Capital Sound took on sound duties for two growing UK DJ events over the same weekend recently – We Are FSTVL in Essex, and Run to the Sun at Newquay in Cornwall. Between them they tested the mettle of both the hire company and its Martin Audio systems.

Both were dance festivals staged on challenging sites, where sound containment was of paramount importance. The sound steering abilities of the MLA system were key – using micro-multi-cellular control to maximise in-field sound and electronic steering to reduce audio reflections and perimeter escape.

With accounts including Deadmau5 to Fatboy Slim in its portfolio, the hire company worked with acoustic consultant Vanguardia at last summer’s Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival, and renewed the pairing for We Are FSTVL. Dance promoters Reece Miller, Nikki Gordon and David Winney were encouraged by the success of 2013’s one-day event to notch production up a level and extended the event to two days – and also the volume levels at the Damyns Hall Aerodrome (dubbed the ‘Airfield of Dreams’).

‘We Are FSTVL was able to run the sound at 99-100dB at the FOH position,’ says Martin Audio Account Manager, Martin Connolly These were the same levels recorded at the breakthrough Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park last summer.

With international DJs such as Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth, Fatboy Slim and Knife Party among the headliners at FSTVL, another 15,000 audience was assured. But with over 150 artists playing across the two days and minimal changeover times between acts, Capital faced a logistical nightmare. Out of eight arenas that they supplied (both indoors and out) Martin Audio system featured in five, including the two main outdoor stages. Meanwhile, another Martin Audio customer, Production Hire, supplied the DJ front end.

The We Are FSTVL stage – featuring Hawtin on the opening day – became Eat Sleep Rave Repeat with Fatboy Slim on Day 2, and We Are Elctrnic with Knife Party turned into Cocoon with Sven Väth. The main 65m x 40m indoor arena (Paradise) changed to Luciano & Friends overnight, and the 45m x 45m VIP Village switched between MK Area 10 and CircoLoco.

Capital Sound’s solution for the two outdoor stages (which they simplified down to ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’) featured eight MLA elements and an MLD Downfill on each side of both stages, with 11 MLX subs, arranged in a broadside cardioid array. In the main arena, hangs of ten MLA Compacts each side flew with eight WS218X subs from a mast provided by the lighting vendors, Colour Sound Experiment, with six W8LM Mini Line Arrays per side providing front fill.

In another arena, Capital Sound fielded six W8LC Compact Line Arrays a side on top of five WS218X subs with 12 W8LMs for out fill and front fill.

The VIP Village saw six WS218X subs per side under four W8LCs, the system being driven by a combination of Martin Audio MA4.2 and Crown 12000i amplifiers.

Meanwhile, 300 miles away in Cornwall at the Trevelgue Holiday Park, Run to the Sun broke from its origins as a VW car rally in 1987 to become a credible dance festival. The main Arena (and Arena 2) now feature back-to-back DJs (with additional comedy and acoustic stages).

Here Capital Sound fielded six MLA Compact elements each side of the main indoor stage with six WS218X in a cardioid design. On the second stage they featured a pair of WS218X subs and three W8LM Mini Line Array elements per side.

The weekend proved a major triumph for the London-based company, which delivered first-class audio at each of the multiple stages they were asked to reinforce, and provideed a top team of technicians to supervise them. The MLA techs included Toby Donovan (in charge of the Blue stage), Joseph Pearce (Red) and Marty Beath (main indoor arena), while Tom Boothby took charge at Run to the Sun.

Capital Sound will see more DJ activity this summer, headed by the massive SW4 Festival on London’s Clapham Common, on August Bank Holiday weekend.

More: www.capital-sound.co.uk
More: www.martin-audio.com