LONDON — After testing Martin Audio’s active Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) on a series of events, UK rental company RG Jones Sound Engineering Ltd has invested in the new system. The company’s 24 MLA top boxes and 12 MLX subs, with six dedicated amplifier and DSP channels per enclosure, will make their debut on a series of shows in April and May.
More details from Martin Audio (www.martin-audio.com):
Championing the cause for RG Jones had been the company’s sound engineer, Simon Honywill, who had put MLA through its paces on the tour for Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the World, Raymond Gubbay’s Classical Spectacular and on shows with Katherine Jenkins in Ireland to evaluate its full dynamic range and consistent delivery to every seat in the house. From the moment he declared, “We’ve made a massive leap forward with the MLA … the results are remarkable,” the investment looked to be a certainty.
RG Jones’ joint managing director, John Carroll, said the company had been looking for a large-format system, and MLA came along at the right time. ”We felt committed to buying when we could see a demand for it over the first year.”
Their faith in the system looks guaranteed, and in addition to the late spring shows followed by the usual summer madness, MLA is again confirmed for the next War of the Worlds arena tour, starting in November 2012.
“We have been involved with Martin Audio for many years. MLA is one of the most exciting developments that has happened for a long time, so it’s a great opportunity to broaden our client base,” noted Steve Carr, RG Jones project manager. “With the systems that have already been sold to the U.S., it was inevitable that it would start to appear on riders.”
Joint managing director Andrew Williamson stated that the high degree of controllability had been a major factor in the decision-making. “It’s the first self-powered system we’ve owned and provides a major truck-space solution as it is not necessary to employ amp racks. That’s a major advantage.”
A further advantage is that as a consolidated Martin Audio house, RG Jones’ existing W8LC Compact Line Array will work in harmony with MLA should delays or outfills be required on a large-scale show.
Summarizing, Martin Audio’s director of sales Simon Bull said, “RG Jones has been one of our most loyal customers over the years, and our presence on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival has been entirely due to them. We are delighted that they have decided to make this investment and we will be looking to support them every step of the way.”
