Introduction
The music industry recognizes the Dominican Republic as a hotbed for rhythm, energy, and enthusiasm. But when Bad Bunny, the winner of 5 Latin Grammys and artist of the year by Apple Music, decided to stage two historic concerts at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, it was evident that a typical audio setup would not suffice. The event was part of the “World’s Hottest Tour 2022,” presented by Gamal Producciones. The monumental task was to deliver an exceptional audio experience for over 40,000 attendees per night. Thanks to Enlab RD’s meticulous planning and DAS Audio’s topnotch PA system, LARA, the concerts were a massive success. This case study delves into the intricacies of the audio setup that made these historic nights unforgettable.
Gamal Producciones: The event organizers responsible for bringing the “World’s Hottest Tour 2022” to Santo Domingo.
Enlab RD: An experienced audiovisual company responsible for the entire audio setup for the concerts.
DAS Audio: The creators of the LARA PA system, a powerful and versatile audio solution.
Staging a concert for an artist of Bad Bunny’s stature posed unparalleled challenges. It was imperative that the sound quality be commensurate with the artist’s reputation, the grandeur of the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, and the expectations of over 40,000 attendees. The stadium’s open design and vast dimensions, spanning 160 meters in depth and 100 meters in width, heightened the complexity of delivering consistent and high-quality sound throughout the venue. The true challenge lay not just in filling this immense space with sound but in maintaining an optimal and consistent SPL and frequency range, be it for a reggaeton track with booming bass or a ballad with nuanced vocals.
”I was impressed with the system. It is quite a large venue, and yet the artist’s voice was heard clearly throughout the space. I was able to check out the cardioid system, and it was also impressive.”
Edwin Diaz
CEO E&A NY Productions
Main PA: Deployed 36 units of LARA to cover the primary audio requirements.
Out Fill: Added 28 LARA units to ensure that even the farthest sections received clear and crisp audio.
Main Delay: Installed 32 AERO-40A units to synchronize sound delivery, ensuring a unified audio experience.
Side Delay: Positioned 48 AERO-20A units to cover the flanks of the stadium.
Front Fill: Utilized a combination of AERO-20A and 40A to cater to the closest audience sections.
Subwoofers: Deployed 48 LARA-SUB units to provide the needed low-end punch for the concert’s vast musical range.
Software: Utilized ALMA software for real-time system optimization, enabling quick adjustments and monitoring.
The Bad Bunny concert was not only historic due to the magnitude of the event but also because of the sound quality experienced throughout the stadium. Both the
artist’s technical team and the concert attendees expressed their surprise and satisfaction with the clarity, power, and naturalness of the sound.
Luis Velazquez (FOH – Bad Bunny) highlighted the system’s flat response, which facilitated mixing the voice with other instruments.
Carlitos Martínez (Crew Chief & System Engineer) praised the system’s coherence and power, especially the quality of theSub.