Dutch rock band Van Dik Hout, one of the Netherlands’ most successful and enduring acts, recently brought their acclaimed live show to Amsterdam’s AFAS Live as part of their ongoing touring schedule. Since breaking through in the mid-1990s with iconic songs such as Stil In Mij, the band has earned a reputation for powerful, emotionally charged performances.
Long-time audio production partner DSL Geluids- & Lichtverhuur deployed a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPL system at AFAS Live and throughout the tour. DSL operates one of the largest Martin Audio rental inventories in the Netherlands, with WPL forming the backbone of their large-scale event and touring systems.
Our scope extends far beyond supplying a PA system, explains Gert-Jan Gomes, Director and Co-Owner of DSL. 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 sound system must faithfully reproduce the band’s signature sound while providing the flexibility to adapt to everything from intimate theatres to large outdoor festival stages. The primary requirement for the tour is to deliver a consistent, high-quality production regardless of venue size, says Gomes.
For the Van Dik Hout tour, Martin Audio WPL arrays were selected for their ability to deliver exceptional vocal clarity, high output capability and consistent coverage across large audience areas. Depending on venue size and audience geometry, the system could 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 optimize individual enclosures within an array, notes Gomes. 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.
Low-frequency reinforcement is provided by Martin Audio SXH218 hybrid horn-loaded subwoofers. At AFAS Live, 24 Martin Audio SXH218 hybrid horn-loaded subwoofers were configured as 12 cardioid stacks of two cabinets high. The stacks were positioned across the front of the stage with approximately 1 meter spacing between each stack. Front-fill coverage was provided using Martin Audio TORUS constant-curvature loudspeakers. The entire system was powered by Martin Audio iKON amplifiers and managed through the manufacturer’s advanced optimization platform.
For DSL, the accuracy of Martin Audio’s DISPLAY software modelling is cited as a major advantage. The correlation between the software model and real-world performance is remarkably accurate, Gomes describes.
The feedback from the band’s production team and engineers was extremely positive, noting in particular the headroom and vocal intelligibility of the WPL arrays. For us, one of the best indicators of success is when nobody is talking about the sound system during the show, Gomes concludes.
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