Meyer Sound News : From Large Arenas to Intimate Theatres, Katie Melua Captivates the Audience through Flexible Meyer Sound System

From Large Arenas to Intimate Theatres, Katie Melua Captivates the Audience through Flexible Meyer Sound System

"In terms of this system's flexibility, there's nothing you can't do with it. This is because it's self-powered, its rigging is absolutely stunning, and it's a thoroughly thought-out system. The timbres of the units are very similar, so if you have side arrays coupled with a main hang, it's a very smooth transition."

- Bill Fertig
FOH Mixer, Katie Melua

Velvet-voiced songstress Katie Melua has had no problem attracting fans to her 2008 European tour, her latest triumph after selling 7.5 million albums in slightly more than four years. In venues ranging from 1,500-seat theatres to 10,000-seat arenas, Melua captivates the audience through a flexible Meyer Sound system of MILO and MICA line array loudspeakers designed and provided by London-based Capital Sound Hire.

"Katie Melua is a wonderful singer with a very delicate feel, and on this tour there are a lot of high gain mics on relaxed vocals, acoustic piano, violin, viola and mandolin," says Bill Fertig, FOH Mixer of the tour. "The reason I use Meyer Sound is because of the confidence I have in it. Without a shadow of a doubt, no other speaker will measure and perform as well as Meyer Sound speakers do."

The tour is traveling with a system of 24 MILO and 24 MICA line array loudspeakers and four MILO 120 line array loudspeakers for downfills. Sixteen 700-HP subwoofers provide powerful bass. The system also includes six M'elodie line array loudspeakers and four UPA-1P loudspeakers. MAPP Online Pro acoustical prediction program provides accurate coverage pattern data for each show.

For Fertig and system tech Jamie Howieson, the many configuration options afforded by Meyer Sound's MILO and MICA line array loudspeakers are essential for the diverse venues on Melua's tour. "We mostly use a MILO system with flown 700-HP subwoofers," Fertig says. "And when there is a tighter weight requirement, we use the MICA, which is also dedicated for side hangs in arenas."

"In terms of this system's flexibility, there's nothing you can't do with it," adds Fertig. "This is because it's self-powered, its rigging is absolutely stunning, and it's a thoroughly thought-out system. The timbres of the units are very similar, so if you have side arrays coupled with a main hang, it's a very smooth transition."

A 20-year veteran FOH engineer with credits including Steely Dan, Barry Manilow and Frank Sinatra, Fertig reports that the self-powered feature of Meyer Sound systems makes them the ultimate travel companion. "A line array has to be self-powered to achieve great results. It enables you to electronically drive the array and control it with extraordinary precision," Fertig states. "This is a great innovation from Meyer Sound."

Melua's performance has won praise from fans and the media. Regarding her show at Hallenstadion in Switzerland, a leading local newspaper Tagesanzeiger reported: "Katie Melua's diverse repertoire contained not only sophisticated love songs but also bluesy tunes about daily life and a reggae piece, all with plenty of beautiful melodies. Everything was presented in a sound quality seldom experienced in a large stadium. Even the gentlest shades were transported to the listener's ear and directly to his heart, creating a comforting and cozy feeling."

May, 2008