Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
08/11/2021

New Pop Golf Experience Launches In Wembley With Martin Audio CDD

News Image
After its enforced break last year, the traditional black-tie Henley Festival returned this summer with sound system providers, RG Jones Sound Engineering's association with the event now approaching 40 years.

However, the site on the banks of the Thames is not without its challenges when it comes to creating optimum audio. This is highlighted by its main Floating Stage, situated on the river itself. The auditorium here is only around 40m from front to back, but over 100m wide. Obtaining even coverage without hotspots for audiences, both inside and outside the main sound field, is a challenge that has been met head on by a combination of the service providers’ technical expertise, led by designer Simon Honywill, and their deployment of Martin Audio's award-winning MLA.

The Festival production team had previously acknowledged that MLA's advanced control technology had enabled them to dial in exactly the required coverage area to ensure compliance with the license conditions.
Once again, the system tech responsible was highly experienced MLA technician, Mark Edwards. With his adept use of Hard Avoid in the DISPLAY optimization software, RG Jones comfortably maintained offsite noise limits at 65dB(A) over 15 minutes while achieving appropriate levels within the defined coverage areas.

While this year's five-day festival saw headliners Madness, James Blunt and Sophie Ellis-Bextor supported by Sara Cox alongside Sounds of the 80s, Disco Classical Featuring Kathy Sledge, and Do'’t Stop Me Now rock symphony revue shows, RG Jones also provided Martin Audio solutions for a number of support and specialist club stages - largely using MLA Mini. The one exception was Pure Heaven, combining two major clubbing brands. And this saw the deployment of the new Martin Audio TORUS advanced constant curvature system.

RG Jones' project manager, Jack Bowcher - who is also responsible for maintaining their cutting-edge rental inventory - had been keen to audition TORUS and immediately earmarked Pure Heaven as a likely destination. "I contacted Ben [Tucker] at Martin Audio and asked if I could try it out in the 25-metre big top," he said.

Three TORUS enclosures were on top of three MLX subs for the occasion, and Bowcher delivered an unequivocal verdict. "As a 12" box it sits neatly on top of the sub—the rigging was solid and straightforward.
"We ran the TORUS in portrait mode. They easily covered the space and provided the 20m-30m of coverage as promised. The constant curvature array allowed perfect coverage. In addition, situated behind each of three VIP seating areas in Pure Heaven were a pair of Martin Audio's popular white DD6 (differential dispersion) speakers to mitigate slapback."

Bowcher project managed the audio for the whole site in tandem with Production Manager, John Harris. As with 2019, a seven-elements-a-side MLA Compact flown PA rig provided coverage on the Floating Stage, with a further nine elements per side of MLA Compact providing outfills and four a-side MLA Mini for infills. Providing LF extension were two stacks of three MLX subwoofers, designed in cardioid pattern to prevent bleed back onto the stage, while DD12's delays ensured intelligibility was maintained at the back of the Grandstand, where the roof obscures the top of the main system.
In addition to Mark Edwards, Steve Carr handled monitors on the Floating Stage and Rosie Tarrant was stage patch, with responsibility for RF.

Elsewhere, Sam Liddiard supervised Salon Comedy Club, Olly Wickes was FOH in the Jazz Club, Dan Langridge was at the Riverside Restaurant and Sam Millen ensured the sound ran smoothly in the Bedouin Lounge Bar.
As for TORUS, RG Jones say they can see plenty of uses for it in their 2022 calendar. The flexibility of the system would fit well into the diverse applications the company deals with across its hugely varied client portfolio.

martin-audio.com
VMI.TV Ltd

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

11/11/2016
What Is The Future For Immersive Audio?
Peter Poers, Managing Director at Jünger Audio, looks at production efforts versus consumer experience. Introduction Along with the evolution of highe
04/03/2024
Martin Audio MLA Rocks Clockenflap
As Hong Kong's biggest and longest running outdoor music and arts festival, Clockenflap was again held over three days recently at the Central Harbour
22/05/2023
Martin Audio Appoints Wavefront Culture
Martin Audio has appointed Wavefront Culture as its distributor in Malaysia. This strategic partnership will enable Wavefront Culture to distribute Ma
01/11/2023
VME Becomes Martin Audio's Largest Rental Partner Of MLA
Martin Audio rental partners VME have announced a major commitment to the company. In making a heavy investment in the company's multi-award-winning M
21/07/2023
Martin Audio MLA Prevents Sound Escape At Japan Jam 2023
After cancellations had been imposed on Japanese outdoor festivals with the outbreak of Covid-19—followed by restrictions (including masks to be worn)
10/10/2022
Riot Fest Proves Triumph For Martin Audio's MLA PA
Chicago's three-day Riot Fest, held annually in the city's Douglass Park, again proved a triumph for Martin Audio's MLA PA and the company’s long-serv
28/03/2022
Xutos & Pontapés Rely On Martin Audio's MLA Compact Rig
Martin Audio's Portuguese partner LVT Audio recently supported a landmark 40th anniversary performance by the country's most famous rock band, Xutos &
06/09/2021
Martin Audio MLA Helps Crystal Palace Bowl Recapture Past Glories
With the new month-long South Facing Festival, music has returned to the Crystal Palace Bowl, scene of legendary rock shows in the 1970s. The site's r
10/04/2002
Sonic introduces DVD-Audio Centre LE
Sonic Solutions have introduced the DVD-Audio Creator LE – a highly-affordable DVD-Audio authoring system with advanced features. Incorporating core t
04/10/2023
Robbie Williams Performs Through MLA
Lucca Summer Festival is one of Italy's most highly anticipated live music events, which takes place annually in the city’s famous Piazza Napoleone. T
02/11/2022
Martin Audio Maintains Relationship With Sziget Festival
The long-standing relationship between Capital Sound (part of the Solotech UK Group) and the major week-long Hungarian Sziget Festival, resumed this y
18/10/2021
MLA Conquers The Notorious Hill At Historic Leeds Castle Concert
Organisers of the annual Leeds Castle Concert, worked tirelessly to reschedule this year's event, featuring the world-famous Royal Philharmonic Orches
22/07/2024
BG Event Deploys 260 Martin Audio Boxes
No fewer than 260 Martin Audio loudspeakers were on duty for a series of concerts at the Puskas Arena in Budapest recently. Spread across three weeken
09/08/2012
Blackmagic Design Announces Major New Software Update
Blackmagic Design has announced a major new software update that adds full-audio mixing capability to its ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher and ATEM Tele
16/12/2024
Sir Mark Cavendish To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Sir Mark Cavendish's 19-year professional career is being honoured as he receives the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award to