USA - All-female Mexican vocal groups, Pandora and Flans recently undertook a 17-city theatre and arena tour of the US, mostly visiting the Southern States.
The Inesperado (‘Unexpected’) tour was supported by a large inventory of Martin Audio WPL line array, provided by New Mexico-based rental partner, High End-RG Productions. The high-energy show combined the two legendary groups in one spectacular event.
Martin Audio’s successful Wavefront Precision PA was deployed; 12 boxes per side for the group’s FOH sound engineer, Luis Quiñones. High End-RG Productions president, Enrique Ortiz, confirmed that the PA setup had been designed in collaboration with system engineer, Orlando Calzada, with the 12 SXH218 subwoofers set in an L/R cardioid configuration, six enclosures per side, providing the LF extension.
Responsible for outfill dispersion were eight W8LC on each wing, with eight Martin Audio FlexPoint FP8 acting as front fills, and eight WPS on top of a pair of SX218 subs providing sidefill coverage. This was all powered in 2-box resolution by a combination of four Martin Audio iKON iK42 four-channel amp racks, while a pair of Linea Research M48-20 racks, from their Focusrite Group partner, powered the W8LC outfill hangs. With just two exceptions, the full complement of speakers was deployed at all venues.
From a sound perspective, the tour was split into two, with Orlando Calzada taking on system tech duties for the first half, to be replaced by Enrique Ortiz for the latter part. “Between us, we made the design and prediction in Display 3, and Luis Quiñones then optimised the alignment of the PA,” explained Ortiz. He added: “We used the ‘Hard Avoid’ [function] whenever it was needed, and I must say what a beautiful tool this is.”
His production team had worked closely with Martin Audio tech support to achieve the optimum result, and win the satisfaction of both Miriam Rodriguez, the group’s production manager, and Felix Ovalles production manager of the promoters. Ortiz confirmed: “Martin Audio were extremely supportive. Jim Sage provided some additional equipment to ensure we achieved the best outcome, and we received excellent tech support at the start of the tour, when it was especially important, from Will Harris.
“This created a great impression with the artists’ production and the promoters. They loved the idea that we were not just another supply company, but one with active support from a leading brand behind us.”
