For the team at d&b audiotechnik, the challenge of the Esprit Arena was sheet metal, nine hectares of it to be precise. "The roof structure is enormous, all corrugated metal," said NDR's head of sound for the live event Jochen Jensen.
"With a reverberation time of six to eight seconds it was absolutely critical we keep sound energy from hitting the roof, or reflecting off the floor up to it. My first thought was, who are the specialists who can help me with this? I called Ralf Zuleegat d&b audiotechnik and asked if he could help. It will require a bigcommitment from d&b, I warned him."
The resulting system comprising over 300 loudspeakers embraced three main elements from the d&b range of products - Q, J and T-Series, and for distinctly different functions.
"In collaboration with my old friend Jochen we conceived a distributed system solution that properly delivered the correct direct to reverberant ratio throughout the venue," explained Zuleeg. "In simple terms a set of three concentric circles of PA radiated out from the main stage. The first ring needed to point acutely down onto the front rows of the audience.
"We had to fly every part of the PA above 18m to be clear of the camera angles. For this the Q-Series with its lighter weight and slightly narrower dispersion angle proved ideal. We adapted the Q rigging system to take flying frames top and bottom of the line array to achieve the necessary acute downward angle.
"For the next two rings the J-Series took the main role. Here, the need to tilt down was not so acute, but the throw distances were typically 55-65m. Finally the T-Series was used for the upper 'nosebleed' seats at the very top of the grandstands; here the audience were so high relative to the stage that the need to use a physically smaller line array that could still deliver the required punch without blocking their sightlines was essential."
All d&b equipment was supplied byCrystal Sound with support from the wider d&b network, overseen by Simon Klumpp, with all consoles front of house and monitors provided by Neumann & Muller.
For more on Eurovision 2011, see the June 2011 issue of LSI magazine - Out soon.
(Jim Evans)
