COLOGNE, Germany – Cologne-based rock band Brings partnered with the Beethoven Orchestra to perform a “Rock-meets-Classic” show in front of Cologne Cathedral. TSL Production provided a DAS Audio LARA/SARA system for a powerful yet nuanced sonic experience that was as impressive as the musical performances and the setting.
Brings, which performs in Cologne’s own Kölsch dialect, have been a hometown favorite for more than 30 years. The prestigious Beethoven Orchestra, meanwhile, hails from Beethoven’s birthplace, Bonn, which is only about 20 miles away.
Along with the challenges of effectively miking the band and orchestra, the P.A. system needed to rock the crowd of 5,000 gathered in Roncalliplatz for each of the two concerts, which is surrounded by various architectural structures, while complying with strict sound level restrictions.
The LARA/SARA system was chosen in part for its ability to manage potential sound reflections while also delivering the punch and clarity needed for both the live attendees and the recordings made by WDR Television for broadcasts on later dates. The setup included 14 DAS LARA per side as mains, six LARA subs, 16 SARA subs and 25 more SARA loudspeakers for frontfills and delays.
DAS Audio GmbH’s Miguel Augusto served as systems engineer for the event, carefully calibrating the system so Georg Gansser and Michael Häck, FOH engineers for Brings and the Beethoven Orchestra, respectively, could focus on fine-tuning their mixes.
Häck was “very happy with the acoustic result,” he said. “On the one hand, the stage remained very evenly quiet, down to 60Hz, without disturbing the orchestra.On the other hand, my hands would have been constantly tied and I would never have been able to reach the final volume without the Cardioid. Together with the cardioid subwoofers and the two delay positions, we were able to cover the Roncalliplatz very evenly and directionally.”
Frank Schmitz, owner of TSL Production, was also satisfied. “The promoter had originally planned a different P.A. system, but I feel vindicated in my decision to go with DAS Audio’s ARA systems,” noting that the cardioid P.A. proved superior “in terms of the overall quality of the sound reinforcement, considering the orchestra and the local conditions.” He added that TSL has “now completed a small tour through the largest halls in Germany, and these two shows with our new LARA system, and in both productions the directional coverage was decisive.”
