Thetenth anniversary season of The Voice Lithuania was marked by a spectacular grand finale at the, Žalgirio Arena – Lithuania’s largest. The live show featured ten exceptionally talented contestants, who were subsequently narrowed down to the top four for the super finale. As the show is one of the most significant and demanding projects on the country’s events calendar – with an audience exceeding one million viewers – seamless execution was crucial.

Independent sound engineer Jurgis Stasikėlis from Garsisc Sound Team, took charge of the audio, and opted for a DiGiCo Quantum 338 console, provided by Sonus Exsertus, DiGiCo’s distributor for the Baltics and Georgia. He relied on the console’s power and connectivity to deliver ‘an exceptional audio experience’.

Stasikėlis has used DiGiCo consoles for the past seven years, beginning with the S Series and gradually transitioning to the high-end Quantum consoles. ‘After two years of using the DiGiCo Quantum 338, we can confidently say that our experience has been overwhelmingly positive,’ Stasikėlis says. ‘The Quantum 338 has demonstrated exceptional reliability and consistently delivers high-quality output, surpassing our expectations.’

He explains that, particularly for The Voice Lithuania, there were frequent changes in the set list. ‘During rehearsals, we were unaware of the final set list, and once we received it, swift adjustments were necessary,’ he says. ‘Thanks to the powerful DiGiCo snapshot engine, this was no longer an issue. The Macro function is particularly useful and easy for making important adjustments. These features ensured there were no delays or difficulties in keeping up with the dynamically evolving set list during show.’

Stasikėlis’s vision for the show’s needs was challenging, and required careful planning to ensure success. ‘But it could be easily accomplished with the right equipment,’ he says. ‘This needed a console with an organised layout, fast-access tools, and efficient audio paths.’

The complexity of audio signal routing and conversion required significant processing power and versatile I/O. With a wide range of digital audio protocols, diverse signal sources, and destinations, comprehensive tweaking and conversion were necessary. These demanding requirements called for powerful hardware and software that could handle a multitude of audio processing tasks efficiently and reliably.

‘This was why we chose the Quantum 338 as the backbone of the project,’ Stasikėlis says. ‘While it’s a powerful machine in its own right, when combined with the Waves plug-ins, DMI-Dante card, and supplemented by the Klang’s in-ear immersive audio, it transforms into an incredible piece of high-tech engineering that fulfilled our vision for the project.’

Commending the Klang DMI Card, Stasikėlis says it became a powerful tool for the show, providing 16 mixes and 64 channels. However, as the show continues to evolve each year, he wants to enhance the system by investing in a Klang:konductor to further enhance the monitor mix. ‘With this addition, we can expand our capabilities and provide an even better on-stage experience for new artists as well as our beloved band,’ he says.

As a distributor of DiGiCo and Klang, Sonus Exsertus was integral in the project’s success, supplying equipment in good time and offering their team’s support when needed. ‘As a team, we strive to be the most reliable partner for our clients, providing unwavering support and fostering a close relationship with them,’ says Sonus founder and Head of Business Development, Ramūnas Alenskas. ‘This approach aligns with our personal and company values, and we believe that, combined with the exceptional quality of DiGiCo and Klang products, it helps us and our partners achieve mutual success and satisfaction. This particular project is a testament to this remarkable relationship.’

‘Our objective is to equip our clients with top-level crews and the most advanced audio solutions to enable them to captivate audiences in the best way possible,’ Stasikėlis reflects. ‘The success of The Voice of Lithuania project heavily relies on adaptable equipment, underscoring the importance of flexible audio engineering.

‘To ensure optimal sound quality and clarity, sound engineers must utilise high-quality tools capable of meeting the demands of this challenging project. As sound plays an integral part in the show, no compromises should be made when it comes to audio quality, a feat that can only be achieved when the equipment is both advanced and versatile. The combination of our team’s expertise, top-of-the-line equipment from DiGiCo and Klang, and personalised service likely influenced the customer’s choice in selecting us for this high-profile project, and ensuring the show’s resounding success.’