d&b audiotechnik sounded out ‘Eurosong for Kids'

When d&b audiotechnik's Belgian partner Amptec learned that the country's national French speaking broadcast company RTBF was looking for a new sound system, they took the opportunity to introduce them to a d&b PA system. "It all started about two years ago," said Amptec's David Liebens. "We did a demo for them at the 'Festival de Jazz à Liège' in 2004 and in 2005 using a Q-Series loudspeaker system."

Amptec knew that RTBF would be releasing a specification for a PA system for the Eurovision for Kids 2005 competition and would be inviting interested companies to tender. "We invited a number of key RTBF technicians to one of d&b's user seminars run by John Taylor and there is no doubt that they learnt a lot about their approach to quality sound," said Liebens.

For the actual AB test, Amptec and d&b were up against some stiff competition from five other manufacturers'. Amptec used a rig consisting of Q1s, Q-SUBs, Q7s, MAX and MAX12s as well as E3s. Once the rigs were operational, the providers had to leave the studio and their systems to the mercy of RTBF who spent the next two days putting them through their paces. None of the providers was allowed to attend the tests. The station invited a wide range of sound experts to listen and comment on the systems. "At one point, I think there was around forty sound engineers and technicians listening," said Liebens.

In the event, the d&b system was chosen. Why? "There's no doubt that sound quality played a major part in the decision. On top of that, the system's flexibility, the fact that one type of amplifier drives all the loudspeakers and that the line array could be split and used in two different locations all contributed to its success," explained Liebens.

Bruno Nicolay, Sound Technician for RTBF takes up the story. "RTBF wanted to buy a complete PA system, a line array, stage monitors and small loudspeakers. The line array of choice had to be rather flexible as it was to be used in TV studios, variety shows, theatre and outdoor PA applications. The evaluation sheet was very detailed and after sifting through them two systems remained in the running, however the total results across all systems, the line array, monitors, delays and amplifiers, and the technical knowledge and follow up of the distributor Amptec left d&b in first place. Having now used this system on the Belgian selection of EUROKIDS this choice has been confirmed." The final of the Eurovision for Kids was held in the new Ethias Hall in Hasselt, Belgium using the d&b audiotechnik Q1 loudspeaker system along with d&b monitors and E3s.