Berlin-based production company Complete Audio is the first customer for the new Martin Audio Multicellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) system, unveiled a few months ago.

The purchase follows the system’s use with German rap band Fettes Brot, and comprises 20 MLA, two MLD enclosures and 14 MLX subs with Merlinnetwork management system, rigging and peripherals. ‘I now own a system which is truly unique,’ says Complete Audio MD, André Rauhut.

The MLA builds on the company’s existing inventory, which includes Martin Audio’s W8L Longbow, W8LC and W8LM conventional line arrays. ‘The MLA is a genuine technological advancement – far exceeding the commonly-hyped systems in the market, and the next step in the genealogy of line array-based systems,’ Rauhut adds. ‘Martin Audio has taken an entirely revolutionary approach to designing a sound system.’

Resulting from years of intensive R&D, MLA’s methodology replaces trial-and-error array design with intelligent numerical optimisation of the array’s output based on a highly accurate acoustic model. The multi-cellular format has six individual cells in each enclosure – each with its own onboard DSP and power amplification.

A 24-enclosure array has 144 cells – too great a number to optimise manually or by ear. Accordingly, Martin Audio’s proprietary Display 2 system design software automatically calculates FIR DSP filters for each cell and a redundant-ring audio network (U-Net) downloads the settings into each array enclosure. Martin’s VU-Net software provides real-time control and monitoring of the system.

Rauhut and Fettes Brot’s FOH engineer Oliver Voges beta-tested the system with the band, discovering that MLA could deliver consistent sound up to 150m. At the same time, they noted how small and lightweight the MLA system is – despite the onboard amps and DSP – a factor that makes the system economically attractive. ‘This was the proof I needed,’ says Rauhut. ‘Before touring with Fettes Brot I only had the opportunity of hearing the MLA under controlled circumstances, but out on the road everyone – the sound engineers, venue promoters and audiences – were all amazed at the sound clarity and consistency.

‘With conditions changing daily from venue to venue, the MLA mastered even the most stringent challenges – and this ability cannot be offered by any other system worldwide. All the promises which had been made by Martin Audio worked in reality.’

The system was supplied by  atlantic audio, with MD Wolfgang Garçon commenting: ‘Many manufacturers have jumped on the line array bandwagon and Martin Audio could simply have developed a next generation version; but with an amazing R&D team headed by Jason Baird they have come up with a totally different principle. Their goal has been to create a coherent wavefront at the listener’s ear rather than the conventional method of providing coherent waves emanating from the speaker.’

Further work is already lining up for the MLA / MLX system, and Rauhut confirms that the new rig has already seen use with Klassik unter Sternen (Classic Under The Stars) at Berliner Waldbühne and Dieter Thomas Kuhn’s Schalala tour in the same location.

A system is also presently on tour with the Zac Brown Band in the US, having completed the 31-day iTunes Festival in London.

The MLA system also took the top spot at this year’s Plasa Awards for Innovation, heading the list of 62 products entered. Seven Awards for Innovation were presented but there was only one Gold winner – this is only made when a product is worthy of particular commendation and it has not been awarded for the past three years. This year was also the first time in the history of the award that it has been given to an audio product. ‘We are gratified that the judges recognised that the Multicellular Loudspeaker Array principle has now set a new benchmark,’ said Martin Audio R&D Director, Jason Baird.

More: www.martin-audio.com