Funktion-One's VX M-Beam has been recognised by the PLASA Awards for Innovation. The judges were impressed by the innovative speaker rigging system and how it will enable greater use of VX systems in venues with single-point hangs.

Funktion-One’s VX M-Beam provides an elegant, patented solution for motorised adjustment of the tilt angle of a Vero VX loudspeaker array suspended from a single point while in situ (under load, at trim height). Compared to a fixed beam, which employs the common method of a row of pickup points to achieve different array tilt angles, the VX M-Beam has a single point which can be moved backwards and forwards remotely with an onboard electric motor. US patent granted. European patent pending. 

VX M-Beam forms part of the flying system for the Funktion-One Vero VX medium format loudspeaker system. The single pick up point is moveable within the beam, shifting the point’s relationship with the array’s centre of gravity, making up to 20° inclination and 20° declination possible (more than enough for typical use). This enables real time adjustment of overall array angle, saving significant time and vastly improving user convenience.

Compared to a fixed beam, which employs the common method of using a row of pickup points that amount to different array tilt angles, the VX M-Beam has a single point which can be moved backwards and forwards remotely with an onboard electric motor. There are also two fixed lifting points - one to the front and one to the rear - which can be used for dual point flying or to attach a safety bond. The motorised lifting point is fully functional up to its maximum load of 24 x VX90 loudspeakers. An array mounted inclinometer is used to give the user a live readout of the current angle of the flying frame. Furthermore, the VX M-Beam features a laser as standard to assist with aiming the array and determining any inconsistencies between the venue model and reality.

VX M-Beam takes full advantage of Vero VX’s unique inter-cabinet rigging system (Lambda) to enable a new method of single point flying for loudspeaker arrays. Rather than a series of lifting points (a row of holes), the M-Beam has a single lifting point which can be positioned anywhere along the length of the beam. The lifting point is motorised and designed to be safely operated under load, enabling inclination or declination at trim height. This is in contrast to a typical fixed beam with holes, where the lifting point has to be unloaded by lowering the array to ground level to allow re-positioning of the lifting shackle.

VX M-Beam affords the user the capability of keeping the entire array ‘plumb’ while it is being built. This makes adding and removing loudspeakers and landing them on their transport dollies extremely quick, easy and very safe. The final tilt angle can be applied remotely after the array is fully populated.

Most importantly, VX M-Beam opens up the opportunity to make adjustments to the overall tilt angle of an array of Vero VX loudspeakers, up to its maximum hang size of 24, at trim height, under load, at the touch of a button. This makes the user less reliant on the system design software and allows changes to be made based on the performance of the system in situ. 

As the world of live events is always getting faster and requiring higher levels of efficiency, we believe this should not have an impact on sound quality. VX M-Beam makes it possible for system engineers to adapt to their environment quickly, easily and safely.