PP Sound Light Productions delivers unmatched sound clarity with cutting-edge technologies from Meyer Sound, DiGiCo, d&b Audiotechnik, and more…

“India Cocktail Week is a celebration of sensory experiences, and sound plays a crucial role in amplifying the audience’s connection to the event. Our goal was to deliver an immersive and consistent audio experience across the expansive festival grounds, ensuring every attendee enjoyed impeccable sound quality, regardless of their location!” exclaims Prasad Parkar, founder – director of PP Sound Light Productions, who carefully planned and meticulously commissioned the intricate and immersive soundscape that blew the audience away at the India Cocktail Week festival 2024 in Mumbai.

India Cocktail Week (ICW) returned for its 5th edition on 30th November and 1st December 2024 at Mumbai’s iconic Jio World Garden; and this year, it was nothing short of monumental. Renowned as one of India’s premier lifestyle and music festivals, the 2024 ICW delivered on its promise of an immersive celebration of India’s dynamic cocktail culture, combining unparalleled entertainment, industry innovation, and a diverse line-up of experiences.

A vibrant community platform, ICW has long established itself as more than just a festival. It is a melting pot where spirits industry professionals, brand representatives, tastemakers, beverage influencers, and music lovers converge to share, learn, and celebrate. This year’s festival provided attendees the unique opportunity to explore offerings from over 30 top-tier spirits brands, engage in mixology masterclasses, and experience eclectic bar pop-ups featuring star bartenders from the World’s Top 50 Bars.

As the sun set over the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, the festival grounds transformed into a sonic and sensory wonderland. Live performances from artists such as Rivo, Anyasa, Nightmares On Wax, When Chai Met Toast, Kampai, and Teho (live set) brought an electrifying energy to the event, keeping the audience enthralled.

To match the festival’s immersive vision, PP Sound Light Productions – one of India’s leading live event technical solutions providers – was tasked with creating a sonic spectacle that would elevate the festival experience. Entrusted with this monumental responsibility, team PP meticulously planned and executed a technological marvel that seamlessly complemented the artistic and cultural vibrancy of ICW 2024.

The soundscape for ICW 2024 was centred around the deployment of Meyer Sound’s PANTHER line array system. A total of 16 units of the PANTHER modules were deployed as the main PA in a stereo configuration, with 8 modules per side. Known for their extraordinary clarity, coverage, and throw, the PANTHER loudspeakers ensured that every corner of the venue was enveloped in pristine sound. To complement the line arrays, 16 units of Meyer Sound 2100-LFC high-performance subwoofers were ground stacked to deliver deep, chest-thumping low frequencies that energised the audience and elevated the live performances. Additional PANTHER modules were deployed as front-fill reinforcement, further enhancing the consistency of sound coverage across the venue.

“The PANTHER system’s incredible power, unmatched throw, expansive coverage, and impeccable voicing enabled us to deliver a breathtakingly immersive audio experience. It maintained perfect linearity and delivered tremendously impactful power output without compromising on tonal accuracy or precision in frequency response. Whether at the front of the stage or in the farthest corners of the grounds, the sonic clarity was nothing short of extraordinary,” shared Parkar. He further credited Meyer Sound’s Galileo system for its exceptional management capabilities, allowing team PP to fine-tune every detail of the audio performance with remarkable precision.

In addition to the main PA, team PP provided a world-class monitoring solution for the performing artists. The stage monitoring system featured d&b Audiotechnik’s V-series modules paired with B22 subwoofers, delivering robust and accurate sound reproduction for the performers. Each side of the artist console was equipped with two V-series modules and one B22 subwoofer, ensuring that the artists could perform with complete confidence and clarity.

The artists were further supported by cutting-edge wireless microphone systems, including SHURE’s Axient Digital and Sennheiser’s 6000 Digital series, as well as in-ear monitoring solutions from Sennheiser’s IEM 2000 series. These systems ensured seamless and interference-free audio transmission, enhancing the overall production quality and allowing the performers to connect effortlessly with their audience. Additionally, the industry-favourite DiGiCo Quantum 338 digital mixing console, provided by team PP and deployed at the FOH position, enabled sound engineers—both in-house and guest—to perfectly tailor the quality of sound experienced by the audience as well as the artists.

Parkar highlighted the significance of these choices: “The combination of Meyer Sound PA rig, d&b stage monitoring, and industry-leading solutions from DiGiCo, SHURE, and Sennheiser, allowed us to meet the technical requirements of a diverse line-up of artists. The reliability and performance of these systems were crucial in delivering a flawless experience. This console enabled our sound engineers—both in-house and guest—to meticulously tailor the sound quality for the audience and the artists, ensuring an impeccable auditory experience.”

The technological excellence extended beyond the audio domain, as team PP also contributed to the festival’s visual splendour with a carefully curated lighting design that accentuated the festival’s dynamic energy. However, the sound system remained the true hero of the festival’s technical execution, transforming the Jio World Garden into an immersive auditory haven.