Audia, Martin Audio’s French distributors, have enjoyed a successful summer — at diametrically opposed ends of the
sales spectrum.

On the one hand they were busy selling a small Blackline system to Music Shop — based on the outskirts of Bordeaux — for installation into the City’s brand new nightclub, Fatcat, while major Moroccan PA company Kilmi Musique were breaking in their new W8L Line Array system on the highly-prestigious ninth annual Rabat Festival (under the patronage of His Majesty the King Mohamed VI).

Based in Mohammedia (between Casablanca and Rabat), Ahmed Kilmi’s sound and lighting hire company managed the sound and lighting on all seven stages for this major festival of Arabic culture — but it was the main stage that was earmarked for the Line Array.

Audia’s PA division technical director, Jean-Noël Elouali, says that the North African production giants have been using Martin Audio systems since they first started dealing with the Nantes-based distributors — around six years ago.

“They started by buying the big W8 Wavefront system, then the W8C — and now they have the W8L Line Array. The company specialises in festivals, and with the arrival of the Martin Audio Line Array into their inventory, they have brought production values up to a high level.”

While Kilmi’s initial purchase was for a 16-box system — supplementing their existing WSX subs with some additional pieces — they have already undertaken to increase this to a 12-enclosure-per-side array in the near future. “It is Mr. Kilmi’s intention to double his system by the end of the year,” forecasts Jean-Noël.

The Festival itself covered a broad programme — from cinema, music, poetry, theatre and art, with leading Moroccan singers and lyricists.

Meanwhile, down in Bordeaux clubbers can party to sounds on the new Fatcat dancefloor, delivered by four Blackline H3’s and two F12’s, with six S218’s delivering sub frequencies, processed (as is the rest of the system) by Martin Audio’s dedicated DX1 digital controller.