Martin Audio covers Tokyo Dome without delays for TVXQ
Published: ASIA
JAPAN: Rental company MSI Japan recently utilised its Martin Audio MLA multi-cellular loudspeaker array system for a sell-out TVXQ concert at the Tokyo Dome. This is reported to be the first time the 55,000-seat venue utilised an audio system without the need for delays.
Traditionally, for large concerts at the Tokyo Dome, delay towers have been required to provide an even coverage throughout the venue. In particular, delays have been needed to reach the third tier — located 150m away from the stage. Consequently, in the past the seating beneath and behind the towers could not be used for audience purposes, resulting in a capacity drop of several thousand seats.
In total, two PA hangs of 21 MLA enclosures (plus an MLD downfill) were utilised for the main array, supported by a further 17 MLA enclosures (plus downfill) for each side array. MSI Japan’s senior FOH engineer Takashi ‘Shiro’ Murata was put in charge of the mix.
‘The main array delivered bright sound directly to the third level,’ said Shuzo Fujii, the president of MSI Japan. ‘It achieved the same SPL and same frequency responses throughout the venue with a sound quality that has never been experienced here before. The control and containment of the sound was amazing as well, and it reduced the sound reflections that constantly annoy audiences at this venue – giving the promoters several thousand extra seats. The result was something that people had never experienced before.’
Mr Fujii stated that prior to this, the Tokyo Dome frequently received complaints from neighbours about noise pollution. ‘However, there was no such claim from anywhere this time,’ he added. ‘The quality of sound and the absence of any sound leakage meant that few outside the building would have noticed that the show was taking place inside. In addition, the absence of any towers meant that we could reduce the number of tour trucks, making this a really cost effective exercise.’
Mr Fujii commented that ‘everybody involved in the production acknowledged that the system had delivered something unique. As a result we have had a lot of interest from major production and management companies,’ he enthused.