ROME — Italian audio system provider Madema SpA deployed a multi-array VerTec DP Series powered line array system at the Primo Maggio. The free annual event, coinciding with Italy’s Labor Day, is held in Rome’s Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano in front of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, a church that dates back to 313 A.D.
The event typically draws hundreds of thousands of live music fans, and the crowd this year may have exceeded a million, with rock singer Vasco Rossi among the featured performers. Others performing at this year’s event included Edoardo Bennato, Alessandro Mannarino, Robben Ford, Caparezza and Subsonica. With 30 different bands in all, the event was televised and broadcast live throughout Europe on RAI.
Madema once again was the exclusive provider of all concert sound reinforcement duties for Primo Maggio. The company’s event sound system design featured a total of 127 VerTec system enclosures.
The main PA system was formatted as a left-right configuration of 18 enclosures per side, comprising VT4888DP-AN midsize powered line array elements with DrivePack technology, with three additional VT4888DP-AN line array elements provided for front fill.
The main arrays were each flanked by 12 VT4880 full-size arrayable subwoofers, flown in arced companion arrays. For additional low-frequency reinforcement, 24 VT4880A ultra-long excursion ground-based subwoofers were spaced along the front of the stage.
All non-powered subwoofers were driven with Crown Macro-Tech MA5000VZ power amplifiers, and a total of 700,000 watts of peak power was available for the overall system. The Madema team used Harman’s HiQnet System Architect software for configuration and control of the system.
This user-interface platform gave complete access to onboard DSP and amplification channels across the entire system of nearly 100 networked devices, whether traditionally-powered passive subwoofers or internally-powered full-range speaker arrays.
To reach additional listeners in the spacious, 40,000 square-meter (430,000 square ft) listening area and surrounding boulevards, Madema also set up four delay towers of 14, 12, eight and six VT4888DP-AN line array elements.
With the scale of the crowd, an asymmetrical audience area and placement constraints imposed by the site’s historical features, the largest delay tower had a throw requirement of nearly 200 meters (660 feet). Madema made its equipment selection and system design met the challenge.
“I simply love JBL,” said Davide Micheli, Madema’s event and technical manager for Primo Maggio, upon hearing the entire multi-array VerTec DP system during pre-show testing. Micheli was assisted onsite by a group of the company’s key technicians, including System Engineer Carmelo Carlaccini and FOH Engineer Gianmario Lussana, who was responsible for assisting sound mixers for bands on the show.
Madema’s Stefano Brugiotti managed wireless radio-frequency systems, Luca Molinari was in charge of the complex stage monitor system, and Moreno Zamperini of Audio Equipment handled user-interface and network management issues.
The audio team from Madema maintained a multi-day presence at the outdoor show site. Stage setup began on April 26, five days before the event, with scaffolding towers, FOH mix position and cable runs put in place four days before. The VerTec system was flown and adjusted on April 28. Two days of individual artist soundchecks followed, in preparation for the marathon concert on May 1, which lasted late into the evening.
“Massive, large-scale outdoor entertainment events like Primo Maggio challenge the skills of any rental sound company and crew,” said David Scheirman, vice president, tour sound for JBL Professional. “With this event, Davide Micheli and his team of audio professionals have clearly shown why Madema has earned its reputation as one of the Mediterranean region’s premier concert sound system providers.”
For more information, please visit www.madema.it amd www.harman.com.
