Meyer Sound News : News Briefs Western Europe 1998

News Briefs Western Europe 1998

Famous comedian, Gerd Dudenhoeffer is touring Germany from September 1998 to late 1999. His rig is supplied by HD Buehnetechnik, and the system consists of 6 - UPA-1Ps, 2 - UPA-2Ps and 2 - CP-10s. When using SIM System II and the CP-10 for the Sennheiser Radio mic, they find it possible to have 6 dB more gain before feedback.

Christian Fuchs said, "It's fun. Gerd sits so close to the speakers that most of the technicians in the venues we tour get the impression that I'm nuts. When they hear the results, however, they come back and talk to me for at least an hour. I have actually seen people sneak by the UPA-Ps and pet them...."

Rock Sound of Germany is busier than ever. They're out on David Copperfield's European Tour in November/December 1998 with a huge self-powered rig of 24 - MSL-4s, 8 - DS-2Ps, 8 - UPA-2Ps, and 8 - 650-Ps.

From November 2 through December 5, Peter Maffay is out on his German Tour using another major Rock Sound rig of 32 - MSL-4s, 8 - DS-2Ps, 8 - CQ-2s, and 8 - 650-Ps.

Rock Sound will head out on the Harlem Gospel Singers' European tour using 8 - MSL-4s, 8 - UPA-2Ps, and 4 - 650-Ps.

When the Scorpions rock band comes to Hannover, Germany on October 29, Rock Sound will supply 24 - MSL-4s, 8 - DS-2Ps, 8 - UPA-2Ps, and 8 - 650-Ps.

Amptown Sound & Communication provided a Meyer self-powered system - fully equipped with RMS - for the Berlin performances of "Lord of the Rings." A special venue, with multiple stages, was built for this musical. The sound system, designed with assistance from Meyer Sound Germany, features 22 - CQ-2s, 16 - UPA-1Ps, and 14 - 650-Ps.

SIM System II has become increasingly popular in Germany. Two companies purchased new SIM machines in October. Bernd Reichert of Event Horizon in Cologne bought one, saying, "We're a consulting company that deals with big industry partners like Volkswagen. Every show must be an absolute success; compromised quality is not the name of the game. SIM is just the right tool for us." Mediatec of Bonn also purchased a SIM machine. Dirk Hagermann said, "Meyer Sound is a total solution in all aspects. They give us these fine products that we know will make our customers happy. Meyer provides us with the knowledge to do our job better day after day. SIM allows us to get another step closer to perfection." Mediatec also provided a sound system for Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany for his election campaign in May. The system consisted of 6 - MSL-4s and 1 - LD-1, which allowed fast set-up and very good speech intelligibility.

In November 98, Meyer dealer SAAVS Salzbrenner of Germany installed 4 - CQ-2s and 2 - CQ-1s for the Civic Auditorium in Weiden.

Munic Sound of Germany recently purchased 8 more UPA-1Ps, that will be used in the German and Austrian touring production of "Beauty and the Beast" throughout December 1998. The production also features 4 - MSL-4s, and 2 - 650-Ps. Uwe Seeman of Munic Sound said, "Once a sound guy uses this Meyer equipment, he seems to be addicted to it."

Dieter Cramer of Balance Audio Media in Cologne tells us, "Meyer's MSL-4 is the best product for us. It caters to every type of performer from Karl Stockhousen to Simple Minds to Phil Collins."

In November, Riverline will go out on the German Tour of Nazareth and Uriah Heep. The system features 8 - MSL-4s, 8 - DS-2s, and 8 - 650-Ps.

In October, Amptown Verleih of Germany increased their rental stock with 8 - UPA-1Ps and 4 - 650-Ps.

Werner Audio of Germany increased their inventory by buying 8 - UM-1Ps, 2 - UPA-1Ps and 2 - HM-1s.

In June, "Starlight Express" celebrated its 10 year anniversary at the Bochum Theater in Germany. Stella Theater Consult and Meyer Sound Germany used a Meyer self-powered system of 2 - UPA-2Ps, 4 - UPA-1Ps, 4 - USW-1Ps and 14 - PSM-2s.
Uli Kunst of Stella Theater Consult tells us, "I'm impressed with the performance of the Self-Powered UltraSeries. It's amazing how clear, clean and loud those little guys are."

A German band called Gudrun Lange and Cactus purchased a Meyer PA of 4 - MTS-4s and 2 - DS-2Ps in June. Martin Djolef, sound engineer (and husband of Gundrun Lange) for the band says, "Since two years ago, we have used an MSL-2A and MSW-2 combination, and always received very, very good responses from the audiences regarding the sound quality. Then we decided we needed a bigger PA, so we selected the MTS-4 system, which works really well for us. It's also a good match to our existing rig."

Between March and July 1998, Balance Audio Media GmbH of Cologne increased their stock to include 4 - MSL-4s, 8 - UM-1Ps, 8 - UPA-2Ps, and 1 - LD-1A. According to Balance Audio's Dieter Cramer, "We never seem to have enough on stock of Meyer's excellent products."

Munic Sound of Munich added 8 - UPA-1Ps to their rental inventory in June 1998. Munic Sound tells us they love the UPA-1P speaker, but don't see it often in their warehouse. Apparently it's always out on jobs earning the company money!

In May 1998, Meyer dealer Audio Plan of Montabaur sold 6 - UPA-1Ps to the Maritim Hotel in Cologne.

Werner Audio of Berlin added yet another CP-10 to their rental stock. The company now has 16 CP-10s! Fred Werner tells us, "There's no better EQ on earth than a CP-10."

In March, Meyer dealer Mediatec of Bonn sold 6 - MSL-4s, 6 - PSW-4s, and 1 - LD-1 to Show & Laser Technik. Thomas Mundorf of Show & Laser Technik said that the return on investment is 3 times as fast as on his previous non-Meyer rig. According to Mundorf, customer acceptance for his Meyer products is fantastic.

All you have to do is listen... At the 1998 Frankfurt Musikmesse, Thomas Zuellich, Sales Manager for Meyer Sound Germany, demoed 2 - HM-1s at the tradeshow booth to Guenter Craemer. After hearing the speakers, Craemer purchased a pair of the HM-1s right then and there off the booth.
Hannes Gerriets of Gerriets International bought a pair of the HM-1s, too, after hearing a similar demo by Zuellich on the tradeshow booth.

Currently, Padco is out on the European Tour of "West Side Story." Padco is using a Meyer rig consisting of mostly UPA-1Cs for this exciting production.

Bob Kelly of Canegreen reports that the company is busy with the following current and upcoming projects:
• Don Williams is touring the UK in October using an MSL-4 rig.
• Neil Finn, formally with Crowded House, is using a 24 box MSL-4 system in Europe until mid-October. Neil will be doing shows throughout the UK until late October.
• Slayer is touring Europe using a 34 box MSL-4 system. (Oct/Nov)
• The Corrs are touring Europe using a 24 box MSL-4 system. (Nov/Dec)
• For Nanci Griffiths' UK shows, they're using 16 box MSL-3 system. (Oct/Nov)
• Cangreen have been suppling the Masquerade 2000 floats (2) at the Notting Hill Carnival using 24 MSL-4 boxes and 16 650 subs on each truck.
• For the Chrysalis Records 30th Birthday Bash at the One Great Street building in London, Canegreen supplied an MSL-4 and MSL-3 system.

Riverline reports having particularly brisk business lately:
On the 10th of July, Riverline supplied Italian superstar, Eros Ramazotti, in Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with a big Meyer rig. The main system consisted of 24 MSL-4s, 8 DS-2s, 20 650-P /R-2s. The delays were 2 sets of 4 MSL-4s. The near fill included 6 UPA-1Ps.
Also on July 10th, Riverline supplied the biggest European Country & Western Festival in the Nurburgring, Germany. The festival, which entertains about 40,000 people, featured a main system of 20 MSL-3s, 8 DS-2s, and 20 650-P/R-2s. Near fill was completed with 2 sets of 4 MSL-4s, while the delay configuration incorporated 2 sets of 4 MSL-3s. Side fills were 4 PSW-4s and 4 MSL-3s.
On the 18th and 19th of July, Riverline supplied Wolfgang Petry with a huge Meyer rig at the Waldbuhne amphitheatre in Berlin. The concert featured a main system of 30 MSL-4s, 10 DS-2s, and 20 650-P-R-2s (flown very high). Front fills were 4 MSL-3s and 2 DS-2s. The near fills included 6 MSL-4s, and the delays featured 2 sets of 2 MSL-3s. Side fill was provided by 2 sets of 4 MSL-4s.
In October and November, Riverline is supplying the Nazareth and Uriah Heep tour with a Meyer rig.

Blues legend B.B. King toured Europe this spring with a Meyer system supplied by Rider Audio and Lights, of Strijen, the Netherlands. From Sweden to the Czech Republic, King relied on Meyer equipment all through his trek across Europe. The Rider system consisted of 16 MSL-3A loudspeakers, eight DS-2 loudspeakers, and eight 650-R2 subwoofers. Four UPA-1A and 2 MSL-3 loudspeakers were used as fills, with monitoring provided by 2 UM-1A monitors and 2 USW-1 subwoofers.

French rental company Dispatch is using Meyer rigs for several tours.

Arpège Lumière, a long-time Meyer user and supplier in southern France, have sold and installed equipment in a number of venues this year, reports Philippe Barguirdjian. Recent projects include the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the Monte Carlo Congres Center, the Cannes Theatre Noga Hilton, and the Debussy Auditorium, also in Cannes. Arpège Lumière is supplying French singer Florent Pagny with a touring system consisting of 40 MSL-4 loudspeakers, 20 650-P subwoofers, two UPA-1P loudspeakers, and eight UPA-1C loudspeakers. The company has also worked with the Starmania show since 1993, and is currently using 16 MSL-4s, 16 UPA-1Cs, and eight PSW-4 and 650-P subwoofers apiece for sound reinforcement.

German rental company HD Buehnentechnik are enjoying success with their new Self-Powered UltraSeries system. "We've been the proud owners of a small Meyer system for three months now," writes Christian Fuchs. "We've got six UPA-1P loudspeakers, 2 UPA-2P loudspeakers, and 2 USW-P subwoofers that we've been using for theatre and shows." The UltraSeries rig is now on the road with German comedians Gerd Dudenhoeffer and Heinz Becker.

"Soon we will buy our own MSL-4/650-P system," adds Fuchs. "Keep on with the great systems!"

Building on the success of their investment in MSL-4 loudspeakers last year, Stage Unit Belgium recently added 8 cabinets to their inventory of Self-Powered Meyer equipment, reports Werner Deykeser. The Belgium rental company's stock now totals 24 MSL-4s and 12 650-P subwoofers.

Werner Audio of Berlin supplied the Friedrichstadtpalast with an additional 6 MSL-4 Self-Powered loudspeakers, bringing their total up to 10 MSL-4s in the house system. The system for the Berlin theater consists of a center cluster of 4 MSL-4s, supplemented by 6 MSL-4s hidden in the stage set.

Hamburg rental company Amptown provided sound designer Richard Sharratt with an 150-speaker PA system featuring Meyer cabinets for the German production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." Premiering on December 5, 1997, the lavishly-produced musical integrates computer-controlled mobile scenery with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The Stuttgart box-style theater seats over 1800 and features two mid-air circles and 16 smaller boxes, all decorated in the roccoco style with red velvet, gold plating, and gilded roof mouldings.

Several artists used Meyer systems provided by Dispatch of Paris on their French tours. Their international roster of acts touring with Meyer includes Michel Jonasz, Michel Fugain, Julien Clerc, Serge Lama, and Manu Dibango.

London rental company Canegreen used an MSL-3 system for the Bread/David Gates tour of the United Kingdom this winter.

MAC provided Meyer systems for the UK productions of Tap Dogs and Surprise Party. Supplying Meyer equipment for the Norwegian tour of Evita, MAC also sent Meyer rigs out with the Russian State Ballet's tour there.

Meyer gear has been popping up all over the European touring scene this winter.
Delta Audio Services Belgium supplied both Self-Powered and conventional systems for domestic tours. Luc Wyns was supported by an MSL-4 rig, while Else de Schepper and Suske & Wiske used UPA and MSL-2 systems, respectively.

JDM, a Belgian rental company, supplied an MSL-4 rig for Melanie's tour of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Musical group the Dubliners are touring Europe with a Meyer system provided by Rider, a Netherlands-based rental company. Rider also sent Meyer equipment out on the road with Mercedes Sosa for her European tour.

Dutch rental company Bano provided an MSL-3 based system for the Holland leg of the New London Chorale tour.

otayFocus Showequipment BV, a Dutch rental company, supplied a Meyer system for the Dutch tour of the hit musical Miss Saigon.

November, 1998

FEATURED PRODUCTS