibrate the positioning of line array speakers after they are flown. Renkus-Heinz owns ICONYX. At a glance, the popular application of this particular family of digitally controlled column lines is to reinforce sound in public places such as airports, museums, stadiums, cathedrals and even amphitheaters of business. ICONYX can also boast of its specific design and its ability to integrate perfectly with the architecture of...... middle of paper ......before the show; and could potentially allow more time to be allocated to other aspects of the event, to ensure the quality of the overall experience. Current technology for digitally controlling loudspeaker arrays is probably not yet perfect. However, it is undoubtedly a step forward in the audio industry in terms of innovation and showcasing the possibilities of live sound reinforcement. This may be comparable to when digital audio workstations began to develop, some may dislike or even disapprove of the new ideas, but over time it is very likely that this technology will find its place in the world of audio. www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar06/articles/live_linearrays.htm http://www.martin-audio.com/mla/c-design-background/ http://www.renkus-heinz.com/ http:/ /www.renkus-heinz.com/iconyx http://www.renkus-heinz.com/rhaon-software