HK Audio systems were deployed across five performance areas at The Island Festival on the Croatian island of Obonjan, supporting a rotating programme of electronic music for around 700 guests.
The festival, which ran from September 3-7, used sound systems across the Amphitheatre, Bar, Pool, Forest and Noir party boat. Technical delivery was handled by Lost Thought, whose co-owners Tobias Rauhut and Stefan Lovric worked with HK Audio throughout the event.
Rather than operating several stages simultaneously, the festival moved its programme from one location to another, allowing equipment to be reconfigured
as audiences shifted around the island.
At the Amphitheatre, the main system comprised six HK Audio CS 218 subwoofers and six Contour X CX 210 LT long-throw point-source loudspeakers, powered by two C-Drive 8 PS X4 amplifier racks.
Two CX 12 cabinets provided monitoring, while two CX 8 frontfills and two Linear 5 MK2 308 LTA outfills extended coverage across the audience area.
The stone and concrete venue presented challenges around reflections and low-frequency control. The CS 218 subwoofers were configured in a cardioid arrangement to reduce energy behind the system and limit the risk of feedback from vinyl turntables.
The CX 210 LT loudspeakers were configured to focus coverage within a 75-degree area, reducing reflections from the surrounding structure.
Karel Noon, application support engineer
at HK Audio, said: “The main priorities were avoiding feedback, reducing reflections and making sure the system remained completely reliable.”
“We also wanted the artists to hear a natural representation of what they were delivering to the audience, so they always knew exactly what was happening out front.”
For the Forest sessions, the passive system was redeployed using six CS 218 subwoofers, six
CX 210 LT loudspeakers and two C-Drive 8 PS X4 amplifier racks, together with a CX 12 monitor.
HK Audio Linear systems were used across the remaining locations. At the Bar, two LINEAR 9 118 Sub BA subwoofers and two LINEAR 9 210 LTA units formed the main system, with two LINEAR 5 MK2 115 FA cabinets used for monitoring and outfill.
At
the Pool, four Linear 9 118 Sub BA subwoofers and two Linear 9 210 LTA units were paired with a Linear 5 MK2 115 FA monitor.
A further system was installed aboard the Noir party boat, which carried around 500 festival-goers onto the Adriatic for an all-day programme.
Six Linear 9 118 Sub BA subwoofers, four Linear 9 210 LTA mid/high units and
two Linear 5 MK2 115 XA cabinets were deployed on the vessel.
The installation window was particularly tight, with the technical team given around one hour between gaining access to the boat and departure.
Noon said: “On the boat, we had around one hour from gaining access to the vessel until it departed - and that included approximately 500 people coming on
board.
“We didn’t have much time to set up and tune, so it was vital that the system could be deployed quickly and sound great from the very beginning.”
The festival programme included Âme live, Dirty Doering, Denis Horvat, Marcus Meinhardt, Luna City Express and a 3000Grad showcase.
DJ and producer fka.m4a, also known as Jay Jackson, said: “The HK Audio system has
been absolutely incredible. It was super clear and really well balanced, which is very important to me as both a producer and a DJ. I’m very low-end focused – I like it low and heavy – but the system never felt overwhelming and the crowd responded beautifully.”
The project marked the second year that HK Audio had supported The Island Festival alongside Lost Thought.