Meyer Sound News : Spanish Music Festival Features Meyer Systems

Spanish Music Festival Features Meyer Systems

"By using Meyer Sound in the majority of our venues, we achieved very consistent sound quality from location to location... To have such high SPL at 100 meters away from the stage was wonderful!"

- José Maria Rosillo,
Benicassim's Sound Coordinator

Although the first four days of the festival were dedicated to live concerts and DJ performances, the last day encompassed a special awards ceremony to honor the festival's winning films. The festival's climax featured an extensive outdoor party on Benicàssim beach.

Meyer Sound loudspeaker systems supplied by Spanish rental companies Fluge and Espiral were used throughout the FIB's main locations. Technical support was provided by Meyer Sound España's project and designs director Alberto Bravo, along with FIB sound coordinator José Maria Rosillo.

The main stage, called Escenario Verde (Green Stage), presented Fluge with the challenge of coming up with a sound system that could cover around 17,000 sq. meters, providing enough clarity and punch for the 36,000-strong audience without having to incorporate delay systems into the overall design. Last year, Meyer Sound's M3D Line Array loudspeakers were used for the first time on this stage, to an excellent response from the sound engineers. This year an M3D system was chosen again, this time incorporating M2D Compact Curvilinear Array loudspeakers for downfill and side stage fill.

The main system consisted of thirteen M3Ds and seven M3D-Sub Directional subwoofers per side. Four M2Ds per side provided down fill and near field coverage. Six M2Ds were ground-supported on MG-2D Multipurpose Grids on either side of the stage. Six UPA-1P Compact Wide Coverage loudspeakers provided front fill, and three LD-1A Line Drivers were used for signal distribution.

The sound design was executed by Alberto Bravo using Meyer Sound's MAPP Online (Multipurpose Acoustical Prediction Program) to calculate array angles and predict the precise vertical and horizontal coverage and response of the entire system. Meyer Sound's Mauricio Ramirez used SIM System II FFT Analyzer for system alignment and equalization. All the Meyer Sound systems at the festival were monitored and controlled with RMS (Remote Monitoring System). "The final result was great," says Bravo. "The prediction made using MAPP Online was extremely accurate and perfectly matched the measurements taken with SIM during the final equalization of the system."

Festival headliners included The Cure, Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers and Suede. During the Chemical Brothers' performance, peak SPL peaks reached 127dB at the front of house position 40 meters from the stage.

Espiral provided Meyer Sound systems for four other festival venues. At the FIB Club Stage, located in a 60-meter by 30-meter tent with a capacity of 3,000, a system of eight Meyer Sound MSL-4 Horn-Loaded Long-Throw loudspeakers, four DS-4P Horn-Loaded Mid-Bass loudspeakers, eight 650-P High-Power subwoofers and two UPA-1Ps were used. The MSL-4s and DS-4s formed two hanging clusters on each side of the stage, with the 650-Ps ground-stacked. The UPA-1Ps at stage center provided front-fill.

In the Fashion Tent, used for shows in the afternoons and DJ performances at night, Espiral provided six MSL-3s and six 650-R2s located on each side of the stage, with UPA-1Ps used as delays at the rear of the tent.

Espiral also provided twelve UPA-1Ps and four 650-Ps for the oval-shaped 15-meter by 30-meter Chill Out Tent, with MM-4 Ultra-Compact Wide-Range loudspeakers and UMS-1P Ultra-Compact subwoofers as the DJ monitor system. Finally, Espiral supplied two MSL-3s and four UPM-1P Ultra-Compact Wide Coverage loudspeakers for the Press Tent, where press conferences and round table discussions were held during the festival.

José Maria Rosillo, the Festival's sound coordinator, commented "This year, by using Meyer Sound in the majority of our venues, we achieved very consistent sound quality from location to location. And for Escenario Verde, down and sidefill coverage was improved by incorporating the M2Ds." Regarding the performance of the main M3D/M3D-Sub system Rosillo stated "To have such high SPL at 100 meters away from the stage was wonderful!"

November, 2002