MLA Compact used at Rock of Ages premiere

PA company Production Hire, was recently contracted to provide sound reinforcement for the live band element of the Rock of Ages film premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square.

The movie stars Tom Cruise in the fictional group Arsenal, and to mimic this the stage outside was rigged with Martin Audio’s new MLA Compact.

According to Martin Audio’s touring application support manager, Andy Davies, it was essential that this award-winning Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array technology was deployed owing to its controllability, which mitigated concerns over noise issues. The rig consisted of two eight-deep MLA-C hangs either side of the stage and two four-deep MLA-C outfill hangs and four DSX subs.

Using the balcony of the Odeon Leicester Square, the band had to deliver concert levels for the audience, while ensuring that the surrounding businesses could remain open, with minimal intrusion into the pavement restaurants and cafes.

Davies said: “For Rock of Ages the music content is – rock! With MLA Compact we were able to create a full rock concert at one end of the Square with a well-defined ‘hard avoid’ area part way across the venue, keeping levels outside the audience area very low and well within local limits.”

Due to rigging restrictions, which necessitated the two line array hands to be rigged asymmetrically and with different trim heights, clever use of the software programming was required by Martin Audio, who optimised the sound to provide identical coverage from each hang, despite the fact they were pointing in different directions.

Davies concluded: “Everyone, from FOH engineer Stuart Mayo to Production Hire’s Mark Neil and the production manager were extremely impressed with how clearly defined the hard avoid area was and the contras in levels between the audience area and areas outside the square.”

Keep up to date with the latest developments from the world of pro audio by registering for our free daily newsletter.