Even On, the French PA company chosen to provide the sound reinforcement system, supplied a large number of Nexo GEO S tangent array speakers, siting them along the Pope's route as well as on the central stage. A total of 8 PA towers were set up, carrying a total of 74 GEO S805 and 8 GEO S830 speakers, powered by sixteen Camco Vortex 6 power amplifiers, each delivering 2 x 2,100 watts per channel. The system was managed by Nexo NX241 controllers and mixed on a Soundcraft MH4 48-channel console linked to a Yamaha DM2000 digital production console.
Even On was one of the first rental companies in France to purchase a GEO S system, and says Even On director Francis Pecoste, "We d already used our NEXO GEO-S system in an underground church located in Lourdes and, despite the acoustical challenges posed by such a venue, it did a perfect job. Our competitors came up with solutions using much bigger systems, but we were confident that, despite its deceptively small size, the GEO S was the right box for the job." Since the event was broadcast on live television, an active splitter box was used for the connection to France Television s digital broadcasting unit directly from the front of house console. Even On also supplied nine outdoor LED displays and all the lighting, in a contract that was the largest in the company's history.
(Mike Lethby)
