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| The main PA consisted of two hangs of seven Electro-Voice XLC 127 DVX and three XLC 215 DVX array elements each |
The Bluetone Festival in Straubing drew some 14,000 fans to Straubing in mid-July – a new attendance record. Top acts like Joe Cocker, Unheilig and LaBrassBanda entertained audiences of around 4,000 each, filling the festival marquee. Over the course of the five days the festival lasted, the organizers offered a highly diverse and entertaining programme comprising five different musical genres: rock and pop (in the shape of Cocker and Unheilig), cabaret (Django Asül) and jazz (George Benson).
The various genres made differing demands of the sound reinforcement system. To meet them, Ingo Haasch, the sound engineer responsible, relied on systems from Electro-Voice and DYNACORD. The main PA consisted of two hangs of seven Electro-Voice XLC 127 DVX and three XLC 215 DVX array elements each. Two DYNACORD VL 262 loudspeakers, serving as front fill, provided just the right amount of sound pressure in front of the stage, whilst two VL112 from DYNACORD were deployed as out fill, and four VL212 and two Sub 28 as side fill. To ply the performers with transparent foldback on stage, the team led by Haasch opted for 20 DYNACORD CXM 15 monitors, with two DYNACORD Sub 118 supplying drum fill. The use of FIR-Drive presets to control the PA proved once again a wise strategy. “FIR filters allow you to achieve a neutral sonic image,” says Haasch. “It was no problem to reconcile high sound pressure levels with first-class intelligibility.”
The delay line assumed particular importance at the festival – above all, during the two shows that were sold out. To ensure spectators in the rows most distant from the stage enjoyed powerful and clear sound, a delay system was used comprising three flown Electro-Voice XLE elements and four Xsubs in a cardioid configuration. The power for the entire sound reinforcement system, which was of considerable complexity, was drawn from 28 Electro-Voice TG7 and 24 DYNACORD H5000 amplifiers, each of which was equipped with an RCM-26 card. A NetMax N8000 controller assumed the additional function of CAN-Bus Ethernet interface.
“Despite the broad acoustic bandwidth,” reports Haasch, “the sound reinforcement system invariably delivered what was demanded of it – during the concerts, high sound pressure levels and brilliance; during the cabaret interludes, clarity and intelligibility – so we were able to repose complete confidence in the system.”
“This year, absolutely everything went right,” says Ralph Huber, co-organizer of the Bluetone Festival, in conclusion. “The weather was perfect; the logistics went like clockwork; the atmosphere was special. Not only were the fans delighted but the performers, too, were exceptionally appreciative – not least, of the flawless functioning and superlative acoustic performance of the sound reinforcement and monitoring equipment.”
