The system, designed to provide up to 360-degree coverage for the tour's multiple arena dates, included main left and right arrays of 16 Milo and two Milo 120 line array loudspeakers each. Left and right side arrays of ten Milo and two Milo 120 loudspeakers each were augmented by identical arrays covering far left and far right areas, for a total of 72 loudspeakers in all.
The rear areas were served by left and right arrays of 12 Mica line array loudspeakers each. Low frequencies were handled by 16 700-HP subwoofers, with eight each flown below the main Milo arrays. An additional nine M3D-Sub directional subwoofers were groundstacked at the stage. Left and right front-fills of three CQ-1 loudspeakers each and a pair of UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers for centre-fill completed the setup.
"The Meyer Sound system provided us with a consistent, clean, and powerful image across a wide range of venues," said FOH Engineer Derek Featherstone, who used a pair of HD-1 audio monitors at the mix position. "Even with more than 90 open microphones on the stage, we had very little leakage back onto the PA system."
The Dead were among the first users of Meyer Sound systems, and Meyer Sound founder John Meyer credits the group's high standards with inspiring his ongoing quest for audio excellence.
(Jim Evans)
