Three days of live music returned to the Norwegian city of Trondheim in June 2023, as the second annual Neon festival was followed by Trondheim Rocks at the EC Dahls Arena. As in previous years, an Alcons Audio pro-ribbon system kept the 18,500 fans and the local neighbourhood happy.
The event’s staging and technical production was by Trondheim Lyd, with artists including Scandinavian pop royalty Sigrid and Dagny, DJ Alan Walker and singer/songwriters James Bay, as well as rock from to Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Europe. To serve them all equally well, Trondheim Lyd needed a single, flexible sound reinforcement system.
Trondheim Lyd has used Alcons pro-ribbon systems at both events before, and system designer Erwan Thomas successfully used the LR28 larger-format line array system at last year’s Neon festival. This year he chose a similar set-up but, with a larger stage, the out fill was extended with LR24 mid-size line array modules. The full system comprised main hangs of 16 LR28/80 per side with 30 BC543 very high-output cardioid subwoofers. The subs were stacked two-by-two in a tight, inline arc-delayed array, delivering a powerful and even response.
Eight LR24/90 per side were deployed as out fill, with six LR18/90 compact line-array modules per side for in fill. Additionally, there were three RR12 point source array modules per side for fill between the main hangs and out fill. Four VR12/60 mid-size versatile monitors were used as front fill, plus two VR12/90 and two BF181 compact subwoofers as near fill. The system was powered and controlled by 42 Sentinel10 and one Sentinel3 amplified loudspeaker controllers.
The Alcons L, R and V series modules develop an all-natural cylindrical wavefront, giving precise pattern control and identical tonal balance at any SPL. The same technologies are used throughout the product series and acoustical concepts such as point-source, point-source array, line-source column and line-arrays, offering ‘mix-and-match’ solution for any application.
All models in the three-way L series feature an exceptionally high-efficiency mid-frequency section, jointly mounted with the pro-ribbon driver in a coaxial configuration, while the low frequency sections comprise two reflex-loaded, woofers with reinforced cone and large voice-coil Neodymium motor structure.
Alongside the L series line array modules, the two-way R and V series feature bespoke pro-ribbon drivers coupled with 12-inch woofers, with no discernible difference when moving between the arrays.
‘We received great feedback after both festivals from every production, sound engineers, audiences and the organisers alike,’ says Trondheim Lyd sound and systems engineer, Erwan Thomas. ‘Like we have seen before, everyone was again very happy with the performance and quality of the Alcons pro-ribbon solution.’
‘It’s been a pleasure to work with the new Alcons system in Trondheim, both at Neon and the Pstereo festival before that,’ says Jan Thomas Halsvik, Sigrid’s FOH engineer. ‘It absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it, with such a full, rich sound and such great punch. I am always happy when I see Alcons on the tech spec.’
