RCF TTP5-A makes Japanese debut as TT+ dominates Big Beach Festival

For the second year in succession, RCF was chosen to support Japan’s Big Beach Festival (BBF) at the Makuhari Seaside Park in Chiba, which this year saw Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) — who performed at the Festival back in 2011— and Basement Jaxx as headliners.
Promoted by Akira Kidoguchi and Masachika Fukui for A-life Entertainment Co. Ltd., rental company Comestock again equipped the three stages with premier active RCF TT+ Touring & Theatre systems to satisfy an audience totalling around 25,000 people.
But in addition to the usual armoury of high-powered TT+ line arrays there was a surprise for anyone visiting the party tent known as the ‘Disco Balloon’. Six of the new TTP5-A enclosures (three per side) were making their Japanese debut in the Balloon — supplied (as with all the RCF equipment) by the Italian manufacturer’s territorial distributors, Ballad Co. Ltd.
Dominated by its newly designed 4” compression driver, loaded on a dedicated waveguide to generate high power and pattern control, the system is designed to create horizontal or vertical arrays with a constant curvature. It derives its power and control from integrated two-channel 1600 Watt digital amplification and advanced digital processing.
RCF product specialist, Oscar Mora provided technical support — assisting with flying the rig, during rehearsal and at the event itself, as well as advising on cabling issues and which crossover points the TTS56-A and TTL36-AS required. In a system tech role, he also demonstrated correct use of the RDNet software to ensure the TT+ systems were fully optimised and monitored.
Comestock dug deep into their RCF inventory to provide superior sound coverage. The main stage saw 28 x TTL55-A enclosures, rigged in two hangs, reinforced by 12 x TTS56-A subs and 12 x TTL36-AS flyable bass, with a further 8 x TTL31-A provided for infill/nearfield coverage. DJ’s received their reference sound from an additional pair each of TT25-SMA monitors and TTS18-A subs.
The second Island Stage saw 12 x TTL33-A elements, with four each of the TTS28-A and TTL36-AS providing LF extension. A pair of TT25-A and four NX15-SMA were provided for DJ monitoring.
Finally, providing LF extension to the six TTP5-A enclosures in the Disco Balloon were a pair of RCF’s recently launched SUB 8006-AS, with DJ reference in the shape of the versatile TT22-A active, non-linear monitors.
During the event there was a lottery for two pairs of white RCF Ayra 5 studio monitors signed by Norman Cook. Left to right: Yuka Onda (Ballad, marketing), Oscar Mora (RCF, tech support), RCF’s Lars Yoshiyama, Norman Cook, Ou Lifeng (Ballad, admin)
Norman Cook was happy to be working in an RCF TT+ environment again, having previously used the TTL55-A at a beach concert in Croatia in 2011, while front-of house, sound engineer Shan Hira (who has worked with premier dance music specialists such as Basement Jaxx and Chemical Bros) was also more than happy with the impact created by the RCF system.
Tasked with managing the strategic planning of RCF in the Japanese market, Lars Yoshiyama, also added his endorsement to the successful deployment — noting how well the new TTP-5A acquitted itself, and the punch of the 4” CD driver.