Evenko, formerly the Gillette Group,
conceived the green stage at Osheaga and worked diligently to bring the
partners and pieces together to make it a reality. Solotech delivered both
forward-thinking lighting technology and the sound engineering chops that
ensured the production value of the Green Stage competed favorably with the
best of conventional stages. Infinite Island Power, which specializes in
producing live green events, brought a staple of proven, renewable energy
technologies to the Sennheiser Green Stage. Sennheiser Canada designed a
tremendously efficient sound reinforcement system via the K-array loudspeaker
and subwoofer technologies and the Innovason Eclipse digital console. Combined
with a superlative live microphone package, Sennheiser's contribution served to
elevate the fidelity and impact of the green stage music while, at the same
time, significantly reducing the demand placed on the renewable energy
technologies.
When considering cutting-edge green
initiatives, most people think immediately of the flashy supply-side
technologies, and the Sennheiser Green Stage at Osheaga did not disappoint.
Infinite Island Power brought a sustainable energy arsenal that included the
very latest and best Sharp solar panels, WindTronics wind turbines, clean gas
generators, and battery storage devices, together with the computer control
technology that synchronized and optimized the energy portfolio's sustained
output. Hamlet Heavy Timberwork underscored the true "life cycle"
carbon impact of the materials used for live events by building the lighting
and sound deck out of locally harvested and recycled timber.
But the components of green initiatives
- namely, greater energy efficiency - is pivotal to the initiative. Here, the
K-array loudspeaker and subwoofer technologies led the way. Vaino Gennaro,
business director for live sound products at Sennheiser Canada designed the
Sennheiser Green Stage's PA system with three K-array KH4 two-way line arrays
per side in a true stereo configuration. Six K-array KS4 dipole subwoofers and
two KO70 sub bass speakers per side added abundant bass (who says a green stage
won't punch you in the chest?). Finally, four K-array KH15 two-way line arrays
spread evenly across the front of the stage provided front fill. All of the
K-array units that were used are self-powered, which contributes to their
energy efficiency.
"The K-array products are
remarkably efficient," said Gennaro. "They are lightweight, and have
a very small footprint." Dan Fletcher, engineer with Infinite Island
Power, put a number to that efficiency: "For the same output and even
greater fidelity, the K-array system drew 45% less power. On the face of it,
some concert promoters are reluctant to go 'green' because they see it as a
trade-off. But with K-array, there is no sacrifice in performance. It's a very
easy decision, as the K-array production value is high, the energy savings are
substantial, and greater efficiency is the direction we need to be moving in as
a society." Monk McClements, chief sound engineer at the Green Stage,
said, "All thirteen of the sound engineers who worked with this system
were very impressed by the vivid, full-frequency sound, from the lowest lows to
the highest highs and the evenness in between. The sound quality rivaled any
stage with any system."
To round out the efficiency of the amps
that power a rock show, the stage's console contributed to its efficiency.
"The Innovason Eclipse is a comprehensive and deeply functional digital
console," explained Gennaro. "On the input side, it has all of the
necessary EQ, filtering, compression, gating, delay, etc. On the output side,
it has all the signal processing required of the K-array system, including
crossovers and time alignment. So, with just one box, we can run the whole show
without any need for power-hungry output gear." McClements added,
"The Eclipse's intuitive interface made set changes easy. When a sound
engineer can walk up to a board cold, with only a line check before the set, and
then walk away beaming after the set, you know it's a good board! People were
very impressed." In addition, Solotech contributed show-grade LED lighting
systems, which operated on a fraction of the energy required by conventional
stage lighting.
Sennheiser also supplied the stage with
top-grade live microphones to ensure that everything would sound its best. The
Sennheiser collection at the Green Stage included three e 935 wired vocal mics,
six e 906 guitar cabinet mics, and two MD 421 II bass cabinet mics. Dual drum
risers each had four e 904 clip-on tom mics, one e 905 snare mic, one 901 &
902 bass drum mic combo, and three small-diaphragm e 914 condensers for
overheads and hi-hats. Four channels of ew 500-935 G3 wireless microphones and
four channels of ew 300 IEM G3 wireless personal monitors gave artists the
freedom to move around for maximum theatrical impact.
"The Sennheiser Green Stage dropped
our carbon footprint a few sizes," said Patrick Brayley of evenko. Indie
rock heroes Beach House and We Are Wolves joined established acts The Jon
Spencer Blues Explosion and retro reinvention Devo, among many other
diversified acts on the Sennheiser Green Stage. "Everyone who was involved
was thrilled with the sound and what we accomplished, and we're already looking
forward to making the stage even greener next year."
ABOUT SENNHEISER Sennheiser is a world-leading
manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems.
Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand
represented in sixty countries around the world through long-term distribution
partners and subsidiaries in France, UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark,
Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Sennheiser's technology is produced in manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland
and the United States. Their pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded
the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy and
the Scientific and Engineering Award (of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences). The Sennheiser Group is proud to be affiliated with Georg Neumann
(world leading studio microphones), and the joint venture Sennheiser
Communications that brings their award winning technology to headsets for PCs,
offices and contact centers.
OTHER BRANDS DISTRIBUTED BY SENNHEISER
CANADA Neumann, Klein+Hummel, Innovason,
L-ACOUSTICS, Kling & Freitag, K-array, Yellowtec, Televic
You can find all the latest information
on Sennheiser by visiting our website at www.sennheiser.ca, or by contacting:
Sennheiser Canada Vaino Gennaro Business Director, Live Sound Products Tel. +1 (705) 313-4484 gennarov @sennheiser.ca
AAdvert International Inc. Antoinette Flosi Publicity Tel. +1 (847) 998-0600 tflosi@aadvert.com
Montréal, Canada, August 2010 -
is pivotal to the initiative. Here, the
K-array loudspeaker and subwoofer technologies led the way. Vaino Gennaro,
business director for live sound products at Sennheiser Canada designed the
Sennheiser Green Stage's PA system with three K-array KH4 two-way line arrays
per side in a true stereo configuration. Six K-array KS4 dipole subwoofers and
two KO70 sub bass speakers per side added abundant bass (who says a green stage
won't punch you in the chest?). Finally, four K-array KH15 two-way line arrays
spread evenly across the front of the stage provided front fill. All of the
K-array units that were used are self-powered, which contributes to their
energy efficiency.
gating, delay, etc. On the output side,
it has all the signal processing required of the K-array 
