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MLA Compact Keeps Sound Inside Amphitheater At Swedish Festival

DM Audio of Stockholm, Sweden recently used a Martin Audio MLA Compact system with 12 enclosures per side at the Vitabergsparken (White Mountains) for the annual Parkteatern Festival staged by Stockholm City Theater. The festival consists of four weeks of entertainment in the open-air amphitheater.

DM Audio have been servicing the event for many years, and working with show designer MA¥rten Ihre, they took the opportunity to swap out their conventional line array with MLA Compact as soon as it became available.

Hosted by the Stockholms Stadsteater subsidiary, Parkteatern (Park Theater), the varied program ranged from soft ballads to high-octane hip-hop and modern Danish dance and Opera. DM Audio responded by beefing up the LF end, running six DSX subs per side, double stacked in a cardioid pattern, to give the neighbors no grounds for complaint against noise escaping at the rear of the stage.

In fact the biggest challenge facing the production crew was eliminating noise escape at the rear. “We set up the ‘hard avoid’ parameters for behind the stage and the controllability of the cardioid subs also ensured that no sound escaped at the back,” said DM Audio President Lars Wern. “Everybody was immensely pleased how we managed to taper off the sound and the result was that there were no complaints.”

This was a fitting way for the Park Theater, now clearly bitten by the digitally controllable bug, to celebrate its 70th year. “We are all very impressed with MLA,” concluded Wern, “It is a fantastic system.”

For more about Martin Audio, please click to

www.martin-audio.com

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About MLAâ„¢ (Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array)

The result of many years of intensive R&D, MLA’s methodology replaces trial-and-error array design with intelligent numerical optimization of the array’s output based on a highly accurate acoustic model. The multi-cellular format has six individual cells in each enclosure, each with its own DSP and amplification.

With up to 24 enclosures, each MLA array has up to 144 cells — too great a number to optimize manually, or by ear. Instead, Martin Audio’s proprietary Display2â„¢ system design software automatically calculates FIR DSP filters for each cell and a redundant-ring audio network (U-NETâ„¢) downloads the settings into each array enclosure. Martin Audio’s VU-NETâ„¢ software provides real-time control and monitoring of the system.

MLA delivers a frequency response and SPL consistency never before achievable; a very high system output (140dB peak, per cabinet @1m); Automatic optimization of the array, both physically (splay angles) and electronically (DSP); Computer control and monitoring of the entire system, and total control of sound system balance for engineers and sound technicians.

MLA is fully integrated, with Class D amplification, DSP and U-NET digital audio

network built into each enclosure. MLA complete systems are ready-to-use, with MLA, MLD and MLX enclosures, flying hardware, software, cabling and training all supplied. Everything needed is included. All ancillary items — from tablet PC and Merlinâ„¢ controller to network interconnects and mains distro — are also included in the complete system package. This ensures full compatibility worldwide, down to cabling and accessories.

Additional features include 90A° x 7.5A° dispersion; a compact size (1136mm wide x 372mm high x 675mm deep), one-box-fits-all (festivals to theaters) application range and a global voltage, power factor corrected power supply.

MLA’s compact size and very high output allows it to be shipped using smaller trucks, offering considerable savings and reduced carbon footprint. The system also includes the MLX powered, flyable subwoofer capable of an unprecedented measured peak output of 150dB @ 1m; MLD downfill cabinet, and Merlin 4-in/10-out system controller and network hub. Audio input is via analog, AES3 or U-NET.

By adopting these principles and system components MLA is optimized for every member of the audience — from a 2,000 capacity theater, to a 20,000-seat arena, to a 100,000-person festival site. It will deliver the engineer’s exact mix to every seat (up to over 150 meters) with precision, exceptional power and clarity.

About Martin AudioA®

Founded by audio engineer David Martin in 1971, Martin Audio pioneered the use of all-horn-loaded bass designs in world-class touring loudspeaker systems for groups such as Pink Floyd, ELP and Supertramp. Located outside of London, Martin Audio now embodies a sophisticated mix of acoustic design, research, mathematical modeling and software engineering for a wide range of products in the installation, cinema and touring sound markets.

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