This summer time, The Grand Jam introduced collectively a number of hundred reside performers to create an enormous rock band. The venue for this XXL music spectacle was the Deutsche Financial institution Park (previously the Waldstadion), the house stadium of Eintracht Frankfurt. 150 wired Sennheiser microphones had been arrange within the soccer stadium to offer professional-quality sound for “Germany’s largest reside band”. Added to those had been 40 Neumann microphones and wi-fi channels from the brand new Sennheiser EW-DX sequence.
The vocals at The Grand Jam had been picked up by Sennheiser microphones
200 audio channels at three consoles
The vocalists had been miked with 70 Sennheiser e935 and varied e 845 and e 835. The present’s presenters used EW-DX handheld transmitters with MM 435 microphone capsules. evolution e 609 and e 606 mics had been situated in entrance of the guitar amplifiers, whereas the woodwind and brass sections had been picked up by 12 basic Sennheiser MD 421. The strings had been miked with the Neumann Miniature Clip Mic System (MCM 114 Set).
Along with “silent” basses, there have been additionally acoustic string devices that had been fitted with the Neumann Miniature Clip Mic System
The variety of drum units lined up across the stage was fairly spectacular, though only some of the kits had been miked. The microphones used included Sennheiser e904 (snare, toms) and Neumann KM 184 (hi-hat). A complete of 40 Neumann KM 184 small diaphragm microphones had been accessible in Frankfurt, and these had been additionally used for the efficiency by the SAP Symphony Orchestra that kicked off the night’s leisure.
“For The Grand Jam, virtually 200 channels got here collectively at our three digital audio consoles,” stated Jens Heusergrasp for occasion expertise (stage/studio) and a specialist in occasion security (TÜV/DPVT). Along with his firm Music & Lights occasion serviceHeuser was liable for implementing the lighting and audio expertise for this mega occasion. The Sennheiser microphones had been offered by SOUNDLINE sound + lighting expertise. The Grand Jam 2023 was organised by Eintracht Frankfurt Stadium GmbH in cooperation with PK Occasions GmbH.
A reside present to ship shivers down your backbone
Nearly 11,000 delighted spectators in the primary stand made their voices heard as they cheered the musicians down on the pitch. It was not solely pals and family of the performers who had travelled to Frankfurt, but additionally many individuals who didn’t need to miss this very particular occasion. The programme included acquainted pop and rock hits from the repertoire of bands corresponding to Coldplay, Nirvana, Queen and The Rolling Stones.
The vocalists and instrumentalists had been provided with their monitor alerts, together with bulletins and click on tracks, by way of their headphones by way of a “silent disco” system. LED boards between the tiers of the primary stand additionally offered tune lyrics and the music rating. The decisive consider guaranteeing good timing was the synchronous copy of the monitor sound and video content material.
The vocalists and instrumentalists had been provided with their monitor alerts by way of a “silent disco” system
Sound for the viewers in the primary stand got here from three line arrays – working at fairly a excessive sound stage because it was essential to compensate for the sound coming straight from the musicians on the pitch. As a result of climate situations, the roof of the Frankfurt Enviornment was closed, forming an enormous reflective floor. “The PA system was operated at round 3 dB above the extent of the direct sound,” stated Jens Heuser. “The truth is, you couldn’t hear the direct sound within the stands in any respect. That was truly fairly outstanding, as a result of the degrees of sound coming straight from the efficiency space had been fairly superior, as we may clearly hear through the unamplified rehearsals.”
Sennheiser was a companion for the occasion, and Andreas Möller and Thomas Woodentwo of the audio specialist’s skilled managers, had been readily available to supply their help. “The sound for the viewers was wealthy and highly effective,” stated Andreas Möller, Sennheiser Gross sales Supervisor Germany South/West – Skilled Audio. “I acquired an exceptionally great amount of constructive suggestions praising the sound particularly. You possibly can clearly hear the lyrics of the songs, and the devices actually got here into their very own. Ultimately, the entire bundle was excellent, additionally due to the wonderful gentle present and the dramatic pyrotechnics – it was an unimaginable spectacle that despatched shivers down your backbone!”
Thomas Holz, Sennheiser Relations Supervisor, can solely agree along with his colleague: “The present was improbable, and all these contain did an excellent job! Presenter Tobias was nice at motivating everybody within the stadium, and he did it in a really nice means. I spent the primary a part of the present on the pitch among the many musicians after which later I joined the spectators within the stand. I need to say, the sound was wonderful – I by no means anticipated such a formidable sound high quality given the big variety of individuals concerned and the truth that the stadium roof was closed.”
Presenter Tobias Kämmerer
Jens Heuser summed up: “An occasion with so many musicians is in itself a particular problem, significantly as a result of most of them usually are not professionals. Coordinating all these totally different individuals in a soccer stadium is just not a trivial matter: a few of them are understandably fairly nervous earlier than their massive look. However I believe that, along with the staff from Music & Lights, we did a superb job of mastering our a part of this problem. And never solely that: the musicians and the viewers had a good time collectively!”
Patrik Meyer from Eintracht Frankfurt Stadion GmbH is taken into account to be the initiator and bandleader of The Grand Jam. He, too, was extraordinarily happy with the premiere: “The 1000’s of hours of preparation had been greater than worthwhile! You possibly can actually sense the enjoyment among the many musicians, and everyone within the viewers was both singing, dancing, or taking part in air guitar! We wish to say a giant ‘thanks’ to all of the jammers and particularly to all our companions and the entire staff for making this occasion such an enormous success.”
Patrik Meyer, initiator and bandleader of The Grand Jam
I used to be there!
All these concerned will certainly have lasting reminiscences of this live performance expertise. The place else can (beginner) musicians get the chance to carry out in an enormous stadium supported by skilled sound, lighting and pyrotechnics in entrance of over ten thousand spectators? After this nice success, The Grand Jam can be held once more in Frankfurt in summer time 2024.
The Grand Jam – a very unforgettable expertise for all of the musicians concerned and for the 11,000 followers
Information: sennheiser.com
