Engineers Embrace Powerful Line Array at its North American Major Festival Debut
A mecca for jam band devotees, the Peach Music Festival at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania is known for presenting a diverse, multi-genre array of artists most known for their free-flowing improvisation and danceable rhythms. Headliners for 2022 included Billy Strings, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Trey Anastasio Band, and The Black Crowes, with more than 70 bands total on the bill. From an audio standpoint, the 2022 Peach Music Festival was notable as the North American major festival debut of Meyer Sound’s new PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeaker.
This year’s Peach Music Festival was also the first for Coatesville, Pennsylvania-based DBS Audio Systems as the principal audio provider. Company president Dave Brotman was elated with the PANTHER system’s performance at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain for the main Peach Stage.
“Amphitheaters with tent roofs can generate a vast amount of reflections,” notes Brotman, who served as system engineer at the main stage. “FOH engineers come in here expecting to be fighting the room acoustics all night. But the PANTHER boxes with the new ‘L’ horn can focus the coverage pattern with knife-edge precision. At 120 feet from the stage, vocals were sharp and articulate. Most engineers were thrilled with what they heard, saying it was the best experience they’ve ever had in a tent like this.”
“I couldn’t have been more excited going into the Peach Music Festival knowing I was going to be one of the first sound engineers in the states to get my ears on the new PANTHER rig,” comments Andy Lytle, FOH engineer for Billy Strings. “Dave from DBS could not have tuned the PA better and I was completely blown away by the experience. The clarity that the PANTHER provides while paired with the 1100-LFC met my expectations and I was very pleased. I can’t wait to use PANTHER again.”
“I was absolutely delighted to mix on the PANTHER system,” concurs Erich Miller, FOH engineer for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. “That pavilion can definitely be a bit of a bear to mix in, but I felt as much in control as I could have hoped for. It was smooth and responsive, a truly quality sound system. What more could I ask for?”
Sam Bardani, who mixes for the Connecticut-based rising rock band Goose, recalls his “great experience” with the new PANTHER system. “When you come into a set without any kind of sound check, and with a quick change-over, having a PA you can trust makes all the difference. I was ecstatic with the results right off the bat. These boxes pack a serious punch without compromising top-end clarity. PANTHER made the set a breeze.”
Nathan Gilberg, after mixing an acoustic set for Duane Betts, says he was “blown away by the control and clarity. In reverberant situations like amphitheaters and arenas, this rig really shines.”
The two main hangs at the Peach Stage each comprised 12 PANTHER line array loudspeakers, with eight “L” horn long-throw cabinets over four “W” horn wide coverage versions. A horizontal 6 x 2 ground array of 1100-LFC™ low-frequency control elements pumped out deep bass, six MINA line array loudspeakers supplied front fill, a single ULTRA-X40™ compact loudspeaker per side served as corner fill, and six GALAXY™ 816 Network Platforms handled system drive and optimization. The foldback system included 15 MJF-210™ stage monitors, twin drum monitors each comprising one ULTRA-X42™ compact loudspeaker over one 900-LFC™ low-frequency control element, and MSL-4 loudspeakers as flown side fills.
“The way that PANTHER integrates seamlessly with all the other Meyer Sound speakers really helps where we are coming from as a rental company,” says DBS Audio Vice President Mike Shoulson. “When you add to that the reduced size and weight, which saves on trucking and labor, it means we can bring more to the equation regardless of the event type.”
“To me, a one box solution that can scale from a theater up to a stadium is a no brainer for a rental company,” adds Dave Brotman. “Just keep adding PANTHER and scale up to meet the application. We expect to be adding more to our inventory very soon.”
At the Peach Music Festival’s smaller Mushroom Stage, reinforcement was supplied by a complete Meyer Sound system based around a total of 24 Meyer Sound LEOPARD® compact line array loudspeakers with bass augmented by six 1100-LFC elements. “LEOPARD is one of the easiest rigs to mix on that I have ever used,” observes the stage’s resident engineer, Ted Fletman. “Whatever you put into it is exactly what you get out of it. You can’t hide behind it, but you hear exactly what is going on, something I enjoy.”
Launched in 2012 by Live Nation and the Allman Brothers Band, the Peach Music Festival has been an annual event drawing enthusiastic music fans to the Montage Mountain Resorts. A sampling of other acts on the main stage for 2022 includes Keller Williams, Steel Pulse, The Revivalists and the Wailers while, on the Mushroom Stage, Yam Yam, Consider the Source, Ripe, Doom Flamingo, Eggy, and Dogs in a Pile were among featured artists.
Established in 1992, DBS Audio Systems provides production services, rentals, and complete system design and installation services. In addition to supplying Meyer Sound portable systems for tours and festivals, the company has installed Meyer Sound systems in commercial and retail environments as well as in high profile performing arts venues such as Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and Buddy Guy’s Legends Club in Chicago.
About Meyer Sound
Founded by John and Helen Meyer in 1979, Meyer Sound is a global leader in providing integrated solutions for sound reinforcement, spatial sound, acoustic systems, studio monitoring and high-end residential systems. Recognized as an audio technology pioneer, Meyer Sound was the first to introduce dedicated loudspeaker processors, source independent measurement, large-scale self-powered loudspeakers, and cardioid subwoofers, among other innovations. The premium professional brand maintains rigorous quality control in its design and manufacturing of sustainable solutions for concert touring and festivals, houses of worship, cinema, education, corporate offices and residential. Scientific research and innovative product development have earned more than 100 US and international patents along with numerous industry awards. Headquartered in Berkeley, California with operations globally, Meyer Sound is a company where employees are innovators and diversity, equity and inclusion are embraced in the workplace and the community.
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