Comedy YouTubers and pop-dance group DISSY recently played a special concert at the 11,000-capacity indoor Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, exciting fans with clean, thumping sound from a d&b audiotechnik GSL System.
As DISSY's music repertoire is a mixture of catchy bubblegum-pop lyrics and heavy beats, the concert promoter tasked AV specialist Audio Synergy with designing a sound solution to deliver clear vocals and tight bass for the in-room audience – and also to allow for live recording for future broadcast and streaming purposes. With this in mind, directivity control over the full-frequency spectrum output of the sound system was essential.
High SPL, clean and bass-ready
The producers had high expectations for both the system design and audio quality for this concert. The brief was that we needed to cater to the live audience with loud SPL, clean and bass-ready audio as the music was mostly dance and electronic. Also, the recording needed to be clean for social media and broadcast reproduction. We knew that the SL-Series has great rejection to the rear, which would help the recording part with minimal spillage from the PA.Simon Khoo, Audio Synergy Malaysia
Khoo and his team specified a main system of d&b audiotechnik GSL8 and GSL12 line arrays, along with SL-SUB subwoofers for the all-important low end. The fills were d&b V-Series, totalling 20 cabinets.
Feedback-free
One of the main challenges when rigging the system was that for this sold-out show, we had audience seating right next to the stage on both sides, and we needed to cater to those fans on the tiered seating behind the PA. The 15-metre-wide stage catwalk extended 14 metres into the arena during the show. When the singers were out on the catwalk with open microphones, the GSL System worked without any feedback. With the d&b GSL System as the main PA, we only needed a smaller outfill system, as it offers extensive and clean sound quality due to its cardioid design.Simon Khoo, Audio Synergy Malaysia
Khoo also reports that due to the large-scale sound reinforcement qualities of the GSL System, they needed fewer cabinets to achieve “low sonic frequencies” thanks to the even full-frequency dispersion of the GSL8 and GSL12 loudspeakers. Fewer cabinets also meant less weight load on the venue’s infrastructure. Khoo says, “the GSL produced so much low-end from the front – and not from the rear – that we didn’t have to drive the SL-SUB very hard.”
The Audio Synergy team utilized the ArrayProcessing module within the d&b ArrayCalc simulation software to optimize the design of the GSL System – which ran on Dante via a d&b DS10 audio network bridge – across the arena’s entire listening area. “The ArrayProcessing applied to the SL-Series made a big difference, maintaining tonal control and SPL throughout the venue, making it easy for engineers,” says Khoo. “It also helped to correct differences between when the venue was empty during sound checks, and when it was full during the show.”
I’m impressed with practically everything about the GSL System, from designing on ArrayCalc to rigging – everything was very accurate. When using the d&b GSL, I didn't need to EQ the PA to the room as much before, compared with other systems. In addition, the rear and side of the PA were very clean, so we had no complaints from the performers about spills.Simon Khoo, Audio Synergy Malaysia
He concludes, “We always work closely with d&b APAC in Singapore for technical support and even have a technical chat group with them. We appreciate the support they have always shown to us.”
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