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Noise complaints have hit the headlines throughout the 2023 festival season, threatening the future of some events. How can festivals deliver a great time without disturbing their neighbours?

The summer of 2023 has seen some festivals making headlines for all the wrong reasons. While there have been plenty of wonderful experiences for audiences up and down the UK, there have been a few high-profile examples where local residents have suffered from uncontrolled audio spreading for miles from the festival site.

Festival sound levels are monitored like never before with noise management plans established before the event is granted a licence and inspectors on the ground ensuring that sound levels stay within the approved range. These can lead to lower SPLs on site in a bid to avoid excessive sound spill into the surrounding areas. While this can work well for the neighbours, it can also lead to disappointing experiences for the artists and audience at the festival.

Over the last decade we have witnessed the rise of an alternative option. When Martin Audio released MLA in 2010, the manufacturer created new possibilities for sound field optimisation. The multi-award winning system has helped the manufacturer to lead the field of optimised audio with further formats of MLA released and subsequently joined by Wavefront Precision that extended the flexibility of the optimisation process through scalable resolution.

Martin Audio’s optimisation relies on a patented algorithm that allows for multiple goals to be set by the user, while systematically calculating the necessary parameters to closely match those goals. By understanding the venue and the user goals of the system, DISPLAY software starts by analysing every possible combination of inter-cabinet angles of the array, checks the result using the computer model of the arrays and compares it to the desired response.

Building on this, a second stage also uses numerical optimisation, but also addresses the EQ, FIR, gain and phase parameters available in the DSP of the system, to achieve the desired response set by the system designer. The unique digital algorithm examines thousands of batches of possible results, gradually honing all parameters until it reaches a result which is as close as possible to the specifications that the system designer has requested. “Our analysis has shown that competitor optimisation solutions are unable to get to the granularity of desired outcome, so in like for like situations Martin Audio will deliver a more exacting solution”, said Dom Harter, Managing Director.

It is this solution that has allowed system techs and FOH engineers to overcome some of the challenges that they face with noise restrictions. With an optimised sound system covering a defined area, it is possible to have higher SPLs for the audience area while also experiencing significant reductions outside that space. It is this level of control that has led to festivals like BST in London’s Hyde Park being given a new lease of life after once being considered “unworkable”.

For the 2023 edition of American Express presents BST Hyde Park,the 9-day festival saw acts like Pink, Guns N’ Roses, Take That, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Billy Joel headlining on the main stage. With the Royal Park’s central London location surrounded by hotels, offices and residential properties, there is a challenging offsite level of 75dB (LAeq5) which the festival must adhere to. Thanks to the optimisation available with the MLA system used for the festival, the performers were able to entertain their audiences in the way they wanted to and the number of complaints reduced.

“Ipersonally walk the site—particularly when the headline act comes on stage—to satisfy myself that we are achieving the best sound coverage possible, and I have no doubt that we delivered an amazing audio experiencefor our audiences,” says Dave Grindle, venue director and co-CEO of BST management company, LS Events. “Given that we’re working in an urban environment which is surrounded by densely populated residential areas, the numbers of complaints have been remarkably low. The tech teams work hard to achieve a balance of an incredible experience for the fans while remaining within the licence conditions and minimising the impact on our neighbours.”

It was a similar experience for the organisers of Japan Jam, a rock festival held at Chiba City’s Soga Sports Park over Japan’s Golden Week holidays. As with BST, the venue is surrounded by heavily populated residential and commercial areas so emphasis needed to be placed on tight noise control, to prevent sound from escaping into the adjoining neighbourhood.

“We had to control sound escape outside the venue to an unprecedented level, but [with Martin Audio’s DISPLAY optimisation software] the results were easy to obtain,” recalls MSI Japan chairman, Shuzo Fujii, who was in charge of the Japan Jam system. “Inside the audience field the audio experience was completely different to outside the perimeter. It was amazing how much sound pressure and quality was provided to avoid it leaking out. I felt that this outdoor festival was a moment that once again proved the high level of MLA’s controllability.”

It’s not only with festivals in densely populated areas where optimisation plays a useful role. For festivals with multiple stages an optimised system helps organisers to avoid spillage between performance areas so that audiences can focus on the act they want to see. Perhaps the best example of this comes from Glastonbury where MLA and Wavefront Precision arrays are used across a variety of stages.

“The technology behind Martin Audio MLA and Wavefront Precision allows us to deliver a full range intimate experience at 350m from the pyramid stage and yet within 50m of the edge of the arena, we can reduce the levels up to 15dB and even lower beyond,” explains Simon Honywill, audio consultant for Glastonbury. “The accuracy of this system is unmatched; it’s like stepping through an invisible door as the sound rapidly fades around you.”

With over a decade of festival experience behind it, optimisation is a trusted and proven method of avoiding noise complaints while also keeping FOH engineers, artists, promoters and audiences happy. When you combine this technology with the undeniable audio quality of Martin Audio you will ultimately achieve a successful and profitable festival.

For further reading: https://martin-audio.com/case-studies/festivals

Photo Credit-

Lee Perry: Photo 1-2 (Glastonbury 2023)

Awais Butt: Photo 3 (BST Hyde Park 2023)

Gus Stewart: Photo 4 (BST Hyde Park 2023)

Photo 5-6 (Japan Jam 2023)

Martin Audio’s Mexican rental partner, Audio Teck Pro, recently deployed a large WPL and MLA deployment to provide comprehensive coverage throughout the 10,500-cap multipurpose venue.

Audio Teck Pro systems engineer Raúl Román, explained how the supreme multi-cellular control of Martin Audio once again helped overcome the challenges—particularly in this case of heat and humidity—to deliver a supreme and consummate audio performance.

“In our experience it is a great advantage to have Martin Audio equipment in our inventory as the brand is frequently requested on artists’ riders, and the systems always respond well. Other brands we have used do not achieve the same results, especially in the treble; this is very important because with other equipment, the treble starts to fall away at a distance of about 50 or 60 meters whereas with Martin Audio it reaches a distance of 100 meters comfortably without problems—which is a great advantage.”

“IN OUR EXPERIENCE IT IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO HAVE MARTIN AUDIO EQUIPMENT IN OUR INVENTORY AS THE BRAND IS FREQUENTLY REQUESTED ON ARTISTS’ RIDERS, AND THE SYSTEMS ALWAYS RESPOND WELL”,.

Raúl Román, System Engineer, Audio Teck Pro

He says this is corroborated by the Smaart software readings where the treble part, measures 16,000Hz, unlike other brands, which are 12,000Hz max. “With Martin Audio, everything sounds coherent, very clear and transparent, and at the same level, and thisis what distinguishes from others,” Raúl Román continues. “And as far as the subwoofers are concerned, there is no comparison; they outperform other brands with depth and tone that other subs do not have.”

Soundworks of Virginia returned to the familiar 100-acre Maymont Park site in Richmond, VA to help stage the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival, an event for which they have provided sound reinforcement since 2017.

Working for promoter JMI (Johnson Marketing Inc) they fielded their flagship Martin Audio WPL optimised line array on the main stage, deploying hangs of 12 WPL elements on each wing. These were underpinned by 12 SXH218 in cardioid formation—a move largely designed to prevent the stage from vibrating—with a delay tower of eight smaller WPS elements, set around 275ft back and with four WPS deployed along the stage lip as frontfills. Monitors comprised four WPS loudspeakers atop a pair of SXC118 subs, mounted both stage left and right for sidefills, plus 12 of Soundworks’ own SW2 proprietary wedges.

Soundworks also equipped the second stage with 12 WPC per side with eight SXH218 subs in a centre cluster. Monitor provision again consisted of four WPS enclosures above a pair of SXC118 on each wing for sidefills plus 12 of Martin Audio’s powerful XE500 wedges.

Run from iKON multi-channel amplifiers in 2-box resolution, this provided the perfect setting for an all-star line-up headed by Chaka Khan to showcase their art.

“THE MARTIN AUDIO SYSTEMS COVER ALL THE BASES. THERE’S NO AREA OF THE AUDIENCE THAT ISN’T PROPERLY COVERED. EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE DELIVERED!”

Mike Ferguson, Production Manager, Richmond Jazz and Music Festival

Yet although Soundworks’ tech team has worked this site many times in the past, there is still work to be done in advance, and it is far from a case of simply applying existing site measurements, as founder and CEO, Steve Payne, explains.

“Maymont shows use a temporary stage—typically a Stageline SL320—and there are several different locations used within the park for concerts. Additionally, the stage is never placed in exactly the same spot each time which means the spatial definition of the audience area varies each time. We have found that the more accurate the audience area definition is the more accurate the results we achieve … and for that reason, in order to get the best results possible we opt to measure each time.”

He continued, “We go in once the stage is set in place and do our laser measurements. Then we use Martin Audio DISPLAY software to predict and optimise coverage.” Any time alignment adjustments are then carried out in a Lake LM44 processor.

Drum ‘n’ bass fans were given an event to remember when the three-day Liquicity Festival was staged recently in Geestmerambacht Park in the north of the Netherlands.

Begun in 2013 the first multiple day Liquicity took place in 2017 and today the event attracts daily attendances of up to 20,000.

Martin Audio partners DSL and Stairway Productions collectively provided several hundred enclosures, plus amplifiers and accessories, site wide. This notably included a massive deployment of WPL Wavefront Precision line arrays by DSL for the premier two performance stages—and seven separate zones in all (including the food court) spread across a site that was suitably draped and decorated for the occasion.

The main Galaxy stage saw 20x WPL left and right (in two box resolution), with 12x WPC for delays (also in two box resolution)and 21x SXH218 subs in cardioid (14 front-facing and seven back), with a further four W8VDQ for front fill and six Blackline X12 for outfill. These were powered by 17x IK42 multi-channel amps. On stage, six LE1500 were used for monitoring and two further LE1500 and a Blackline X118 were used on stage.

The second (Solar) stage saw 12x WPL stacked, with eight MLA Mini and MSX subs (as outfills). Four TORUS T1215 were used as front fill, with 20 WS218 and six SX218 subs. A further LE1500 and LE1200 wedge monitors, with a pair of X118 were used on stage, with all passive enclosures powered by nine iK42.

“BUT THE ADVANCED CONTROL YOU HAVE GENERALLY WITH A MARTIN AUDIO SYSTEM HELPED CONTAIN THE SOUND.”

Martijn de Jong, Product Manager (Audio) at Ampco Flashlight Sales

On the third (Lunar stage) playback was through 12x Martin Audio W8C, underpinned by 18x WSX subs. Reference monitoring was again provided from a pair of LE1500 and X118.

For the Nebula stage, sound reinforcement turned to Blackline, with a pair ofBlackline H3T+, four WS218 and a pair of X15.

To equip other areas Stairway Productions dipped into several of Martin Audio’s other successful ranges, including CDD-Live 15 (for Temple), FlexPoint FP8 (for Mirror Palace) and TORUS T1215 (for the Mobile stage) … all with complementary subs.

Enjoying their third year of providing top quality sound at the South Facing Festival, Solotech UK found themselves working with a new production team … but the result was just the same.

The natural contouring of the 10,000-cap Crystal Palace Bowl amphitheater, coupled with the power and ultimate control of Martin Audio’s MLA multicellular array, once again provided a winning formula.

Method Events were the new incumbents this year, and for the production company’s award-winning co-founder Will Holdoway it was a welcome reunion with Solotech account manager David Preston. “It was a pleasure to be working again with David and the Solotech team for the first time since operating shows together at Drumsheds, North London until February 2022,” he reported.

Once again, the programme over the two weeks was top drawer, with—according to Preston—Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds providing the highlight. Also featured were Primal Scream and Jesus & Mary Chain, Rudimental Live, James & Happy Mondays, First Aid Kit, Raver Tots, Craig David and Sister Sledge.

Solotech UK fielded L/R hangs of 10 MLA and an MLD Downfill box on each side of the stage, while front fills comprised four MLA Compact and a pair of DD12. Subwoofers this year consisted of 12 MLX—six a side in end fire configuration (two stacks of three either side of the stage). The enforced change of sub design from the previous year was due to space limitations between the edge of the stage and the pontoons.

Nevertheless, stated Preston, this was without compromise. “The system worked really well and provided perfect coverage, with the HF showing its ability to throw to the top of the field more than any other box.”

Working once again with Matthew Baines from acoustic consultants, Vanguardia, they comfortably achieved offsite thresholds while delivering the necessary power for visiting engineers within the main bowl.

The person with the most challenging task of getting the optimum sound from Crystal Palace’s amphitheater contouring was system tech Rayne Ramsden. He set out with the same [Martin Audio] DISPLAY file due to the successful deployment of the MLA last year, adjusting only to take into account the change in subwoofer layout.

“A challenge faced in a natural amphitheater is the fact that the venue itself is shaped in a way that amplifies the audio coming from the stage, creating additional reflections both on and off-site,” he said. “Therefore, we needed to monitor how the PA was interacting with the venue and how that affected the level off-site very closely, In addition, there was a steel shield running the entire boundary length of the venue, creating additional direct reflections back towards stage.”

Hard Avoid had been great at mitigating all these reflections and was a very useful tool, he said, “particularly with the ability to reduce the level of audio offsite, since there are residents that back directly onto the boundary line.” He added, “The ability to control the offsite level without losing quality or intelligibility withing the coverage area, is always impressive with MLA.”

Method Events’ Will Holdoway agreed with the general wisdom of this deployment. “MLA is clearly still the system to beat for this venue with its combination of tight control yet significant high-end throw, filling the natural amphitheater with ease.

“We had a broader array of programming this year, with more electronic music shows, meaning that tight control was even more pertinent than in previous years.”

Other tech personnel involved in the Festival’s success included crew chief, Harry Garcia, stage tech, Isabella Di Biase and monitor engineer, Sam Cunningham.

Photo credit: Noel Gallagher.

Despite train strikes and inclement weather, Brighton & Hove Pride 2023 enjoyed another successful year, raising money for the Brighton Rainbow Fund supporting LGBTQ+ groups and organisations within the local community, as crowds of around 250,000 people descended on the seaside resort. It is estimated that more than £25m was brought into the city’s economy over the Pride weekend.

With more than 150 LGBTQ+ artists performing across 12 different stages, attention was largely focused on the main ‘Fabuloso’ stage in the 63-acre Preston Park. Here first night headliners Black Eyed Peas were followed by Steps on the Sunday, with Solotech UK for the second year providing their flagship WPL line array.

Working once again alongside production manager Dean Parker, at Wilde Ones International Events, their sound design was based around main PA hangs of 18 WPL per side, with a stage right side hang of six of the smaller WPC, and a larger drop of 12 WPC elements stage left.

According to crew chief and system tech Joseph Pearce this was in response to general site sensitivity, and with the stage pointing parallel to the road, the proximity of the housing on the right side.

Eight of Martin Audio’s smaller WPS enclosures provided near fill coverage while low frequency extension was provided by 20 powerful 2×18 SXHF218 subwoofers, designed in a castellated cardioid broadside array across the front of the stage.

Solotech provided stage monitoring in the shape of 16 of Martin Audio’s popular LE1500 floor wedges, with six TORUS T1215 constant curvature arrays and four SXHF218subs on stage.