HK Audio Carries Bánkitó Festival Through Its Last Hurrah

This summer, Hungary's much-loved Bánkitó Festival signed off with HK Audio at its side. The alternative gathering - long celebrated for blending music, art, and activism - closed its 16-year run between 9–13 July at Lake Bánk, leaving audiences with unforgettable performances powered by the COSMO line array system.

Bánkitó has stood out for its eclectic lineup ever since its beginnings, with this year featuring Csaknekedkislány, Carson Coma, 30Y, Co Lee and Sisi. The main stage featured Hungary's first and largest COSMO deployment; combining C10 and C6 modules in a mixed array, supported by HK Audio subs, to deliver clean, even coverage across the unique site.

"COSMO works out of the box really well and we fine-tuned things together with Event Studio and Eurhythmics in just under half an hour," said Karel Noon, Application Support Engineer, HK Audio. "The ease of use is what makes COSMO special. It makes life easier for sound engineers while still guaranteeing excellent sound quality. Everything I heard at Bánkitó was brilliant."

With limited space in front of the stage and audience seating rising steeply, careful system design was essential. COSMO's modularity and flexibility made it possible to adapt the rig quickly and aim precisely where needed. "This was the first and biggest COSMO system in Hungary and it was close to my heart," added Gábor Major, Integrated Systems, Eurhythmics. "I played at this festival years ago, when the stage was tiny, and it’s grown so much since then. With COSMO, we could easily hang the speakers and focus the sound to reach the top of the seating area. The modularity is incredible - you don’t need different rails or rigging systems and the artists loved it. Even the DJs were happy with the volume and for a sound tech, that’s a big win."

"HK Audio gave our team complete peace of mind," said Domokos Lugost, Audio Engineer at Event Studio. "We chose them for this festival because their approach is unique and the design philosophy behind the systems makes our job easier. We didn't need to measure or correct anything – it just sounded right. The snare drum, often a tough test for a PA, sounded spot-on with no adjustments and every band we worked with loved it."

As Bánkitó Festival bowed out, COSMO ensured the sound matched the spirit - powerful, clear and reliable. The system not only met the technical challenges of the site but also underlined why HK Audio has become a trusted partner for festivals across Europe. "Festivals like this show we are at a point where you can cross-rent COSMO systems throughout Europe with confidence," concluded Noon. "Wherever you go, you'll find people trained on the system and the same high sound quality. That’s what COSMO delivers."

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