Expanding the uptake of Martin Audio’s Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array platform in the Middle East, Access All Areas has added a 24-enclosure MLA Compact rig to its inventory,

Set up by British ex-pat Martin Gravestock and Grant Collins in 2003, Access All Areas specialises in providing turnkey production solutions for the conference and concert sectors. This is the company’s first Martin Audio acquisition. ‘With the market changes post 2008, we adapted our plan, and sold off a lot of older outdated equipment,’ Gravestock explains. ‘For a while it was better to sub-contract the equipment we needed, but with a longer term view to re-invest again when the time was right – and with an even more focused and specialised approach.

‘Our plan with audio was to find a solution that could cover our core business adequately, with room for expansion, but also one that gave us an edge over our competitors.’

Gravestock already had a longstanding relationship with Richard Maunder at VTi, and was aware of the brand value of Martin Audio – so this was his first port of call: ‘I checked out other leading systems, but Martin Audio were simply more pro-active. I felt confident that I was going to get the ongoing support from both the distributor and the manufacturer that I needed.’

He notes that while other systems he reviewed ‘would have done the job’, none had the attributes of MLA. ‘Our system techs felt at ease very quickly with what is initially perceived as a very complicated system. But it all makes perfect sense and is actually very quick to set up.

‘The fact that we do a lot of beach work means we can have the sea as the backdrop and fire the system towards the residential areas without fear of noise pollution because of the advanced control software – something that other systems cannot,’ he adds. ‘With Dubai still growing up, it is these points that are starting to be recognised and even specified by the clients. If they do not know the technology exists, then they will simply continue to do what they have always done. We are here to show them there is a better solution and this is what will set us apart from our competition.

Aside from rental, Access All Areas also has a profile in installation, and Gravestock confirms ongoing high-profile projects in the education sector, which will see both Martin Audio OmniLine and DD12 Differential Dispersion technology in use. In the meantime, he says, ‘Having MLA will elevate our profile in the market – it will enable us to also grow our customer base, and expand the type of shows that we do.

‘With the audio department firmly sold on the Martin Audio philosophy, there will definitely be more boxes and systems arriving in our warehouse soon.’

The system was supplied by Martin Audio’s Dubai-based distributor, VTi.