::: 2 :::

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2

Eric Adams, lead singer, Manowar

æro 12A >

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::: 3 :::

3

æro series 2 delivers thefirepower for heavy metalicons Manowar

Well-known for their ‘loud and bombastic’ sound, heavy

metal icons MANOWAR have been recognized in the

Guinness Book of World Records for being the loudest

band in the world. This distinction is significant, as it

points directly to the need for power, clarity, and

versatility- characteristics of the D.A.S. Audio

loudspeaker systems that delivered the band’s sonic

signature during MANOWAR’s Battle Hymns 2011 tour.

The Battle Hymns 2011 tour commenced March 5th in

Worcester, MA, U.S.A. and included performances in

Greece, Switzerland, England, Sweden, Portugal, and

The Netherlands before concluding in Madrid, Spain.

MANOWAR toured with D.A.S. Audio’s flagship Aero

Series 2 loudspeaker systems that performed a key role

in the band’s larger-than-life sound. During the

European stage of the tour, the band also offered a

concert appearance during D.A.S. Audio’s 40th

Anniversary celebrations at this year’s Musikmesse

tradeshow in Frankfurt, Germany. The Battle Hymns

2011 Tour was an invaluable opportunity for D.A.S.

Audio, the MANOWAR entourage, audio professionals,

and the band’s fans to experience, first-hand, the

capabilities of D.A.S. loudspeaker systems.

::: 4 :::

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The Loudspeaker SystemDeployment

On April 2, 2011, MANOWAR appeared before a

crowd of 8,000 fans at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon,

Portugal. For this tour stop, the MANOWAR

loudspeaker setup included 24 Aero 50 3-way active

line array elements—flown 12 elements per side as

the house mains. The loudspeakers were driven by

Lab Gruppen FP10000Q power amplifiers. Two

D.A.S. DSP-4080 processors and an LM26 digital

audio loudspeaker processor from Lake Processing

handed loudspeaker management tasks while a Lab

Gruppen NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge served as the

network controller. Six D.A.S. Audio Aero 12A

powered, 2-way mid-high line array elements

augmented the setup. These were evenly distributed

across the front of the stage and served in a front fill

capacity. A positively massive amount of low end

punch was delivered by 26 D.A.S. LX-218A powered,

high performance subwoofers.

Managing all this sonic firepower is a huge

responsibility. It was a task that was primarily

handled by Jeff Hair, MANOWAR’s chief engineer,

who oversees both FOH mixing responsibilities as

well as those of monitorworld. With system

coordination and tuning handled by D.A.S. Audio’s

Chief Engineer Javier Navarro and Tour Sound

Engineer Joel Damiano, the massive sound

reinforcement setup performed flawlessly at each

stop along the tour.

AW

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US

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::: 5 :::

< (Left to Right) Joel Damiano, D.A.S. Tour Sound Engineer, and Jeff Hair, Manowar Chief Engineer.

“In the afternoons, once the system was fired up,”

Hair explained, “Joel would tweak the system. He’d

get inside the processors and make everything as

even and flat sounding as possible by getting rid of

problems within the room. Once set, he would make

no further changes with the digital equipment during

the show. I handled any subsequent changes via the

mixing board and the house EQ. For this, I used an

external third-octave graphic EQ to make adjustments

to the mains—depending upon the song and other

considerations.”

“D.A.S. provides MANOWARwith the utmost in performanceand clarity in any situation”Joey DeMaio

::: 6 :::

Of particular note, this same pairing of loudspeakers—the

Aero 50’s and the LX-218A’s—were deployed for the band’s

sidefill monitor setup while DAS Audio SM and Road Series

monitor wedges handled stage monitoring assignments. Hair

commented on the setup. “Normally, the sidefill monitors

would be flown,” he said. “However, MANOWAR is not a band

that likes to have their sidefills flown. We prefer a ground stack

setup so the energy is very close to the band members—

sometimes as close as 5-10 feet to the right and left of the

performers.”

on T

OU

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, MA

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“Using the D.A.S. system,I can hear my voice onstageand ringing in the hall asI have never done before”Eric Adams

Hair continued, “The sidefills are the most important aspect

of our monitor setup. We used three LX-218A’s along with

three Aero 50’s per side. This proved to be the best setup,

as the front loudspeakers were so loud that the band

members became a bit disoriented from the feel of the sound

system’s back pressure as well as the sound from the system

reflecting back at them. They really needed a monitor system

on stage that could compete with the mains.”

The sidefill setup was augmented by an LX-218A subwoofer

for the drum fill along with a few Aero 12A’s. Hair discussed

the setup, “The Aero 12A’s were placed right on the front right

and left corners of the drum riser so that when Joey and Karl

would go back to the drummer to watch him for timing cues,

etc., they wouldn’t lose track of where they were in a song. At

the volume levels this band performs at, they’d lose the

sidefills if they moved more than 25 feet away.”< LX-218A

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::: 7 :::

æro 50 >

::: 8 :::

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Design Considerations That Make The Difference

The decision to deploy the D.A.S. Aero 50’s for the MANOWAR tour stems from numerous considerations.

First and foremost, the Aero 50 has the advantage of being a very powerful system capable of high SPL

with complete fidelity. This characteristic enabled the band to deliver their ‘loud and bombastic’ sound

while maintaining the highest fidelity essential to any quality music performance. Several fans posted their

reactions to the sound system on MANOWAR’s Facebook page. Quotes such as, “Thanks for the amazing

sound of Lisboa!”, “…only their system [D.A.S. Audio] can do justice to the quality of the sound of

MANOWAR,” and “A very high volume, but clean and incredibly clear.”

Road 15A >

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::: 9 :::

Similarly, a sound reinforcement system of this magnitude needs to assemble, tear down, and travel well—

and D.A.S. Audio is no stranger to these aspects of product design. The AX rigging systems used on the Aero

50 and on all the other Aero Series 2 systems (including the LX subs) is an extremely easy-to-work with

system that consists of two side panels and a central pick-up bar. The two side panels are attached to each

side of the top system. The panels are a sandwich of steel and aluminum to provide strength, but with

reduced weight. The attachment points are fixed, so there is no need to be calculating angles. The pick-up

bar is attached to the panels on each side of the array. Here, a pick-up point on the panel is chosen according

to the calculations derived from the EASE Focus software. The various pick-up points provide different

vertical angles of the complete array depending on array size, depth of the sound field, etc. The total time

required to attach the AX is about two minutes.

::: 10 :::

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As a result of this exceptional design, the systems are surprisingly easy to rig—despite the

fact that the Aero 50 is a big system weighing in at 85 kg/187 pounds. The loudspeakers

get lined up, the pins are placed in the appropriate places, and up they go. Their 3-way

design with twin 15-inch speakers puts a lot of bass-mid punch in the air. In combination

with the powered subs on the ground, there is a lot of air being moved, with a bass

response that transmits awesome power.

< Karl Logan, guitar

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::: 11 :::

As for transporting the loudspeakers, The Aero

Series 2 loudspeaker systems are, again, the

result of efficient design and a thorough

understanding of the touring sound market. The

Aero 50’s, for example, come with a front dolly

panel. This helps tremendously during load

in/out as well as with the flying of the system.

The boxes, once on the truck, are placed on

one of the sides with the wheels facing forward

and packed 5 across. The LX-218A powered

enclosures stacked on their dollies 3 high are

rolled on-off the trucks, into the arenas, and

then into place at the foot of the stage—ready

to be cabled.

< Karl Logan (left), Eric Adams (right), Joey DeMaio (kneeling)

::: 12 :::

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Reflecting On Success

By the time MANOWAR’s Battle Hymns 2011 tour concluded on

April 10, 2011 at Madrid, Spain’s La Riviera, D.A.S. Audio

loudspeakers had powered the band to new heights of success.

Joey DeMaio, the band’s bassist offered his impression of the

system’s performance as well as the special relationship that

developed between MANOWAR and D.A.S. Audio, “D.A.S. provides

MANOWAR with the utmost in performance and clarity in any

situation. Our sound is consistently loud and clear and our audience

gets what they deserve: high power and high fidelity. The company’s

commitment to excellence is second to none.”

Eric Adams, MANOWAR’s vocalist echoes DeMaio’s enthusiasm,

“Using the D.A.S. system, I can hear my voice onstage and ringing

in the hall as I have never done before. It's great to see and hear

the fans experience our music and performance the way it was

always intended to be.”

Wor

cest

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A U

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vela

nd, O

H U

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witz

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::: 13 :::

Jeff Hair is ready to rock some more—and he hopes to do it with D.A.S. Audio. “The D.A.S.

system is so incredibly powerful and clear, it’s without question, the most powerful and high

fidelity system MANOWAR has ever used. I’ve been with the band since 1986 and I’ve worked

every one of the band’s live shows since that time. Believe me, we’ve used just about every

loudspeaker system there is from most every manufacturer. The D.A.S. Aero 50 system that

we’ve been using for the main PA is clear and loud beyond belief. The system is clear far back,

far wide—both left and right—and in the very middle. Phasing issues were non-existent with

this PA system—thanks in large part to Joel and Javier at D.A.S. These guys really know how

to get the best from the system and did wonders to help us get everything dialed in. I can't wait

to get back on tour and get my hands on this system again. Believe me, this thing f*****' rocks!

D.A.S. is a great company and their people are first class. This sound system crushes. I've never

been happier and MANOWAR has never sounded better! This is a great combination!”

Photos courtesy Eva Argandoña, Magic Circle Music.

::: 14 :::

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::: 15 :::

Battle Hymns 2011

Equipment List

FOH

24 x Aero 50

26 x LX-218A

6 x Aero 12A

Side-Fill & Monitors

6 x Aero 50

6 x LX-218A

4 x SM-15A

4 x Road 15A

Power & Control Electronics

15 x Lab Gruppen FP-10000Q

3 x Lake LM26

1 x D.A.S. DSP-4080

1 x NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge