Yorkshire-based audio-visual technology supplier MB Audio Visual has provided sound reinforcement in the shape of an Axiom line array from Proel for Lightwater Valley’s spectacular fireworks and Frightwater events during October and November.
Set amongst 175 acres of stunning North Yorkshire countryside, Lightwater Valley Theme Park is jam-packed with thrilling rides and amazing attractions, and is perhaps best known for being the home of Europe’s longest rollercoaster – The Ultimate.
To mark the end of another successful season, two separate events were staged over two weekends – Fantastic Fireworks, and Frightwater Valley.
Having previously worked on smaller scale projects for Lightwater Valley, MB Audio Visual’s Craig Hoyland and Giles Copeman were asked to supply a complete sound and lighting package for the two events.
The sound reinforcement system for the Frightwater Valley event had to cater for an audience of around 4,500 people per day, but needed to cover a wide horizontal area as the crowd was four or five deep in most places. The PA was set up with four Axiom AX2065 cabinets flown each side of Swan Lake with one SW215 subwoofer on the ground each side – one speaker cluster high up on an embankment and the other located in front of it, and delayed using a simple click, in the yard of the theme park’s miniature railway. A further two SW215 subs and four AX2065 cabinets provided audio cover for a rollercoaster and the River Rapids ride.
At front of house located inside the miniature railway train station music playback was provided by a laptop, which also handled the fireworks input from the detonator. The use of timecode allowed the music program material to be automatically switched from the beginning at 10am, changing to spookier music from 4pm to 6pm.
The Frightwater finale took place around Swan Lake, with the fireworks displays originating from either side of the lake and crossing in the middle. The surrounding trees were lit up in shades of green and pink, created a fittingly picturesque setting.
“Despite the distances involved and the placement of the speaker clusters 150 metre apart either side of the lake, coverage worked well and the sound quality was great,” said Hoyland. “The subs worked remarkable well – I think that because of the slight bowl shape down to the lake it helped the subs with their fantastic coverage. I certainly didn’t need any more bottom end.”
Lightwater Valley’s head of marketing, Jane Oswald, was delighted with the production.
“We enjoy working with MB Audio as they always offer us creative solutions and new ideas to enhance our events,” she commented. “They provide first-class systems and represent excellent value for money. No request is too big or time consuming for any of their staff to deal with and having them on hand during events gives us great confidence. The sound system was of excellent quality, with a richness of tone that’s not usually experienced with outdoor music.”