We Are FSTVL Creates "Airfield Of Dreams" With MLA And Capital Sound posted: 25/06/2016
The improved 21-metre dome stage with custom PA wings enabled us to fulfill all objectives, confirmed Capital Sound account manager Martin Connolly. With a 1200 kilo weight-loading we were able to install more boxes.
Specialists in delivering high octane sound for international EDM events, Capital Sound returned to the award-winning We Are FSTVL site at Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster over May Bank Holiday, fielding their premier Martin Audio MLA system on the three main stages.
The production company last worked with promoter Reece Miller on the two-day event back in 2014, and with production values ramping up they were recalled this year by festival production director, Simon Barrington (of Sibar Productions), with whom they have collaborated on Above & Beyond shows (and last year's Wild Life Festival).
This year, with Fatboy Slim and Steve Angello headlining an all star cast of international DJs (including Sven Vath, Richie Hawtin, Craig David and Armand van Helden) the upgraded stage enabled them to support a greater speaker payload and hence the additional MLA elements gave the so-called airfield of Dreams' a real cutting edge.
The PA team, with Charlie Ellery as crew chief, took full advantage of being able to provide coverage for audiences up to 20,000 capacity without the use of delay towers on the Outdoor Main Stage (dubbed Ancient Realm), as well as Arena 1 and Arena 2, which as in previous years, operated under different names on the Saturday and Sunday.
Again working alongside acoustic consultants, Vanguardia, the additional Martin Audio muscle had enabled the sound production company to reach an SPL of 100dB(A) for Fatboy Slim and a minimum of 102dB(A) for Steve Angello on the main stage, despite the swirling winds. Elsewhere, in one of the tents, this hit 104dB(A) - for MK - while at the same time meeting the offsite limit capped at 65dB(A). One of MLA's unique features is the ability to use electronic steering' to reduce audio reflections and perimeter escape.
As to PA configuration, the main stage featured 10 x MLA elements on each flank, at the bottom of which was a single MLD Downfill. This was supplemented by 13 x MLX subs, some rear facing, in a broadside cardioid array. To ensure coverage consistency they added four Martin Audio W8LC's either side of the PA wings as out and infills, and four W8LM Mini Line Arrays in the centre.
Of the two main tents, Arena 1 was equipped with eight MLA and an MLD Downfill on each side, with 12 x MLX subs, four W8LM's covering the front areas and a pair of W8LC providing outfills. As for the smaller Arena 2 Capital Sound provided seven MLA for each wing, with eight x WS218X subs ground stacked and eight W8LM Mini Line Array elements.
Stated Simon Barrington, When it comes to sound design, good levels and clean sound are paramount in delivering the experience that people expect.
MLA delivers on all fronts; because of the way the system is controlled and managed you have enormous flexibility in what you send down the site, which is a huge advantage. You can also control the offsite noise a lot better than with a number of other speakers.
I take the opinion of experts like Capital and if I tell them I need to get more coverage in a certain area, with MLA they are immediately able to get it out there. Being able to achieve 104dB throughout for MK [in the MK Area 10 tent] with minimal bleed was superb.
Additional Capital Sound personnel on duty included Joseph Pearce, as main stage MLA tech, while Adam Dickson was MLA tech on Arena 1 and Ben Turnbull MLA tech on Arena 2.
About Martin Audio
Founded by audio engineer David Martin in 1971, Martin Audio pioneered the use of all-horn-loaded bass designs in world-class touring loudspeaker systems for groups such as Pink Floyd, ELP and Supertramp. Located outside of London, Martin Audio now embodies a sophisticated mix of acoustic design, research, mathematical modeling and software engineering for a wide range of products in the installation, cinema and touring sound markets.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Zero in on one that says yes (and no)
Andy Marken May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image courtesy of Deposit Photos
For content creators the most difficu...
29/05/2026
With InfoComm 2026 just weeks away, NDI is giving attendees plenty of reasons to...
29/05/2026
Reaffirming a partnership that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting since 19...
29/05/2026
Mobile/tablet is No. 2 device for watching TV, suggesting that the sports-production industry needs to take another look at the format
Ring Digital's Sprin...
29/05/2026
Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expande...
29/05/2026
Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio product...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, passed away last month on April 12 ...
29/05/2026
Paramount+ will be the English-language U.S. home for Barclays Women's Super...
29/05/2026
Further strengthening its virtualisation strategy to fully support broadcasters ...
29/05/2026
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has deployed Harmonic's award-winning, software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor to modernize playout operations across cant...
29/05/2026
PTZOptics will showcase a new generation of intelligent video workflows at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, Las Vegas. Visitors to booth N8227 will see how PTZOptics ...
29/05/2026
Arizona's Family has launched the Arizona's Family Sports (AZFS) streaming app, a new direct-to-consumer destination for live, local sports. The app is ...
29/05/2026
Starting in 2027, DAZN will be the exclusive home of The Canadian Football Leagu...
29/05/2026
Comcast Business has detailed the advanced network infrastructure it has deploye...
29/05/2026
In two-day event, leaders from academia and industry explored solutions to chall...
29/05/2026
The Basketball Tournament (TBT), now entering their 13th year of competition, ha...
29/05/2026
Roku has launched FOX One as a Premium Subscription on The Roku Channel in the U.S. Roku customers can now subscribe to FOX One using their Roku account for liv...
29/05/2026
In its sixth year, the broadcaster's coverage has become a global brand and ...
29/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent ratings news and is derived from press re...
29/05/2026
The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and playlists are filling up for the season. With summer around the corner, Spotify's global edito...
29/05/2026
New retro-inspired MPC announced
There are few devices that have gained the status held by Akai Pro's MPC range, and in recent years, the company have s...
29/05/2026
Save up to 30 on acclaimed titles
Following a successful launch at Superbooth 2026, Bjooks have revealed that they will be continuing the Kickstarter campa...
29/05/2026
Binaural monitoring application improved
Genelec have just released an update that brings some powerful new features to their HRTF-based binaural headphone ...
29/05/2026
6 June 2026 at SAE Institute, London, UK
IMSTA FESTA 2026 is almost upon us, with some of the biggest names in pro-audio set to descend upon SAE Institute i...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, died April 12, 2026, at his home in...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Comparing 5 AI Video Enhancers for Restoring Old Video Quality
Kate Luvis May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Digitizing VHS, MiniDV, and other legacy formats doe...
29/05/2026
Studio Hamburg Builds New Post Pipeline with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Workflow replaces a patchwork of legacy tools...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
At the Intersection of Music and Dance, an Epic Collaboration Boston Conservatory musicians and dancers found creative parallels in their recent performance o...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
Latino Film Institute Fellows Screen Their Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre
The Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant uplifts 15 ...
29/05/2026
GLOOKAST LAUNCHES CINNAFILM TACHYON PLUGIN FOR MEDIA PRODUCER AND MEDIA SERVICES
This release first appeared here.
Visit our Tachyon product page or contact...
29/05/2026
May 29 2026, 09:00 (PDT) Dolby and rednote Bring More Immersive Storytelling to...
29/05/2026
Something fundamental has shifted in how people consume media. Audiences aren't abandoning television or radio content; they're just expanding how, wher...
29/05/2026
Youtube exclusive special drops today
Watch now
UKTV today announces another e...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
The Official Trailer of Physical 100 Italy, on Netflix From Se...
We Are FSTVL Creates "Airfield Of Dreams" With MLA And Capital Sound posted: 25/06/2016 
