Chicago-based systems integrator Ayre Productions chose to deploy XY Series loudspeakers from Pioneer Pro Audio to deliver sound reinforcement for the stereoBLOOM stage at the 2019 Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), the electronic dance music festival’s flagship event held annually in Las Vegas.
Held over the course of three days at the 1,200-acre grounds of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 2019 event attracted nearly 140,000 festival goers daily to enjoy performances by electronic dance producers and DJs. The festival’s popularity continues to grow, with the 2020 EDC already sold out.
One of the nine main venues at EDC, the stereoBLOOM stage hosted by Insomniac Records nearly doubled in capacity from 2018 to accommodate an estimated 8,000 people. The 2019 stage showcased a novel blend of emerging, established, and legendary artists, including performances by Chris Lake, Yolanda Be Cool, Volac, Walker and Royce, Lucati, Chris Lorenzo, Bijou, Holy Goof and many more.
John Wagner, owner and lead project manager for Ayre Productions, has worked closely with Insomniac Holdings for the past few years on the stereoBLOOM stage project, deploying the sound systems in 2018 and 2019. “This festival is so incredible; everyone here is always looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and outdo their previous year,” Wagner says. “With space and the visual components at such a premium, we needed to figure how to deliver more audio power and higher SPL, but in a very smooth and controllable way, and with a modest footprint. Sound reinforcement from Pioneer Pro Audio delivered exactly what we needed.”
The XY Series is a family of compact PA and monitor loudspeakers that are designed to deliver the high SPL, punch and dynamics of electronic dance music. “The XY-3B’s are some of the cleanest sounding monitors I’ve performed with. It’s essential you are able to hear every nuance when you are deep in the mix,” states artist Dillion Nathaniel. “These monitors basically eliminate the need to keep your headphones on.”
Wagner explains that in order to hit system performance goals, his team developed a new fly system to build out a large-scale point-source array. They also revamped the DJ stage system with XY Series monitors, which in particular improved low-end output.
“Our new fly system made the large XY Series point-source array possible,” Wagner says. “In 2018, we had five a side with 20 subwoofers and four front fills. This year we had nine a side with 22 subwoofers, and four front fills — this was a significant upgrade. And we also upgraded the power for the subwoofers with the new X4L power amps from Powersoft. It made a huge difference in low-end output over the last year.”
The change from line arrays to a large-scale point source system has proven to energize the sonic experience for festival goers. “In the end, we had a larger footprint to cover, and we needed to raise the performance bar,” Wagner concludes. “With the added XY Series elements, we got the smooth sound and excellent coverage we needed, and now for the second time, we deployed a point-source system at a festival where line arrays dominate — and we made a lot of performers and party goers very happy.”
