Meyer Sound announced that its PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeaker is contributing savings in both operating expenses and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its first year of global touring, including Ed Sheeran’s “+ – = ÷ x” (“Mathematics”) Tour and Michael Bublé’s “Higher Tour.”
The large-scale in-the-round system for Ed Sheeran’s tour, supplied by Major Tom, Ltd. and configured for stadiums and festival grounds, incorporates 212 PANTHER loudspeakers. “Compared to our prior tour’s loudspeakers, we have reduced what would have been five trucks down to three,” says Chris Marsh, production director and front of house engineer for the tour. “That’s significant as I estimate we covered 7,000 miles around Europe, another 2,800 in Australia, and we have yet to start in North America.”
In their 2021 publication “Super-Low Carbon Live Music” the UK0based Tyndall Centre highlighted how important surface transport is as a contributor to a tour’s carbon footprint. A typical diesel semi-truck consumes a gallon of fuel every 6.5 miles and each gallon emits 22.44 pounds of carbon content according to the US EPA. That means a single truck covering 10,000 miles would generate a carbon footprint of 17.3 US tons or 15.7 metric tons.
Ocean shipping, though more efficient than air, also has a carbon cost. Ocean containers also were cut from five to three on the Sheeran tour, and the reduced weight of PANTHER had an added bonus. “Because PANTHER is so light we were able to fit the steel staging ballast plates in the same containers to take weight up to the maximum permissible,” notes Marsh.
Configured primarily for “A” level arenas, the system for Michael Bublé’s “Higher Tour,” provided by Solotech, relies on a complement of 76 PANTHER loudspeakers both for the main system and the unique mid-arena cluster that functions as both a large delay system and as an in-the-round system when Bublé takes the B stage.
“All the speakers for the current PA fit into one truck,” says FOH engineer Craig Doubet. “We’re easily down a half truck from where we were before. And we had the same reduction in containers when we shipped from North America to Europe. It’s clear that Meyer Sound is taking the monetary costs and carbon emissions seriously.”
A PANTHER loudspeaker is stated to produce maximum acoustic output of 150 dB SPL in a package that weighs 150 pounds (68 kg). The dimensions (38.15 in/969 mm W x 14.85 in/377 mm H x 22.25 in/565mm D) allow a more efficient truck pack in both North American and European semi-trailer. Because the amplifiers are contained in the loudspeakers, this further reduces the footprint for trucking. Power draw is also stated to be reduced by 20 compared to prior comparable loudspeakers.
The company states that the same benefits inherent in the PANTHER line array will soon be augmented with the addition of the 2100-LFC low-frequency control element, slated for shipping in mid-2023. Meyer Sound also credits the engineering team, led by engineering director, Acoustical and Mechanical Katharine “Katie” Murphy Khulusi in attaining the ambitious goals for size, weight, and power draw reductions without sacrificing performance.
“When gathering input on the next generation of products, many of our customers mentioned that green issues were becoming more relevant,” says Meyer Sound senior product manager Andy Davies. “These requests aligned with new research on the environmental impact of live productions. Also, going green is also good for business. Reducing power use, trucking costs, and raw materials all align with moving towards a greener economy, more efficient manufacturing, and better business solutions for our customers.”
The company adds that its commitment to the environment extends beyond product design to encompass all phases of the business, with attention to energy efficiency, water conservation, and materials recycling throughout the manufacturing process. The Berkeley-based company has been recognized as a Green Business by the California Green Business Network since 2016.
“Meyer Sound has worked hard for more than four decades to become one of the most successful companies in professional audio,” says senior vice president John McMahon. “But we believe that this success carries with it an obligation to be a good global citizen. There is still more work to be done, but we will continue to make environmental responsibility a significant focus of all our activities going forward.”
