Martin Audio MLA supports Sting at Berlin’s Waldbühne

Berlin-based Complete Audio recently provided a Martin Audio MLA multi-cellular loudspeaker array for a concert by Sting at the 24,000-seat Waldbühne Berlin in the Olympic Park.

As this was not a full production tour, PA and lights were sourced on a local basis, and Martin Audio’s premier rental partner was on hand to provide sound reinforcement. “We offered MLA and they were happy to take it,” reported Complete Audio MD, André Rauhut.

While the system was delivered ‘flat’ as requested — enabling Sting’s FOH tech to handle fine-tuning and final EQing — the challenges for the PA related to the contouring of the venue, which was extremely steep and high. “We had to work with lots of throw to get to the top of the seats,” explained Rauhut.

To mitigate this, Complete Audio designed the main system hangs with 13 x MLA elements and an MLD Downfill per side. Outfills consisted of four MLA Compact, and frontfills were composed of eight MLA Compacts, distributed alongside the stage in stacks of two. Subs consisted of 24 MLX set in left/right stacks, to get a better coverage of the sides, with a further seven packs of two MLX along the stage.

Complete Audio also took advantage of the in-house delays, which were set around 80 metres from the stage.

According to Complete Audio’s MD, “Howard Page did a great job with the tuning and he mentioned to the crew many times how impressed he was with the sound of the MLA rig.

“I have to say that I was there to see the show and the sound was amazing. This was partly because the band’s performance was top notch and partly because of the proficiency of the tech.”

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