As normal life returns post-pandemic, venues and events are investing in new equipment – in some cases to meet new requirements.

The entire European live event sector came to a sudden halt in the spring of 2020 thanks to Covid-19. With large-scale events off the agenda, many organisers turned their attention to online or hybrid events. As the industry starts to come back in earnest, it’s likely that lessons learned in lockdown will remain relevant.

“If there’s one thing I’d say that has accelerated during the pandemic, it’s the fusion of broadcast, AV and videoconferencing technologies through software-defined and IP methodologies,” says Liam Hayter, Senior Solutions Architect, NewTek. “This has given customers the ability to choose best-of-breed technology from these traditionally siloed verticals to adapt to the challenges of remote and socially-distanced participation of live content.”

In 2021, Spain led the way in the return to large-scale participation when, in March, Barcelona hosted a concert by the band Love of Lesbian attended by 5,000 fans, wearing masks, tested for antigens and with no social distancing. It was among the first such test events in Europe.

August saw the return of one of Europe’s biggest dance music festivals, Creamfields, with performers including Tiesto and David Guetta playing to 80,000 people over four days. UK-based CSD Productions deployed an outside broadcast truck and three flyaway kits for organiser Live Nation. This event would normally take six months of planning, but CSD was able to accomplish this in a matter of weeks.

Meanwhile, despite the slowdown, the installation of new equipment in venues has not stopped. The Maestranza Theatre in Seville is newly equipped with a sound system supplied by d&b partner Producción Técnica TJL. This features a flown V-Series line array solution with ground stacked V-Subs placed at either side of the stage. A set of E6 loudspeakers act as removable front-fills, covering the first few rows of the audience.

Also in Spain, integrator Area Suena worked with Audio-Technica Iberia to design and configure a new digital audio mixing system at Madrid’s Juan March Foundation Auditorium. The solution is built around a dLive S5000 control surface from Allen & Heath and a DM48 MixRack. This allows the integration of two adjoining rooms in a Dante network, as well as real-time streaming and the recording of live shows for post-production. A Blackmagic Design video recording system and an Antelope Trinity master clock have also been implemented.

Where to find live events technology at ISE 2022

ISE 2022 attendees interested in the live events sector should visit the Audio Zone and the Lighting and Staging Zone, both in Hall 7. Registration is open for the Live Events Summit. Book your place at the summit here.