MLA partner LSH Events this year increased its activity level with Martin Audio's award-winning system, adding the highly influential Colours/TriniPosse float to that of their long-term client, the Flamingo Arts Carnival Charity.
"Colours saw the MLA Compact/MLA Mini rig we did last year and approached us to work with them this year - and provide wireless connectivity between the trucks," explained LSH Events project & logistics manager, Eli Saunders-Deutsch. "They are serious about their audio and wanted to move into line array technology."
He said that the event is becoming more competitive. "In the yard where we rig and on the road there were systems from other major competitors, and we were all keen to see what the other was doing," he said. "But the [Martin Audio] PA sounded incredible and we blew everyone out of the water."
The main truck was constructed on two levels with Saunders-Deutsch and freelance sound engineer Luca Romagnoli taking on the challenges of designing completely ground-stacked systems in a relatively small area - and the latter designing the show files to reflect throw distances, width of street and population density along the route.
Aside from manoeuvring sound systems around bars and toilets aboard the float they were also aware that they would be giving the various MLA family a serious workout with Soca DJs and MCs and hype men on the floats, many flown in in from Trinidad and various continents specifically for the event.
LSH Events equipped Flamingo's seven and a half ton truck, bedecked with traditional mannequins, costumes, with MLA Compact and WS218X subs, rigging the float in just two hours with four subs and four MLA Compact tops in a mono stack.
They also made a successful debut with Colours which converted to TriniPosse on the second day, with Trinidad and Americas leading Soca exponents including Barrie Hype, Back to Basics, DJ Private Ryan, DJ Markee and The Hype man. Their 'play with paint' theme and masqueraders provided a colourful setting among the confetti cannons and smoke machines.
As for the sound system Eli explained, "[Colours Float organiser] Roger Ramsumair was aware of Martin Audio whose reputation speaks for itself; at the same time he wanted to work with more professional people. We showed him what we could do with line array and he said the Martin Audio sound was the best [the float] had ever sounded."
The two 45' floats were deployed by Colours - one with DJs and a bar, one with exclusive toilets, and many followers behind.
Because of height restrictions LSH Events used 12 x WS218X as a ground-stacked bass array. This consisted of two subs next to each other, behind which were another four, with a further six set at the rear. "These were all time-aligned using sub array technology so that they all act like one big stack," explained Eli. "This was all done in the DISPLAY files.
For the full range, LSH Events deployed 10 x MLA Compact - divided into two stacks of three enclosures, with two further MLA Compacts providing infill down each side of the truck.
For upper deck coverage the company turned to MLA Mini, with two subs and two tops groundstacked on each side, while on the second float they fielded a pair of Martin Audio H3+ and S18+ single 18in sub.
Summing up, Eli Saunders-Deutsch was able to reflect with satisfaction on the management of a successful project for both LSH Events' carnival clients. "Everything went swimmingly. We achieved a really good sound and both our clients were delighted."
(Jim Evans)
