CHIBA, Japan — The Big Beach Dance Festival staged at the Makuhari Seaside Park here recently used a new RCF rig on each of the three stages. The event drew some 20,000 revelers with artists including The Chemical Brothers (playing a DJ set), John Digweed, Beardyman, Timo Maas and more. Promoted by alife Entertainment, adding to the atmosphere of the legendary beach party was a full RCF rig on each of the three stages provided by Comestock, sourced through Ballad Co.
Comestock chose the TT+ system for its clarity, power handling, for being easy to fly and for its RDNet control and system monitoring, which enabled all the components to be monitored through the remote RDNet tool.
For the main stage, Comestock provided 14 elements per side of RCF’s TTL55-A line array in a spiral configuration, with 12 TTS56-A and TTL36-AS subs in straight line stacks across the center. The setup also included one TTL36-AS double-18 box atop a TTS56-A double-21 sub.
Nearfield coverage was provided by four TTL31-A compact line arrays. Stage monitors were provided in the shape of six TT25-SMA and two TTS28-A subs — while coverage for a VIP area close to the stage was also provided by a pair of TTL31-A enclosures.
The second stage was equipped with four RCF TTL33-A per side with a pair of TTL31-A providing nearfield coverage and four TTL-36-AS adding low frequency extension. The auxiliary tent, which provided the third sound stage, was again RCF — this time four TT22-A active non-linear boxes were used, underpinned by a pair of SUB 718-AS.
The production was not without its challenges. Such is the location of the beach that sand blown by the swirling wind presents a constant threat. Heavy rain the day before and the proximity of neighboring residences, potentially giving rise to noise complaints, presented further challenges.
However, the TT+ system managed to overcome the wind problem with its uniform, constant coverage pattern. “The extraordinary power in the high frequency range and the high definition helped a lot in negating any kind of wind problem, while the cabinets are completely water resistant and were impervious to the rain,” said RCF’s Lars Yoshiyama.
BBF has been voted the best dance music festival for the last three years and is one of the most respected events in Japan.
