The demands all this places on the sound reinforcement system are twofold: the highest possible level of intelligibility - even in the furthest rows of the auditorium - and the concert sound performance of a dedicated high-end system. The task of reconciling these difficult and apparently conflicting objectives throughout the tour was entrusted to the Mariano Comense-based sound reinforcement company, Backstage P.A., which has at its disposal a comprehensive array of Electro-Voice components.
To satisfy the acoustic needs of venues with audience capacities ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 the Backstage P.A. team relied on an XLVC line array composed of XLD and XLE elements. Thirty-two flown XLD enclosures served as the main PA, whilst 24 XLD systems provided side-fill and 12 XLE elements front-fill. The necessary punch in the low frequency range was provided by two five Electro-Voice Xsubs in a Bessel array configuration.
The power was delivered by 18 Electro-Voice CP3000S and six CP4000S amplifiers, while the entire system was controlled and supervised by six Electro-Voice Dx46 and two Electro-Voice DC One sound system processors.
"The biggest challenge on this tour was without question the need for optimal intelligibility, as Enrico Brignano is a gifted speaker," says Backstage P.A.'s MD Pino di Costanzo. "This means it is imperative that everyone in the audience, regardless of where they may be sitting, is capable of understanding every word. Otherwise for them the show would lose much of its appeal."
He continues, "XLD elements are versatile, offer a very high level of intelligibility and at the same time powerful music reproduction. Furthermore the entire line array is so compact that you hardly even notice it."
(Jim Evans)
