The events industry is experiencing profound change in a post-Covid world. Reece Webb explores how this exciting market is redefining live experiences.
The past few years have presented monumental challenges for the live events industry. The Covid-19 impact hit the world of live events like a sledgehammer, as an entire industry ground to a halt overnight. Jobs were lost, venues closed, and a wealth of experience departed the industry in search of new careers. There’s no question that the early 2020s were a period of great difficulty for venues across the world.”
But like all things, the pandemic came to an end, and with it came an insatiable thirst for in-person experiences, new technology and new demands from audiences to be wowed like never before. Brian Fraser, head of product and technology, Adamson, says: “The live event industry saw a boom coming out of Covid, and even though there has been some variability, we see production becoming more complex in terms of staging and FX. This means there is a greater focus from production on limitations towards placement and quantity of sound systems, while not diminishing the expectation of performance.
“We are seeing our partners rely on technologies such as optimisation and full-range cardioid to fulfil more demanding requirements on a daily basis. Powered systems offer further advantages to modern tours by reducing the space required both to transport the system and also the footprint required on the floor.”
Seismic shifts have been experienced in the worlds of audio quality, experienced both at home and at live events, has turned event goers into sound connoisseurs. This shift in expectation has caused venues and acts to up their game and deliver sound systems that match the desires of audiences and venues alike.
Andy Davies, senior director of product management, Meyer Sound, explains: “Audience expectations are changing as the world of streaming media and digital broadcasting (both TV and radio) have evolved to bring higher fidelity options and allow audiences access wherever they are. The early days of MP3 marked a downturn in audio quality, but that is behind us. The streaming technology, and the delivery methods, whether it is home theatre systems or headphones, are constantly competing to deliver higher quality sound. Live audio needs to not only keep up but deliver an enhanced experience. Live audio should be bigger, more dynamic, and more immersing, a chance to envelop the audience in the sound with no barriers. Live is a chance for the artist and the audience to connect on a level that can never happen with recorded media. That means systems that deliver every nuance of a performance, whilst being visually discreet.
“There is a greater dependence on the network, bringing increasingly complex set ups onto a common network allows data to be accessible to multiple users in multiple places. This necessitates careful network planning and management as well as careful choices on the protocols used for different applications.”
Complexity has become commonplace in modern live event productions, putting greater emphasis on the backbone behind the sound. Klaus Hausherr, live sound and production specialist, K-array, explains: “The technical proposals of almost all audio productions focus primarily on providing consistent audio experiences throughout the venue. Therefore, the number of speakers implementing digital audio management systems is increasing to ensure this result. Our brand, like few others, achieves superlative results with EBS, meeting these expectations. Events have become much more technologically complex, especially those dedicated to video and lighting, but audio has suffered the same fate. Audience expectations have obviously increased.”
While most live event venues are no stranger to high quality audio, the growing reliance on technology is raising the bar for sound performance. Ryan Penny, VP global business development, d&b audiotechnik, says: “Modern productions are becoming steadily more integrated. This means that audio must work seamlessly alongside staging and scenic design, as well as meeting the growing demand for LED video real estate. As shows feature increasingly creative uses of video, and as the distance between PA systems and audiences increases, the demand for precise, flexible and consistent audio solutions intensifies.”
Mika performing at the No Borders Festival, supported by K-array systems. Photo credit: Simone Diluca
Loud and proud?
For live events, louder isn’t always better. In recent years, greater focus and awareness has been emphasised on ear health, through the use of ear plugs and consciously-designed live events that focus not just on delivering unforgettable experiences, but safer experiences that lower the risk of hearing damage.
Fraser continues: “We are seeing far more focus on healthy experiences, such as the Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance (HELA) initiative. Rather than having events where the audio level is such that it can quickly reach levels that will cause hearing damage, engineers and promoters are focusing on targeted, managed levels of audio, while still providing experiences for the audience with plenty of impact. Even at a show with a speed limit of 101dBA LEQ10, ensuring that the sound system has plenty of power and headroom to deliver the moments of high impact is crucial.
“While regions, artists, and venues may vary, we view sustainability as core to our business. Our manufacturing facility incorporates nearly all production technologies needed to convert raw materials into finished products. We also invest in technologies that allow us to reuse certain materials, such as neodymium, steel, aluminium, and rubber. Additionally, our entire facility is connected to a solar farm, meaning a significant portion of our energy is renewable. On top of this, our powered products use Class-D amplification, which is more efficient and produces less wasted energy at the actual show site.”
For manufacturers such as d&b, these requirements go beyond the product itself, ensuring greater responsibility at each end of the chain. Penny comments: “We track global emissions, enforce a Supplier Code of Conduct with digital monitoring and maintain ISO 14001 and EMAS certifications at our Backnang site. “From Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) systems and energy-efficient amplifiers to Sound as a Service, our offerings promote flexible, resource-conscious sound production. Tools such as NoizCalc and cardioid technology help to reduce noise and protect surrounding communities. Above all, we take a human-centred approach, prioritising people across our value chain - from supply chain workers and employees to venue staff, audiences and local communities.”
In the world of live audio, sustainability and ‘healthier’ noise go hand in hand, as Hausherr explains: “The most important issue today remains noise pollution, and our products, which use EBS, can deliver very satisfactory results in this regard. Energy sustainability demands are generating alternative green options, such as photovoltaic panels. These are currently only suitable for productions that don't require large electricity supplies, but I believe higher-performance systems will likely be available in the future. With the help of increasingly sophisticated technologies, the live world will continue to evolve, offering increasingly complex events.”
Make space
There’s no question that the world changed after the pandemic, and part of that change included substantial change to audience demands, as spatial audio experienced a wave of normalisation and adoption both in the home and in the live event sphere.
Fraser continues: “While large-scale touring remains solidly in the traditional category, mid-sized tours and special events are exhibiting more interest in spatial audio. Artists and promoters have recognised the potential enhancements to the audience’s experience and are utilising solutions such as the Fletcher Machine. We see larger and larger deployments with Fletcher year after year.”
Meyer Sound audio in play at Coachella Festival, USA
For d&b, spatial audio offers a unique way to personalise and individualise live events like never before, using a combination of software and clever speaker placement to quickly and efficiently set up spatial audio systems based on system and artist requirements. Nick Malgieri, director, immersive enablement, d&b audiotechnik, explains: “We are seeing how events and communications can be reimagined. Spatial audio can be scaled up to present video content in a more compelling way and scaled down to help the audience connect with a single presenter on stage. Spatial audio adds dynamics to events and is more personalized than the indiscriminate audio approach of the past 80 years.
“d&b Soundscape uses applied intelligence to add a level of self-awareness to the audio system. The processor knows where every speaker is located in 3D space. This allows users to quickly and easily re-tune their audio system using a simple graphical user interface in our software. The result is a more capable audio system with reduced setup and training time.”
As live events grow in complexity, how will this ever more demanding market continue to evolve? For some, continued integration is the answer to maintaining control over increasingly more complex shows.
Davies says: “Greater digital integration will allow us to unlock new workflows for live events to help streamline shows and make more complex and demanding productions a reality. Key to whatever we do next is understanding the artist’s needs, what do they want to achieve with their shows and how do we help them deliver. New generations of artists always bring new ideas and that’s the great thing about live events: they never stay static, there are always new ideas, new styles of music and new ways of engagement to explore.
A d&b GSL PA system at the Reverze EDM Festival in Antwerp, Belgium
Penny closes: “The future of live event audio lies in achieving consistency night after night, which we believe can be achieved through a combination of precision, adaptability, and intelligence. We are seeing an increased demand for solutions and software that can accurately predict and deliver sound energy while adapting to on-site changes and environmental conditions.
“Technologies such as broadband directivity control and cardioid performance are setting new standards. New material engineering, additive manufacturing, and potentially AI combined with electro-acoustic simulation will continue to drive innovation, enabling systems to deliver exceptional performance that is integral to modern productions, all while minimising noise and environmental impact.”