Alcons Enables Jurlights to Realize Its VisionAlthough Alcons Audio's pro-ribbon systems have steadily established themselves as a high quality solution for cinema, home theatre, and medium-sized live events, there have been doubts in the pro audio industry that the technology would be suitable for larger events and festivals. 2017 has seen those "experts" proved wrong, as the company's latest LR28 and LR18 systems have won many fans, including major event production company Jurlights. "The promoters were so impressed with the LR28/LR18 system at the early soundchecks, they booked it for 2018 on the spot," says Jurlights founder Jurjen "Jur" Hesseling. This is some compliment for a system that was making one of its first live outings -- on the Main Stage of Dance Valley (aka the "Woodstock of Dance") at Spaarnwoude in the Netherlands. A major presence in the European event market, the passion that Jurlights puts into its productions is matched by Alcons approach to its products, so it's perhaps unsurprising that a close relationship has developed between the companies. "We like the best people and the best equipment because of the talent, passion, and dedication that drives them," says Hesseling. "We put our heart and soul into production and Alcons does the same with sound. Neither company wants to do things down to a price, we both want our clients to go 'Wow!'" This was certainly the case at Dance Valley, where the main and delay systems comprised 48 LR28s plus 40 BC543 cardioid subs. Sixty LR18s were used for frontfills, outfills, and delays, with VR12 mid-size versatile monitors and BQ211 compact, high-output subs used for the VIP area. Fifty-seven Sentinel10 amplified loudspeaker controllers powered the system. "Historically, many people have believed that pro-ribbon technology is not suitable for the largest events," says Alcons Audio co-founder Tom Back. "We designed the LR28 from the ground up and the challenging dynamic range and SPL levels of the music meant that Dance Valley was the ideal event where we could prove the doubters wrong." The positive reaction of the Dance Valley promoters and invited sound engineers -- before the event had even taken place -- certainly proved that any doubts about the suitability of pro-ribbon systems for large productions are misplaced. "I believe that no other system has the mid- and high-frequency handling power and potential as the LR28," adds Hesseling. "The fact that Dance Valley was followed by the Dutch Valley and Latin Village festivals on the same site meant we could show how the system is a great solution for three completely different, large scale events." "We liked the sound quality of the Alcons system very much," says Guido van den Berk of Dance Valley, Dutch Valley, and Latin Village production company The Good Guyz. "The exceptional rear rejection was also very noticeable. This is a very important feature for events in the urban areas or with many stages close together, especially as the social debate about noise from festivals and events is becoming an increasingly important aspect in license applications." Although the LR28 has been grabbing festival-sized headlines with both Jurlights and Norwegian production company Trondheim Lyd, the LR18 pro-ribbon system is an equally important product for both Alcons and rental companies. As well as being a vital fill component for larger LR28 systems, it's also an exceptional solution in its own right for medium-sized applications. To maximize the opportunities for events and rental companies to use the new systems, Alcons has founded a new company, The Ribbon Network BV. Since 2004, the informal Ribbon Network has cooperatively provided advantages like dry hire networking, factory direct support, and international marketing for rental companies working with Alcons audio equipment, in particular its pro-ribbon line-array systems. The Ribbon Network BV has formalized this arrangement, providing a framework for Alcons to rent LR28, LR18, and BC543 systems for dry-hire support to network members, coordinating these and other activities to ensure ample resources are available to support Alcons' rental and touring partners. "The LR18 and LR28 both sound terrific, they really make people go 'Wow, this is something different,' says Hesseling. "With these and their existing systems, I genuinely believe Alcons will be ahead of the pack for the next few years." 
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