6K UNITED BERLIN

DATE
17 · 06 · 2024

Products used

Introduction

6K United is one of the most ambitious choral educational projects in Germany, bringing together 6,000 children from different schools and choirs to deliver an unprecedented spectacle. The initiative was created with the goal of promoting choral music among young people, fostering values such as collaboration, inclusion, and passion for music. Since its first edition, this event has grown into one of the most anticipated educational music events in Germany. Preparing for the show requires months of work, with intensive rehearsals at both local and group levels, culminating in a massive performance in a professional setting.

With a 360º production, this event posed a major technical challenge: ensuring uniform sound coverage in such a complex space while delivering an immersive experience for both participants and the audience. The challenge was even greater given the presence of 6,000 children on stage, each with a unique voice that needed to be captured and projected with the utmost clarity and precision.

To achieve this, the organizers relied on DAS Audio and its ARA series, with a main system based on LARA, lateral reinforcement with SARA, and rear support with EVENT-26A. The cardioid technology of the LARA systems became a key advantage for the production.

Miguel Augusto, tech support at DAS Audio, highlighted: “This is a 360º production event, which represents an enormous challenge in terms of sound coverage and balance in all directions. Each child is a fundamental part of the show, so ensuring homogeneous sound across all areas of the venue was an absolute priority”.

Challenge

The event posed several technical challenges that required an innovative solution. Since the production was designed in a 360º format, achieving a homogeneous distribution of sound throughout the venue without creating interference or zones with lower sound pressure was essential. Moreover, intelligibility and tonal balance were crucial aspects, as the children were the true protagonists of the event, and their voices needed to be heard clearly without getting lost in the mix.

Microphone management also presented a significant challenge, as it had to capture the voices of thousands of children on stage with precision, without generating feedback or affecting the overall sound quality. Additionally, optimizing rear attenuation was a key factor in minimizing unwanted reflections and ensuring a better experience for musicians and choir directors.

Christian Gubalke, monitor engineer, emphasized: “When working with 6,000 children, sound management is not just a technical challenge but also an emotional one. Each voice carries special meaning, and our goal was to ensure that every child felt heard and part of something extraordinary”.

“This is a 360º production event, an enormous challenge in terms of sound coverage and balance in all directions. Each child is a fundamental part of the show, ensuring homogeneous sound was an absolute priority”.

Miguel Augusto
Tech Support DAS Audio

“The rear attenuation achieved with these systems is ‘five stars.’ It has exceeded our expectations and allowed us to deliver a flawless sound experience”.

Oliver Tschotow
FOH and Audio Head

“Not only did we have a great sound system, but we also had a manufacturer that supported us at every stage”.

Oliver Tschotow
FOH and Audio Head

Solution

To tackle these challenges, the technical team at Melodus GmbH, alongside the technical team from TSL (owners of the system), designed a solution based on the ARA series from DAS Audio. A main system was implemented with two arrays of 16 LARA units (L+R), providing exceptional front coverage. To ensure a uniform distribution of sound across the venue’s lateral areas, two additional arrays of 12 SARA units were used, while three arrays of 13 EVENT-26A units were placed at the rear, completing the coverage without compromising overall intelligibility. Additionally, 12 LARA-SUB units were deployed for enhanced low-frequency reinforcement.

The cardioid configuration of LARA and LARA SUB enabled rear attenuation of up to -15 dB in low frequencies, significantly reducing unwanted sound at the back of the stage. Moreover, an advanced choral microphone setup was designed with multiple lines and directional systems, ensuring that each voice was naturally captured and blended into the mix.

Oliver Tschotow, FOH and audio head of 6K United, highlighted the quality of DAS Audio systems: “The construction of these systems provides us with enormous headroom and clarity in microphone capture, reducing sound contamination and ensuring impeccable intelligibility. Hosting an event of this scale without feedback issues and with crystal-clear sound is something that is only possible with a well-planned setup and a high-quality system. The rear attenuation achieved with these systems is ‘five stars.’ It has exceeded our expectations and allowed us to deliver a flawless sound experience. The way the sound projects without causing interference on stage has made all the difference”.

Conclusion

Oliver Tschotow praised not only the system’s performance but also DAS Audio’s support throughout the process: “Not only did we have a great sound system, but we also had a manufacturer that supported us at every stage. The solution implemented has exceeded our expectations and allowed us to focus on what truly matters: the music and the emotion of the event”.

6K United has proven that with the right technology and precise sound design, an event of this scale can be executed with spectacular results. DAS Audio continues to set the standard in the most demanding productions worldwide, offering innovative solutions for large-format events and ensuring memorable sound experiences for artists and audiences alike.