Multiple conductors provide immersive audio experience at Mahashivratri festival

erformances, along with spiritual discourses and powerful meditations by Sadhguru, keep devotees awake and on their feet.
A skilled audio team, led by Dave Drego of Electrocraft, worked diligently to ensure that every sound was crystal clear and that the artists could deliver their best performances. Prasanna Kumar Nagabattula, also known as Notchfiltr, from SonicVibe Solutions, played a crucial role as the production engineer and designer, while Vivek Cheruku managed the broadcast mix. They found that employing the KLANG system had various advantages, allowing artists to take control of their own mixes, giving them a sense of independence and confidence throughout the long night of performances.
“Vivek and I needed to figure out how to handle over 128 audio channels. With 24 IEMs and 12 wedges in use for the 12-hour marathon performance and four days of rehearsals on stage, it was quite a logistical challenge,” Notchfiltr recalls. “Managing such a large number of channels would not have been possible without the efficiency of the KLANG system. As a musician and engineer, it was crucial for me to hear both myself and other performers clearly for extended periods without straining my ears. KLANG provided the perfect platform for achieving this balance.”
Participants believe that Mahashivratri night brings a surge of energy and that staying awake and engaged can lead to physical and spiritual benefits. The event strives to engage as many people as possible, presenting a significant creative challenge in maintaining audience attention for the 12-hour overnight celebration. Cheruku highlights how KLANG systems supported each artist with customized IEM mixes to enhance their performances throughout the night.
“Given the number of instruments each musician needed to hear in their IEMs, the spatial feature of the KLANG system was instrumental in perfecting the mix,” Cheruku explains. “The 12-hour program demanded high levels of energy and involvement from our crew, especially with a massive PA system and an extensive stage setup. Preventing ear fatigue for the artists was critical due to the long hours. We were able to assist artists who were unfamiliar with the system during rehearsals by providing iPads for them to manage their mixes. This streamlined the process and made rehearsals efficient and effective.”
The KLANG:Konductor, the most powerful processor in the KLANG range, offers 16 immersive mixes and can handle 128 input signals at 96kHz. For Mahashivratri, a team utilized two KLANG:konductors in a cascaded setup. The first KLANG:Konductor was connected to a DiGiCo Quantum 5 with two DMI-MADI cards, while the second was integrated with one DMI-MADI and one DMI-OPTO card through the DiGiCo Quantum 338 Pulse. This marked the first time such a configuration was used in India, requiring expert guidance from KLANG’s Phil Kamp to ensure everything operated smoothly.
“Since this was my first time using two KLANG:konductors in a cascading setup integrated with the console in India, I needed assistance to navigate the process. Phil has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey,” Notchfiltr acknowledges. “I had excellent support from the team at Hitech AVL, Satyam, and Piyush, in addition to ongoing assistance from Dave at Electrocraft.”
“It was a massive show with a large audio team handling numerous IEMs, wedges, and side fill mixes. The simplicity of using the KLANG system made our job much easier,” Cheruku concludes. “The 12-hour program was intense, requiring four days of on-stage rehearsals with continuous sound checks. The minimal ear fatigue provided by the KLANG system’s immersive mixes was incredibly valuable. Despite this being our first time using the equipment this way, it was a positive experience for everyone involved.”