This paper is available in Français too
A large and complex project with 3 delay lines on an area of more than 120’000 sqm, for a perfect output of voice and instruments at hundreds of meters far from the stage. More than 3 hours of concert with a public of over 150 thousand people, for an impressive show that celebrated 25 years of career of Luciano Ligabue, one of the Italian best-known singers.
Several professionals of the events industry gave their support to realize effective and innovative solutions for the show, under the supervision of director of production Franco Comanducci.
Once again, Ligabue and his management chose RCF for the audio system. “ The collaboration with RCF dates back to 2012, ” the artist’s manager Claudio Maioli tells, remembering the concerts at Royal Albert Hall in 2012, at the Verona Arena in 2013 and the tour in sports arenas and stadia in 2014.
For this 2015 celebration RCF has designed a system of 2 MW power, able to offer flawless audio coverage to the enormous listening area, of more than 120’000 square meters.
The impressive main system was composed of 2 clusters of 24 TTL55-A active three-way speakers in flying configuration, plus 2 clusters of 12 TTL36-AS subwoofers. Moreover 72 TTS56-A subwoofers (electronically curved, in cardioid configuration) were placed on the ground to reinforce low frequencies.
On top of them, 20 units of TTL33-A II active three-way modules were used as front-fill. Two clusters of 20 TTL55-A were used as side-fill. Stage monitors were also from RCF (models TT45-SMA and TT25-SMA).
As explained by RCF engineers, the main requirement of the project was to cover the large distance between the stage and the public – the last rows were at the record distance of around 300 m. The listening area was divided into 4 pits in order to ensure a perfect output of the sound timbre and good SPL level. The first pit was covered directly by the main system, whereas the others were supported by delay lines designed on purpose.
The first delay line included 6 clusters of 16 TTL55-A arrays each.
For the second delay line, located 120 metres from the stage, 7 clusters of 12 TTL55-A and 4 TTS56-A subwoofers each were used.
Finally the third delay, 170 metres far from the stage, was composed of 6 clusters of 12 TTL55-A, plus 4 TTS56-A each to reinforce low frequencies. The use of RDNet monitoring system during the show allowed RCF engineers to have a real-time remote control of the system’s state, and adjust the EQs through a tablet computer.
Alberto Butturini, FoH engineer of the show, was very satisfied with the system. “ Huge power and perfect timbre for a concert where guitars have a dominant role, ” he commented. “ I got excellent results on the frequencies of Ligabue’s voice, that stood out in the best possible way from a powerful mix, full of instruments. ”
Remembering his previous experiences during Ligabue’s tour, Butturini states : “ RCF’s systems were highly effective even in the toughest venues, such as some sports arenas with acoustically challenging environments. ”
Willy Gubellini, owner of rental company Nuovo Service with over 30 years of experience, highlighted an additional strength of RCF’s system: the limited size of the speakers with amplifiers on board, that helped reducing weight and size.
Gubellini also praised the quality of RCF’s human resources and their important contribution for the huge event : “ Another winning trait of this concert was the good relationship that we established with RCF’s team, whose competence and willingness to help supported us in setting the installation in the best possible way, ” he explained. A mix of high-level technical competence and passion for sound, then, are what led to another success of RCF with Ligabue.
