INDIO, CA — More than 200,000 fans attended the back-to-back Coachella Music and Arts and Stagecoach Country Music Festivals. Standout performances at the two multi-stage events included two and a half hours with Paul McCartney and sets by Leonard Cohen, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock and more than 150 other artists.
Rat Sound Systems was the sound reinforcement vendor for both festivals, which occurred on consecutive weekends, and they provided systems for four additional stages at rock-based Coachella and two more stages at the country-themed Stagecoach. Other stages featured V-Dosc, Kudo and Rat Trap sound systems. Additionally, Rat Sound supplied more than 50 EAW MicroWedges, used on all but one of the stages.
“I cannot begin to say how excited I am about the response to our new PA. We knew the K1 system was great, but this level of enthusiasm from all angles was unexpected. It’s clean, it’s clear and it’s loud, and the coverage is phenomenal,” said Dave Rat, president of Rat Sound, which has spearheaded sound reinforcement duties for the past nine out of 10 Coachella festivals and all three Stagecoach festivals.
The K1 loudspeaker system from L-Acoustics measured nearly 40 feet tall, the largest K1 system assembled to date. Used on the main Coachella Stage (aka Stagecoach's "Mane Stage"), the PA featured twin arrays comprised of 15 K1 enclosures topped by eight K1-SUB boxes and tailed by three dV-DOSC downfills. Additional arrays of eight K1 plus three dV-DOSC were also called upon to provide far left and right side coverage.
Low-end augmentation was delivered by a total of 32 SB28 subs arranged in cardioid stacks across the front of the stage. ARCS cabinets delivered nearfill, while stage monitoring was accomplished via 115XT HiQ wedges. Two arrays of nine V-DOSC boxes each were flown out in the audience area as delays, and power for all systems was provided by numerous LA-RAK touring racks loaded with LA8 amplified controllers located under the stage.
Jon Monson, who heads up systems and tours for Rat Sound, appreciated the ease with which the massive K1 system could be flown, thanks largely to its captive rigging facilities.
But above all was the sound. "I truly believe that K1 is the best large-scale stadium sound system on the planet right now,” Dave Rat said. “I also know that most, if not all, of the world-class engineers that have mixed on it agree with me. The overall response from literally every engineer at Coachella and Stagecoach was 'wow!' The clarity difference, even above V-DOSC, is immediately apparent. K1's volume, impact and low frequency control are truly distinct. And while roaming the venue, there is a clear improvement in horizontal coverage."
"The response from Goldenvoice, the promoter of both festivals, has been pure positive as well. Not only did they notice the sonic difference, but I am told they are surprised at getting calls about how amazing the show sounded."
"I was blown away when I heard that McCartney thought it was a great live sound," said Goldenvoice production manager Kevan Wilkins. "As for me, personally, it was amazing."
In addition to the K1 system used on the Coachella Stage (Mane Stage), Rat Sound specified L-Acoustics systems for the two desert festivals' other stages, including a V-DOSC/SB28 system at the Outdoor Theatre (Palomino), V-DOSC at the Sahara Tent (Mustang), and KUDO at the Mojave Tent.
For more information, please visit www.l-acoustics.com , www.ratsound.com , www.coachella.com and www.stagecoachfestival.com .
