DAS Audio system for record-breaking devotional event
Published: WORSHIP
INDIA: Local supplier Sound & Light Professionals recently used a DAS Audio Aero 48 sound reinforcement system for a record-breaking event named AbhangaNaad: The Voice of Devotion, held on the University Grounds of Shivaji University in Kolhapur. The event was watched by 120,000 spectators and a television audience of three million.
Intended in part to attract India’s youth to its folk traditions, the religious event – taking place on a 20-acre site – featured approximately 2,500 Warkari pilgrims singing in unison, accompanied by 1,350 traditional Dhols drums. The concert was officially entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the largest events of its kind, while its multi-tier stage was the biggest to have been erected so far in Kolhapur, measuring more than 60m in width, 24m in depth and standing over 4.5m in height. Famous devotional singers including Ajit Karkare, Balasaheb Waikar and Tukaram Powar also appeared.
For front of house, four clusters of eight DAS Aero 48 line array elements were flown at either side of the stage, while an additional stack of four Aero 48 enclosures were used for centre-fill. Aero CA-28 enclosures were also deployed across the front of the stage as front-fills, while three delay towers were positioned approximately 45m apart, each carrying a further eight Aero 48s.
On-stage sound was via 20 custom loudspeaker columns consisting of a combination of DAS Avant 12A two-way enclosures and Sound & Light Professionals’ proprietary loudspeakers. Lab.gruppen PLM 10000Q and XTA DP448 processors completed the system. The team behind the design included Sound & Light Professionals director Manish Mavani plus system engineer OS Cijith, front of house mix engineer Ramdas Kalasker and stage engineer Pramod Vetker.
‘The fact that the venue grounds were arranged in two levels posed a unique challenge for us,’ explained Mr Mavani. ‘Also, with the stage being so wide, the sound convergence at the centre of the ground from the left-right stacks posed additional issues. Fortunately, our EASE Focus calculations and the broad horizontal dispersion of the Aero 48s helped us achieve even coverage throughout the area.’
He added: ‘Our aim was to ensure that every note from the stage reached the audience with its proper dynamics and presence. While some of the performers initially had concerns over how their singing would come out over the sound system, ultimately they were amazed at the clarity we achieved. We’ve been re-hired for more such future events. When one project leads to another, that’s as good as it gets.’