d&b audiotechnik’s SL-Series was deployed for three In Conversation arena dates with Irish footballer Roy Keane and novelist Roddy Doyle in Belfast and Dublin.
Sound provision for the shows was led by Mikam Sound for promoter Aiken Promotions, with d&b partner Acoustik supplying the main arena system. The production required high intelligibility across large, seated venues, where the priority was ensuring every audience member could clearly hear the conversation.
Will Fitzpatrick, head of Acoustik, said spoken word events are particularly unforgiving because “every audience member is paying to hear it, right where they sit”.
Credit: Ray Keogh
Acoustik deployed a d&b KSL and XSL system, using left and right hangs of 12 KSL, 12 XSL and four flown SL-SUB cabinets per side. The SL-Series’ cardioid behaviour helped keep unwanted energy off the stage, while ArrayProcessing was used to maintain consistent coverage and tonal balance across the arenas.
The system was designed in d&b ArrayCalc, with ArraySight used to verify that energy was being directed towards the audience areas. Fitzpatrick said the precision of the SL-Series meant the team could be confident that sound was going where intended.
Credit: Ray Keogh
Front-fill coverage was handled by eight d&b 44S loudspeakers, chosen to preserve sightlines on the downstage edge while covering the front rows and outer areas. M4 monitors were used on stage.
Mikam Sound’s Rory Aungier, who mixed front-of-house, said the KSL and XSL system required very little EQ once aligned and delivered clear speech across the venues.
The deployment also used d&b D90 and D40 amplifiers, giving the team access to Milan infrastructure. According to Acoustik, the combination of directivity control, rear rejection and processing tools made the system well suited to an arena-scale spoken word format where intelligibility was the central requirement.
Top image credit: Acoustik Productions