Live concerts are all about the experience, and the audio plays a crucial role in creating a memorable and immersive experience for the audience. Incubus and Dead & Company, two of the biggest names in the music industry, have been relying on high-end audio systems from Avnu Alliance members L-Acoustics and Meyer Sound for their most recent tours. In this article, we will take a closer look at the specific products from L-Acoustics and Meyer Sound, and the benefits they deliver to these legendary bands.
Incubus Rocks Across the Country with L-Acoustics K Series
Incubus used L-Acoustics' K1/K2 system for their most recent 2022 Summer Tour, which hit 27 venues across the country. The K1/K2 system, carried for this tour by sound reinforcement provider Clair Global, is known for its exceptional sound quality and precision. The K1/K2 system is designed to deliver clear and powerful sound with exceptional coverage, ensuring that every member of the audience can fully immerse themselves in the music.
The loudspeaker design for the 2022 Summer Tour was created using 16-enclosure K Series mains, which included 12 K1 and four K2. Additionally, eight K2 per side were flown as out-fill arrays. The left and right hangs featured six KS28 subs each, arranged in a cardioid configuration, and supported by another six subs stacked at the stage in the same arrangement. For out-fill, two A15 Wide were placed on either side of the ground subs, while six A10 Focus were spread across the stage lip for front-fill. The LA12X amplifiers were used to power the entire system, housed in LA-RAK II touring racks, and controlled using the L-Acoustics P1 Milan processor and measurement platform.
One of the standout features of the K1/K2 system is its ability to provide even coverage throughout the venue. The KS28 subwoofers deliver powerful and accurate low-frequency reproduction, ensuring that the audience can feel the impact of the music. The LA12X amplified controllers provide precise and efficient control over the system, ensuring that the audio is delivered with exceptional clarity and accuracy.The Incubus audio crew, which also included PA tech Keith Porter, ran the loudspeaker system on Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network, running the Milan protocol, as the primary signal transport, which Kerns says, “made it not only drop-dead quiet, but super easy for any changes that had to be made for slightly different array configurations from day to day. In the few months that we were out, we never had a single slip or dropout. The P1 processor is an integral part of the L-Acoustics ecosystem and an equally important component as any amplifier or cabinet, in my opinion.”
Dead & Company US Tour Debuts with Meyer Sound PANTHER System
Dead & Company’s 2022 Summer Tour, which kicked off in June at Dodge Stadium in Los Angeles, was supported by a reinforcement system headed by Meyer Sound’s new PANTHER large-format line array loudspeaker. PANTHER is the first line array system to offer AVB Milan™ protocol network connection directly to the loudspeaker cabinet. The compact size and reduced weight of the cabinets save on transportation costs.
The band’s 2022 tour proceeds eastward with 20 shows scheduled in 16 cities, wrapping up at Citi Field in New York on July 16. Of the tour venues, four are Major League Baseball stadiums, one an NFL stadium, and one college football stadium, with the balance at larger sheds.
In conclusion, the use of high-end audio systems from Avnu Alliance members L-Acoustics and Meyer Sound is essential for delivering an unforgettable experience to the audience. Audio and systems engineers should be able to realize the functionalities in their system so that their network is always easy, reliable, and future-proof. Incubus and Dead & Company have both relied on AVB networks that run on Avnu Alliance’s Milan protocol and with Milan-certified products for their audio needs, and both companies have delivered exceptional results. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative audio solutions from Avnu Alliance members that will change the way we experience live music.
About Milan
Milan is a user-driven protocol built on top of IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) open standards with added specification requirements for professional media to ensure that all Milan devices will work together on a Pro AV network. Milan adds essential agreements about implementation for the network layer and the application layer, including requirements for compatible and compliant media formats, media-clocking, redundancy, and controller software, while ensuring those requirements are implemented correctly through compliance testing and certification of end devices to form a fully interoperable ecosystem for deterministic networking in the Pro AV market. Milan promises an AV network that is deterministic, open, future-proof, and easy-to-use.