DM Audio, RG Jones and VME among those signing up for MLA platform at PL+S By Dave Robinson
THE SALES STORY of Prolight + Sound seems to belong to Martin Audio, as the High Wycombe-based company revealed a triumvirate of European customers for its MLA multi-cellular loudspeaker array technology, as well as its first MLA sale to the Philippines. Total orders taken during the show are reported to top £1.9 million (€2.3 million). MLA Compact made its
debut in February in London, and in Frankfurt Martin Audio was able to confirm the first system sale worldwide to DM Audio of Stockholm. The rental house, part of the EM Nordic Group, has invested in a System
36 (24 MLA Compact cabinets and 12 DSX subs). DM Audio’s Lars Wern was at the London launch. “I think we were all very impressed,” he states. “The system is very powerful for its size and sounds great. However the predictability and controllability is totally outstanding and puts it in a class of its own. “I believe we will be able to use it in scenarios where it will help keep down the SPL for neighbours while maintaining a good punch for the spectators.” The package has already been
delivered and used in anger: after shipping from the UK, it was sub-hired to Norwegian rental company Rubicon for use as an outfill system on a
comedy show in the 9,700- capacity Oslo Spektrum. Martin Audio – part of the
Loud Technologies group – followed this up with news of orders of total MLA systems worth in excess of £1.9 million. RG Jones became the first UK company to invest in a System 36 (24 x MLA top boxes and 12 MLX subs) following successful trials at both the Royal Albert Hall and on Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. The company placed the order on the opening day of Frankfurt and joint MD Andrew Williamson said: “We needed a large-format system and this will be our first self-powered rig. It provides an excellent truck-pack solution because you don’t need to deploy a lot of amp racks, and the degree of control it offers is a major plus point.” Manchester-based events
(L-R): Ben Hyman (VME sales manager), Anthony Taylor (Martin Audio MD), Andre and Dion Davie (VME directors), Simon Bull (Martin Audio, director of sales)
production outfit VME Ltd wasn’t far behind. The company, which offers a wide range of equipment and services to the entertainment, touring, corporate and broadcast industries, confirmed the purchase of a System 30 on day two of PL+S.
DM Audio’s Lars Wern, the first customer for the MLA Compact
In committing the company to
the large-format rig, VME directors, Dion and Andre Davie, declared their intent to add large- scale concert touring to a busy work roster. The MLA purchase, consisting of 18 MLA full-range elements, two MLD downfills and 10 MLX subs, will debut on “high-profile shows which are still under wraps but which will put us on the map”, promises Dion Davie. “MLA is the direction we shall be taking as it represents the future of audio.” VME has recently acquired a 26,000sqft facility – “twice the size of our existing property” – in a prime location next to six acres of woodland in the south of Manchester; one of its first commitments is to host three days of MLA induction training,
provided by Martin Audio, in the new dedicated training room. Finally, Philippines-based JB Music & Sports finalised an order during the show, confirming the purchase of the country’s first MLA system, consisting of a System 36 MLA and System 24 of the newly- launched MLA Compact. After the show, Martin Audio
director of sales Simon Bull told PSNEurope: “Prolight + Sound 2012 was by far and away the most successful in the company’s history. Martin Audio doesn’t pursue orders at exhibitions [but] the continued excitement over MLA has translated into an amazing reception for MLA Compact and this is reflected in the take-up of both systems.” www.martin-audio.com