Dutch rockers Van Dik Hout recently brought their live show to Amsterdam’s AFAS Live as part of an ongoing tour, with DSL Geluids- & Lichtverhuur fielding a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPL reinforcement system – as throughout the tour.
A long-standing relationship between the band and its production team has hiven DSL detailed understanding of expectations and workflow: ‘Our scope extends far beyond supplying a PA system,’ says DSL co-owner and Director, Gert-Jan Gomes. ‘We maintain and prepare the touring package, transport the equipment between shows, manage storage and logistics, and provide technical support throughout the production cycle.
‘The primary requirement for the tour is to deliver a consistent, high-quality production regardless of venue size.’
DSL operates one of the largest Martin Audio rental inventories in the Netherlands, with WPL forming the backbone of its large-scale event and touring systems. ‘Over a 20-year period, Martin Audio has become the foundation of our loudspeaker inventory and an integral part of our approach to live sound reinforcement,’ Gomes confirms.
Depending on venue size and audience geometry, the system can be scaled while maintaining the same sonic signature and overall performance. At the AFAS live venue, a total of 32 WPL cabinets were deployed. ‘One of the major advantages of the Wavefront Precision platform is the ability to optimise individual enclosures within an array,’ Gomes says. ‘We can precisely control how energy is distributed throughout the audience area. This allows us to achieve excellent consistency in both SPL and frequency response from the front row to the rear of the venue. For a touring production such as Van Dik Hout, where every venue is different, this is particularly valuable.’
Low-frequency reinforcement is provided by Martin Audio SXH218 hybrid horn-loaded subwoofers. ‘Low-frequency performance plays a major role in any Van Dik Hout production,’ Gomes explains. ‘While the band is known primarily for its strong songs, powerful vocals and guitar-driven sound, the impact and energy of the rhythm section are equally important in creating the live experience audiences expect. At AFAS Live we used 24 SXH218 hybrid subwoofers, configured as 12 cardioid stacks of two cabinets high. The stacks were positioned across the front of the stage with approximately 1m spacing between each stack, creating a broad and evenly distributed low-frequency source.’
Front fill was provided by Martin Audio Torus constant-curvature arrays, with the system powered by iKon amplifiers.
‘A key design objective was consistency,’ says Gomes. ‘Whether the band performed in a theatre, concert hall, festival tent or outdoor festival environment, the audience should experience the same powerful, detailed and balanced sound. The combination of WPL, SXH218, Torus and IKon amplification allowed us to achieve that objective while providing the flexibility required by a modern touring production. The cardioid configuration significantly improved rear rejection, creating a more comfortable working environment for the musicians and reducing unnecessary low-frequency build-up behind the array.’
Martin Audio Display modelling was central to the set-up: ‘The correlation between the model and real-world performance is remarkably accurate,’ Gomes says. ‘When we deploy a system based on a Martin Audio prediction model, we know with a high degree of confidence what the outcome will be before the first measurement microphone is connected.’
DSL credits the success of the tour to both the technology and the preparation involved in flagship arena schedules: ‘Projects of this scale demonstrate that successful deployment is about much more than loudspeaker performance alone,’ Gomes says. ‘It requires a combination of detailed preparation, experienced personnel, efficient logistics and reliable technology. The WPL platform proved to be an important part of that process, delivering both the sonic performance and the operational efficiency required for a demanding arena production schedule.
‘The event again confirmed that WPL is not only a powerful loudspeaker system, but a complete solution,’ Gomes adds. ‘The combination of prediction software, optimisation tools, efficient deployment and outstanding sonic performance allows us to deliver the same high standard whether we are working in a theatre, an arena or on a major festival stage.’
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