Both events were staged by NRK, Norway’s national TV station, within a week of each other.The main audio challenge for these high profile shows was in the stage configuration. The NRK divided the hall in half and placed the stage in one of the corners. With the audience seated on three sides of the stage, from the very front to the highest rows at the rear of the arena, required a horizontal sound coverage of over 180 degrees
.Audio One’s Stuart Morch-Kerrison explains that they chose to use JBL VerTec after being very impressed with it at a previous large show - to honour Norway’s champion athletes. They decided the most efficient way to ensure even sound coverage with the unorthodox venue set up was to use three arrays (A, B and C) of VerTec. A and B, covering the main seating and corner sections, were progressive arrays. C, covering the side seating area, was a constant curved array. Morch-Kerrison and his colleagues used JBL’s VerTec computer simulation programme, the Line Array Calculator, to accurately determine the number of boxes needed to cover the arena, and for the exact angles between the cabinets, based on the assorted array-to-audience distances. Trim height for all three arrays was 10m from floor to the bottom box, and they allowed 45 degrees between arrays, with each one facing one of the main seating areas. The FOH mix position (utilizing an Innova Son Grand Live console) was in Array B section.
Ten JBL MP410 cabinets were used for front fills. These played the all-important role of covering the audience seated closest to the stage, and also in pulling the sound image down from above the listeners’ heads to the performers onstage. When correctly balanced and time-aligned to the main arrays, working together with the under-stage subs, the full system produced a smooth, rich, cohesive sound from the front edge of the stage to the very back of the arena. There was also a dramatic improvement in sight-lines because of the high trim height of the arrays.
The Melodi GP Junior was won by young performers who, along with the second and third place acts, will go to the finals in Denmark. Popular entertainer Morten Abel took three awards, while a new act, Kaizer’s Orchestra, showed promise for the future.
(Lee Baldock)
