Crystal Clear Alcons Sound For Jamie Cullum in Dresden

Photo credit: “PM Group / Sami El Khaschab”

Jamie Cullum is an exceptional jazz musician with pop star status. The multi-instrumentalist, who skillfully plays with pop and rock influences, is known for his enthusiasm for musical exploration on stage as well as for Europe’s most successful jazz radio show, which he hosts weekly on BBC Radio.

Recently, the phenomenon Jamie Cullum performed at the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, Germany. PM Systemhaus has been providing event technology at this location since 2001 and also supplied audio, show and ambient lighting as well as rigging for this performance, which was a collaboration between the Gläserne Manufaktur and the Dresden Music Festival.

For sound reinforcement, PM Systemhaus once again opted for an Alcons sound system to provide the acoustically demanding location with sound at the uppermost level. Because the name “Gläserne Manufaktur” already says it all: Large glass surfaces dominate the room and provide an insight into the production of the all-electric VW ID.3.

“The challenge was to provide the audience, seated in a semi-circle around the stage, with evenly distributed sound without creating too much acoustic stimulation in the room, which was very reflective due to its construction with large glass surfaces,” says FoH technician Thaddäus Walsch while explaining the essential challenge.

“The reinforcement of all signals should be barely perceptible in quiet, emotional parts of the show, while during the more exuberant parts of the concert, the audience should feel like attending a wild rock festival. It was the wide dynamic range of the Alcons LR14 double 6.5” line array system that enabled us to deliver just that,” says FoH technician Thaddäus Walsch

Great dynamics, great challenge

A standard right-left sound reinforcement system was therefore out of the question. Instead, PM system engineer Ingo Schwarzer opted for three linear arrays, each with a mono sum. However, this in no way diminished the musical experience, as Walsch explains: “Undistorted sound is of great importance to the artist. The reinforcement of all signals should be barely perceptible in quiet, emotional parts of the show, while during the more exuberant parts of the concert, the audience should feel like attending a wild rock festival. It was the wide dynamic range of the Alcons LR14 double 6.5” line array system that enabled us to deliver just that.”

Photo credit: “PM Group / Sami El Khaschab”

The LR14 is a passive 2-way line source loudspeaker system that is equally suited for mobile applications as for fixed installations. Loaded with the RBN401 pro-ribbon driver on a “Morpher” lens (with up to 94% frontal radiation, due to the pro-ribbon’s all-natural cylindrical (Isophasic) wavefront), the system features 90° horizontal dispersion with seamless coverage.

Each of the three hangs at Gläserne Manufaktur consisted of 9x LR14 pro ribbon line array systems, substage extended with a double 15” Alcons BF302 sub bass. As nearfills, a total of six Alcons LR7 6.5″ 120° micro line arrays were used (two each at the position of the outer arrays, one each between the center array and the outer arrays). Five Alcons Sentinel10 Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers drove and managed the system (3x S10 for the arrays, 2x S10 for nearfield and sub bass). The overall system was set up by Thaddäus Walsch on a Yamaha Rivage PM10 console and handed over to Jamie Cullum’s sound engineer.

“The concert was a great success. It didn’t keep anyone in the audience on their seats!” confirms system engineer Ingo Schwarzer.

The pro ribbons and the high system coherence of the Alcons speakers, which provide a remarkable “gain before feedback,” also facilitated a very special concert moment, as Thaddäus Walsch points out: “The great dynamic was clearly noticeable in the audience, which went all the way from attentive listening to jumping around wildly within about 90 minutes. Especially when Jamie Cullum surprisingly stepped into the audience with his band to present a song very intimately, far away from any sound and light.”

For more info:  www.pmgroup.de

Related Alcons products:

• LR7/120
• LR14
• BF302
• Sentinel10

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