MLA plays key role at New Year Countdown
- Details
Countdown Japan is one of the biggest new year countdown music festivals in Japan, held over four days at the end of December (and leading up to the final countdown at midnight on 31 December). This major event features between 40-50 Japanese music acts per day.
The main stage is the 40,000-capacity Earth Stage, while the other four stages comprise Galaxy Stage, Cosmo Stage, Moon Stage and Astro Arena (some with acts running through until New Year’s Day morning). Furthermore, a shrine is set within the venue, providing a genuine Japanese new year flavour.
On the Earth Stage, 19 x Martin Audio MLA and a single MLD downfill cabinet provided the main arrays on each side of the stage, while six MLA per side provided out-fills. Three MLX subwoofers were stacked, and set at 12 positions across the front of the stage. This subwoofer stack was in cardioid setting, including one cabinet in the centre facing backwards. On top of these stacks were placed MLA Compact enclosures for front-fills.
In addition to the PA, which completely immersed and engaged the audience, Martin Audio also provided stage monitoring for the benefit of the artists, in the form of XE500 wedges, as well as THV for side monitors.
In addition to the Earth Stage, Martin Audio premium systems were also adopted on Galaxy Stage and Astro Arena. At the former, the main array consisted of 13 MLA and a single MLD downfill cabinet, while a pair of stacked MLA Compact enclosures were deployed as side-fills. A further nine MLX subwoofers per side provided low end extension and W8LM were used for the front-fills.
Meanwhile, in the Astro Arena, the main array consisted of 10 MLA and a single MLD downfill cabinet, while eight MLA Compact provided side arrays. Eight MLX subwoofers per side were also deployed along with W8LM once again providing front-fills.
(Jim Evans)
