KLANG Immerses Art On Ice Performers

Art on Ice is a frozen extravaganza where performers dance, sing, play and perform acrobatic stunts on ice.

Audiences in Europe continue to be captivated and, highlighting the success of its format, the show will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026. Behind the scenes, conditions are as demanding as they are for the artists: camera operators complete their work on the ice using Segways, and sound engineer Michael Nöth mixes from behind the PA on the side of the ice rink. Thanks to KLANG:konductor, performers enjoy crystal clear, immersive mixes ensuring they stay in time with the music, without distractions from sonic reflections while speeding around on the ice. Michael Nöth explains why the show simply could not happen without :konductor.

"We operate on a very tight schedule, with limited rehearsal time and welcome multiple, high profile guest artists," he said. "The show itself is high-octane; you could attend three shows in a row and still not catch everything! From a technical standpoint, we have to clarify everything in advance to ensure our sound checks are as quick as possible and don't impact the artist’s rehearsal time. Using KLANG gives our performers a greater distinction between each element, making it easier to handle the complex audio environment."

Nöth works for audio company Widmersound GmbH alongside owner, Andy Widmer. When Nöth joined in 2017, he was free to choose his console for Art on Ice, but KLANG was non-negotiable.

"I chose the Avid console because Widmersound owns several and I am very familiar with them. Andy is using an Avid at the front of house position, so it keeps everything in the same ecosystem for the show," he said. "Integrating the KLANG:app into this workflow has been very intuitive, too. I have used code to further integrate KLANG into my console; I have a computer science degree and love to experiment! The support team at KLANG are always really interested in my efforts and are super helpful if I need to chat anything through. It’s great to have that input."

KLANG has also been very useful for reducing hearing fatigue. Before using KLANG, musicians often requested level changes later in the day, only to reverse those changes in their mixes the next morning. With KLANG, this type of fatigue no longer happens. Nöth finds that he doesn’t even need to explain that he is using KLANG processing, he just lets the artists experience his mixes.

"With long, exhausting days like ours, KLANG is the only option. KLANG helps musicians stay productive for longer and that’s essential for shows like this," he continues. "Everything we do at Widmersound involves KLANG. It’s a unique selling point for us. The flexibility and control that we can offer because of KLANG is part of the reason bands keep coming back. The company is just two people, we always offer a complete support package and with KLANG, everything just works, so you always get a great audio experience."

Combining long hours with high octane content, multiple guest artists, and a technically challenging environment could produce a stressful end result. But, as Nöth concludes, with KLANG at his disposal, he has streamlined his workflow to get the most out of his time, delivering an improved experience for the performers and a much less stressful experience for himself.

"We are running 16 individual mixes from our :konductor and I have complete control over them. There was one musician who liked to have the app open for peace of mind, but they have never needed to touch it," he concluded. "I have musicians on ice skates, on moving platforms, singing and performing in front of the PA; it's a lot to keep on top of. It's a tough show, and I'm really happy with KLANG, it just makes everything easier."