Potato’s Magic Hours concert at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani
Thailand - Since their debut album in 2001, Potato have steadily grown to become one of the most admired Thai rock bands, attracting a strong following among teenagers in South East Asia.
Their latest two Potato Magic Hours concerts were a testament to their popularity, with thousands of fans coming together to enjoy the band’s performances at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, with an L-Acoustics K1/K2 system helping to bring the magic to life and ‘kick out the jams’ at the second largest exhibition and convention venue in Asia.
For Potato Magic Hours, Thai AV rental partner MediaVision (1994) Co was chosen to deploy the PA system. The venue presented the team with challenges from the outset.
“Even though the venue is very popular with concerts and live shows, the acoustics were our major concern,” says MediaVision chief system engineer Prasobporn ‘A’ Sornkrasin. “Deep retractable seats produced long diffusion on low frequencies, whilst a full ring of VIP rooms with glass panels causes major mid frequency reflections.”
L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D acoustical modelling software was used to ensure the system would provide uniform coverage throughout the entire venue. The final design comprised two hangs of 14 K1 with three K2 and two K1SB stage left and right, with additional 16 KS28 subs ground stacked per side.
Out-fill was catered for with two hangs of 12 K2, with front-fills of six Kara spaced evenly along the curve of the stage lip. The entire system was powered using 36 of LA12X amplified controllers safely stored inside LA-RAK II touring racks for maximum drive flexibility and power.
‘A’ shares his satisfaction of the results and the impactful sound signature of K1. “Throughout my 20 years of working at MediaVision, I have experienced many different brands of PA but none has impressed me more than L-Acoustics,” he declares. “Since we acquired the K1 in May 2018, I have been thrilled and excited every time we use it.
“We have done countless shows in this venue, but I am very impressed by the result this time. The Cx Cardioid Extended configuration pre-set works incredibly well, to the extent that you actually don’t believe the KS28 are turned on when you are sitting at the monitor console area.”
FOH engineer, Wuttichai ‘Buen’ Apiwat, concurs: “When I was told that we were having the K1 system for the iconic Impact Arena, I was excited, but this was my first gig with the world-renowned K1 and I felt the pressure at the same time.”
Buen was awe-struck by the system and its seemingly endless capabilities: “Besides being homogenous throughout the entire arena, which was something I had not experienced in this venue before, I was particularly impressed with the KS28, which are totally insane.”
(Jim Evans)

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