Meyer Sound and Montreux Jazz Festival Reunite for a World Celebration of
Music
While there is no shortage of music festivals throughout the busy summer
season, few can match Switzerland¹s Montreux Jazz Festival for its rich
history, musical diversity and inimitable atmosphere. Many of the world¹s
most renowned musicians have been known to schedule their summer itineraries
with an eye toward spending at least a day or two in Montreux. From July 4
through 19 near the shores of Lake Geneva, such luminaries as Quincy Jones,
Sheryl Crow, Joe Jackson, Gilberto Gil, Katie Melua and hundreds of others
will fill the stages at this annual celebration of music.
Certainly one of the factors cited by so many performers is the Festival¹s
consistently stellar sound. For 22 years, official sound provider Meyer
Sound has been an intrinsic part of the Montreux Jazz Festival¹s sound,
bringing a veritable battalion of systems large and small to cover each of
its many venues. Montreux has also seen the debut of some of Meyer Sound¹s
most acclaimed products, including MILO®, MICA and M¹elodie line array
loudspeakers, as well as the MJF-212A stage monitor that was named after the
Festival.
This year marks the Montreux debut of Meyer Sound¹s new UPQ-1P wide coverage
loudspeaker. UPQ-1P will serve infill duties for the powerful MILO and
700-HP subwoofer system at the Festival¹s flagship Auditorium Stravinski,
where MJF-212A stage monitors will support performers including Gnarls
Barkley and Alicia Keys.
Yael Naïm and João Bosco will be performing through a MICA and 700-HP system
at Miles Davis Hall, while the M¹elodie systems at the late-night Studio 41
and Montreux Jazz Café will keep the beat pumping until sunup. The MICA
system at Music in the Park will deliver bands and ensemble groups for the
crowds relaxing on the lawn. Meyer Sound¹s Galileo loudspeaker management
system provides complex system DSP and control throughout the Festival.
Swiss-based Skynight and LPS have been enlisted to supply the audio
equipment, coordinated by Niveau 2 Mediasystems SA. The systems are designed
by Martin Reich of TonstudiosZ Audioconsulting and the audio requirements
are handled by Sound Coordinator, Pierre-André Aebischer and Eddy Broquet;
while Audio Services Pascal Menghini provides technical support.
³We have worked with Meyer Sound for more than 20 years and needless to say,
we have had much success with its equipment,² says Aebischer. ³The sound
regulations in Switzerland are quite strict, and we have to constantly pay
close attention to our levels. The Meyer arrays are very focused, and using
the Galileo DSP allows us to achieve a very consistent and even coverage.²
Founded by head organizer Claude Nobs, the Montreux Jazz Festival presents
artists of every imaginable music style, with last year¹s attendance
estimated at 220,000 people. One of the highlights of this year¹s festival
will be Quincy Jones¹s tribute concert, at which 20 artists will gather at
Auditorium Stravinski to celebrate his 75th anniversary.
Auditorium Stravinski
18 MILO 100 line array loudspeakers
2 MILO 120 line array loudspeakers
17 M¹elodie line array loudspeakers
3 600-HP subwoofers
12 700-HP subwoofers
4 UPQ-1P wide coverage loudspeakers
8 UM-1P stage monitors
2 USM-1P stage monitors
8 MJF-212A stage monitors
Galileo loudspeaker management system
Miles Davis Hall
12 MICA line array loudspeakers
1 CQ-1 loudspeaker
2 MSL-4 loudspeakers
8 700-HP subwoofers
2 650-P subwoofers
1 600-HP subwoofers
6 UM-1P stage monitors
2 USM-1P stage monitors
8 MJF-212A stage monitors
Galileo loudspeaker management system
Studio 41
16 M'elodie line array loudspeakers
4 600-HP subwoofers
4 UM-1P stage monitors
Galileo 616 loudspeaker management system
MDH Club
16 M¹elodie line array loudspeakers
5 600-HP subwoofers
4 UM-1P stage monitors
Galileo loudspeaker management system
Music in the Park
10 MICA line array loudspeakers
6 M¹elodie line array loudspeakers
4 700-HP subwoofers
6 UM-1P stage monitors
Galileo loudspeaker management system
Montreux Jazz Café
12 M¹elodie line array loudspeakers
5 600-HP subwoofers
8 UPM-1P loudspeakers
4 UPA-1P loudspeakers
7 UM-1P stage monitors
Galileo loudspeaker management system