HOLOPLOT’s distributor in Spain and Portugal, Sound Architecture, collaborated with Ilusovi Servicios, to deploy the groundbreaking X1 Matrix Array at Marbella’s boutique Starlite Occident 2023 Festival.
The HOLOPLOT X1 Matrix Array had caught the attention of the festival’s production team, with Aaron Guerrero, Lead Audio Engineer, being particularly impressed by the system’s ability to deliver precise sound control.
“After seeing the system in action at the ISE trade show in January, I immediately called Aaron to explain what I had heard,” commented Jose Manuel Jimenez, Owner of Ilusovi Servicios. “The conversation quickly progressed, and for us it moved on from being more than a simple purchase of a system to a strategic deal and partnership which could create many opportunities for our company in the future. We see X1 as a game-changer in the audio industry, offering exceptional control and coverage. Its versatility makes it a Swiss Army Knife for loudspeakers, catering to a variety of applications and clients.”
For Starlite Occident, the X1 system was deployed to overcome challenges posed by the venue’s acoustic environment, which included the quarry walls’ reflective surfaces in the amphitheater-styled arena. Reese Kirsh, Segment Manager for Live Performance collaborated closely with Ilusovi and Guerrero, providing training and support where necessary to ensure the team were comfortable working with X1.
The final system comprised six X1 MD80-S three-way modules and six X1 MD96 two-way modules in a six-by-two configuration left and right of the stage, complemented by an additional two MD96 as a center cluster. Additionally, two single MD96 modules were employed as mono front fills to provide coverage for the areas nearest to the stage.
“Achieving even, optimized coverage in challenging acoustic environments like Starlite’s venue was a top priority,” explained Kirsh. “The stage was quite low, which meant that deploying a traditional PA would have required the hangs to be positioned at an acute angle to ensure the audience at the back of the arena had a similar audio experience to those at the front. Another challenge presented by the venue was the VIP bar and seating area located on stage right of the main arena. The organizers naturally wanted to ensure this area provided a high-quality auditory experience, but it had proved difficult as it was positioned between a 45 and 90-degree angle of the PA hang. We generated a targeted coverage beam from the right array of the main system, covering the VIP area without exciting the massive mountain behind it, ensuring a superior audio experience.”
Guerrero highlighted the advantages of the X1 system: “With X1, we’ve addressed everything from the back of the room to the VIP areas, delivering a captivating experience for the audience,” he noted. “The system’s audio distribution enables us to sustain optimal sound levels without pushing the speakers to their maximum capacity. In fact, during the show, I asked engineers to estimate the SPL they thought they were mixing at, and many of them were surprised to find that the meters were only reading 92 dB.”
Yamil Martinez, FOH Engineer for Luis Fonsi, enthused: “Many PA boxes have resonances in the mid and low frequencies, which can cloud the region, producing a lot of one-tone bass, but not with HOLOPLOT,” Martinez explained. “The setup of the show allowed us to bring our own desks, which could then be patched into the overall system. Interestingly, while most loudspeaker companies provide pre-sets, with HOLOPLOT, we had the opportunity to create our own, giving me much more control over how the SPL worked in the space.”
Starlite’s Raúl Rodríguez Sánchez, added: “I have collaborated with Aaron several times over the years, so when he approached me and told me about this system that sounded ‘incredible’, I had to experience it for myself. I did, and it really sounded amazing. I was also delighted with the feedback from artists, which has been overwhelmingly positive and many of them have been very impressed with the system.”
