MLA takes centre stage at Rock in Japan 2013
Published: ASIA
JAPAN: Martin Audio’s MLA system provided coverage for three principal stages at the recent three-day Rock In Japan 2013 festival, which was attended by 177,000 people. MSI Japan provided the MLA system for the Hitachinaka Seaside Park location, solving the festival’s previous problems with sound escaping the venue.
At the ‘Sound of Forest’ and the ‘Park Stage’, nine MLA modules and one MLD Downfill were flown at each wing, along with six rows of double-stacked MLX centre subwoofers. The Park Stage used Martin Audio’s Display2 software environment, interacting with MLA's onboard DSP.
As the main performance showcase, the ‘Grass Stage’ adopted MLA for the second consecutive year, flying 17 MLA modules and one MLD for the main hangs on each side, with the same number of elements used for out-fills. Providing the low frequency extension were six rows of MLX double stacked at each side of the stage with further double six MLX sub arrays flown next to the main array. Here, MSI Japan used the left/right settings of the subs in the ‘End Fire Array’ cardioid variant, using sensitive delay values to reduce leakage back onto the stage while boosting front projection.
‘It is huge advantage for an engineer to be able to deliver such a distinguished sound, meeting the production’s request from a complete single system,’ enthused one sound technician. ‘Without any physical positional movement, Display2 managed to adjust the sound coverage for each zone as required. For example, by immediately stepping into the standing zone the entire dynamic of the sound would change. All agreed that MLA provides a totally new sound experience.’
This is the third summer since MLA was adopted for Rock in Japan. Noise pollution is still an issue for neighbourhood residents, but by tapering off the sound at the perimeter, MLA solved the problem.
‘To have the same sound delivered to the entire audience – giving them an identical experience – is a dream not only for the sound engineer but also production,’ said Shuzo Fujii, president of MSI and chief engineer for the festival. ‘Try this new Multi-Cellular world, it will rock your mind!’