In more than two decades of gigging German punk rockers Beatsteaks have looked to Berlin-based Complete Audio for its sound system. Now the group can sell out the 24,000-capacity Waldbühne Berlin amphitheatre, recently calling on André Rauhut’s company for Martin Audio’s flagship MLA.
Complete Audio was the first company to invest globally in the new MLA platform when it was launched eight years ago – and it was the first choice both for this show and a second open-air show the band are due to play in August, this time at the slightly smaller Kindl Bühne Wulheide in Berlin.
The rental company s no stranger to the Waldbühne, having worked there many times in the past, and Rauhut has system presets to meet the challenges of a sensitive site: ‘Due to it being situated close to a residential area, they have strict SPL limits,’ he says. ‘And the measurement point is located at the very top of the venue. With MLA we are able to tweak out a few extra dBs due to its ability to Hard Avoid [sensitive areas]. This means less spill over the edge of the venue.’
Complete Audio deployed 15 MLA and two MLD Downfill enclosures per side, with out fill comprising nine MLA Compact per side. Ten MLX subwoofers were rigged on stage, left and right, with another broadside row in front of the stage comprising ten further MLX. This presented head of sound Benny Franke, accompanied by Martin Eckert, Nils Uhthoff and Roman Herbert, with a perfect set-up.
The show itself was notable for a surprise ‘reunion’ appearance by fellow Berlin punk band, Die Ärzte. ‘Their FOH tech knows us very well and trusted us with the system setup,’ Rauhut says. ‘We were extremely happy with the result – and the critics were equally positive in their comments over the following days.’
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