Event Acoustics - An old team with a new name

As audio challenges go, staging the three-day North Sea Jazz festival over a July weekend, in the sprawling environs of the Ahoy exhibition centre in Rotterdam, must rank among the toughest.

With 14 stages and hundreds of top artists, a major challenge were the acoustics of the exhibition halls that house many of the festival’s stages, some with reverberation times of more than 12 seconds.

When the longstanding (since 1976) festival was moved to the Ahoy in 2006, Team Projects’ audio consultants were hired for their expert knowledge on audio design. Advising on how to improve the acoustic situation and how to provide the best sound insulation between various stages for one of the most reputable festivals in the Benelux.

In 2008, Event Acoustics installed their production version of a modular low frequency baffle system, XLNT TexLnt®.

The main issue inside the halls was the reverberation time. High and mid frequency reverb could be relatively easily dealt with by careful use of drapes, but the troublesome low frequencies were another issue entirely.

Made of sheep’s wool and specially configured for acoustic use, Event Acoustics’ new product, XLNT TexLnt® , proved invaluable at taming the low-frequency roll-around.

The promoter was provided with modular XLNT TexLnt® baffle sections which were fitted by the Event Acoustics crew in key areas throughout the Ahoy. These included the rear of the main arena’s bleachers, several connecting walkways and venue walls that were closest to residential areas – supplementing the standard black drapes.

Event Acoustics recommended strips of TexLnt® baffles, hung directly behind each line array, to absorb this rearward energy, cutting work area sound levels to around 80dB and improving on-stage clarity. Specially configured cardioid sub-bass arrays further improved directional control of the Public Address.

With a lineup including Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Sergio Mendes, Angie Stone, Bootsy Collins, Alain Clark, Lee Ritenour and Jill Scott, it was a complex electro-acoustical solution that reaped major dividends for an iconic event.


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A rainbow coloured wall stands opposite an enormous wall of wine. In one word: Impressive. With a surface area of 380m2 and a 230 seating capacity, Brasserie Harkema is much larger than the average Amsterdam restaurant…

Harkema’s trophy is its acoustics. Something that is often forgotten in restaurants, but strongly determines atmosphere. It is a challenge to create optimal acoustics in such a large space. …

...Acoustic advisor Peter van der Geer of Event Acoustics calculated that 350m2 of acoustic material was required for the desired effect. This material is worked into the walls. For audio, Van der Geer placed a “sound array” system featuring several small loudspeakers within two tall grey boxes, directed into the restaurant from their location at the bar. Because the roof is made of glass, sound would normally be reflected. These boxes project the sound directly into the restaurant, without deviating up or down. This creates what you may describe as a “pancake” of sound. The correct delay between the small boxes is carefully measured so that all sound is equally distributed.

The split-level loft upstairs posed a more difficult challenge. Music on this level is played approximately 20 decibels louder. Modern dance music such as house, lounge and hip-hop resound through ingenious flat loudspeakers only 5cm thick that are hidden behind steel “curtains”. These boxes are capable of creating an enormous volume. Unfortunately, low bass tones are a hindrance to the neighbours. Van der Geer came up with the perfect solution: the “Bass Creator ” filters out the low bass tones and modifies the frequencies so that your brain is tricked to perceive their presence. These computer-generated tones do not create the vibrations people are accustomed to. In order to complete the experience, twelve “ground shakers” built into the floor cause the floor to throb with each filtered bass tone. …

Extracted from “Theme.nl” winter 2004