Flaunting its jazz label, the multi-day Xjazz Festival hosted a mix of jazz world, neo-class, EDM and techno across five days in Berlin’s central church, the Emmaus Kirche. ES-Event Services provided the audio for its fifth consecutive year, in conjunction with Vue audiotechnik.
In all, 13 of the festival’s performances used a Vue al-Class line array system, and for the first time in the event’s history, the sound system was entirely digital with all sound mixed on an SSL console and delivered to the Vue Audiotechnik main system over AES/EBU.
To overcome the acoustic challenges inherent in the after WWII rebuilt church, Lutz Hoffmann, head of ES-Event Services, specified an all-Vue system configured with a focused main system paired with a smaller yet broader fill, and a cardioid subwoofer configuration. ‘The frequency response, clarity, linearity, dynamic and ease of use of the Vue al-class line array and al-8SB subwoofers made it the ideal system for this unique venue, and we got around the churchs reverb quit well,’ he reports.
The system included two groundstacked rigs of three al-8 line array modules with low-end support provided by three al-8sbs in CSA configuration beneath each array; while two h-8s provided fill. For the final performance from (electronic artist) Acid Pauli, two hs-221s were added to provide ultra-low 27Hz Sub punch, and formed a unique end-fire CSA array with the al-8SBs.
And much to the satisfaction of the event organiser, performers and their engineers consistently commented on the system’s performance. ‘Almost everyone approached me after the show and raved about the clarity and dynamic range of the Vue system,’ says Xjazz founder and main curator, Sebastian Studnitzki. ‘Furthermore, those engineers who had not yet had a chance to mix on an al-Class system told me they could understand why Vue has developed such a following in the global touring market and were so happy to see us bring it to the Xjazz stage.’
The festival took place in various Kreuzberg district locations, with nearly 90 individual acts, shows and workshops. The line-up featured a variety of young artists from all around the world is now aiming to expand into other European cities.
