A Meyer Sound system of more than 600 loudspeakers recently provided coverage for a crowd of over 300,000 that converged near the Mexico City suburb of Ecatepec for an open-air Holy Mass with Pope Francis.

Held across a sprawling event site temporarily constructed on a vast rain catchment plain known as El Caracol, it was by far the largest event of Pope Francis’s five-day visit to Mexico.

“We have had excellent results using Meyer Sound to ensure the best possible listening experience for the public, so we decided to use Meyer Sound speakers exclusively for this event,” said José Antonio Ruíz, general manager of Total Event Productions S.A. de C.V., the systems supplier. “It’s important for us to use speakers that we know will deliver a superior performance at all times, even when the system is kept working for more than 30 continuous hours.”

The canopy-covered main event stage for the pope and his guests was flanked by front arrays that included 32 LEO-M line array loudspeakers and 96 LYON linear line array loudspeakers.

In addition to the pope’s homily, which received headline news coverage worldwide, the programme also offered music from an orchestra and traditional Mexican ensembles. To provide full-range music reproduction across the one-kilometer-wide site, 54 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements were deployed.

LEOPARD, MILO, MICA, M3D and M’elodie line array loudspeakers were also positioned for various fill and foldback applications over or near the stage, with more arrays supporting the four front and 28 remote video screens. MSL-6, MSL-4, UPA-1P, and UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers and MJF-212A stage monitors were also deployed. A Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system with nine Galileo 616, 13 Galileo Callisto 616, and seven Galileo Callisto 616 AES array processors was linked by Total Event Productions’ own fibre optic distribution network.

Assisting Ruíz were audio manager Ramiro Páramo and FOH engineer Everardo Cano. Total Event Productions’ own Meyer Sound inventory was supplemented by dry-hire loudspeakers from a number of Mexican rental companies.

“Meyer Sound Mexico always provides us with in-depth design and technical support for these major events to make sure we achieve the best results every time,” Ruíz commented. “It’s a level of service no other company in Mexico can offer.”

Meyer Sound reinforcement systems were also deployed the previous day for welcoming ceremonies on the main square in central Mexico City, as well as for Pope Francis’s arrival and departure ceremonies at Benito Juárez International Airport.

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