CHAKAN, India —Volkswagen launched a $766 million factory here, which is expected to employ 2,500 workers by the end of 2010. For the launch, Aman Anand and the events team of G2 Rams contracted Mumbai-based Sound.com to handle all technical audio services.
“The crew of Sound.com was only too happy to take on this challenge, knowing that success in this event would set a new benchmark for the sound industry to live up to,” noted Sound.com managing director Warren D’souza.
“The entire industry wanted to see how well this event would be executed. This show needed to be flawless in the way it was sonically executed, and JBL loudspeakers gave us the edge we needed to achieve that.”
The main event area in the factory was served by left/right main hangs of 12 VerTec VT4887 compact line array elements and six VerTec VT4880 full-size arrayable subwoofers. Sound.com also used two VRX932LA center fills in the display area, and the crew used a Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing console for the production.
Sound.com ordered white JBL Control Series 25AV-WH speakers to match the presentation stage aesthetics. These speakers were placed in specific locations in front and at the side of the stage to ensure proper coverage of the speeches delivered by VW president Jeorg Muller and S.C. Jamir, the state governor, along with other VIPs at the event.
“The production had a sound level limit of 95 dB SPL, so loudness wasn’t an option,” said D’Souza. “Hence, it was critical to be able to place speaker systems to achieve the best possible coverage in all zones, at low volumes. Apart from the main stage, our white speakers also found their way into the VIP rooms. Once installed, the speakers blended into the decor seamlessly.”
The project installation was completed at the new factory site four days before the main show, in order to conduct rehearsals and ensure that everything would run smoothly at showtime.
Sound.com was also asked by G2 Rams to provide a tour guide sound system for the factory visit. The guide was equipped with a wireless headset on a transmitter, and all delegates had wireless bodypacks with earpieces so each person was able to clearly hear their own language in the factory environment.
Conducted in two languages, Sound.com used 20 channels for German and 40 channels for the English language tour. “Providing professional audiology solutions and tour guide systems increases the menu of services we have to offer our clients,” said Gilroy Valladares, who spearheaded this project for Sound.com along with Fali Damania.
For more information, please visit www.jblpro.com.
