The 3,000-capacity semi-circular amphitheatre, set within Princes Street Gardens, was taken over by the local Fly Club, and VME were brought in since their premium Martin Audio MLA system would be able to meet the inevitable offsite noise restrictions imposed by the council.
"Given the fact that this was the first outdoor electronic dance promotion, operating between midday and 10pm, the event was highly sensitive," said VME head of sound, Mark Cleator. "We needed a system that was guaranteed to pass all propagation tests."
Their solution was to set two zoned ground stacks of four MLA and three MLX subwoofers per side (since there were no rigging points) to meet the requirements of German house exponents, Booka Shade, and other acts such as Theo Kottis, Detroit Swindle City Drum Ensemble and Harri + Domenic.
"We were given 95dB (Leq at 15 minutes) at FOH - measured at the back of the dance area - and a 75dB threshold offsite," said Mark. "And we ran comfortably under."
VME also provided Pioneer and Allen & Heath DJ playback, as well as all lighting, big screen and production.
Concluded Tom Ketley, "Many people commented on how good it all sounded and how impressive the achieved level was considering our location. The Martin Audio MLA certainly worked very well to give the audience a really memorable day."
(Jim Evans)
