Prolight + Sound 2025: ProAudio Highlights set New Accents

Picture: BK Media Solutions

Music and audio technology have always been essential elements of the event industry and are deeply rooted in the DNA of Prolight + Sound. In 2025, the trade fair will expand its offering for audio engineers, DJs and producers with exciting new formats in which future-oriented technologies will be made tangible – from immersive audio solutions to AI-based sound design. The programme will be complemented by networking opportunities, workshops, hands-on experiences and live demonstrations.

A number of well-known companies from the Pro Audio sector have already confirmed their participation in 2025, including Amate Audio, Babbel & Haeger with various sales brands, DAS Audio, Harmonic Design, HK-Audio (Music & Sales professional GmbH), Kling & Freitag, KV2, Lawo, Mipro, RCF, Riedel Communications, TW Audio, Steinigke Showtechnik and Wharfdale Pro (IAD GmbH).

The ‘Live Sound Arena’ on the outdoor grounds in front of Hall 11 offers professional sound systems under realistic conditions. Manufacturers such as Amate Audio, audio zenit, Aura Audio, CELTO Acoustique SRL, DAS Audio, Harmonic Design, HK Audio, KV2 Audio, RCF, TW Audio, Voice-Acoustic and Wharfedale Pro will be demonstrating their latest product solutions there. RCF and DAS Audio will each present their systems on their own stage. The fact that the ‘Live Sound Arena’ is already fully booked underlines its high standing in the industry.

At the ‘Silent Stage’, the company ‘InEar’ will demonstrate its innovative, integrated sound technology solutions in live use. They will be supported by the event band P.A.C.E. The audience will be able to experience first hand how modern in-ear monitoring systems affect sound and performance. The ‘Silent Stage’ will be implemented daily during the entire duration of the trade fair with three 30-minute slots – at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, and on the last day of the fair at 12:00 and 14:00. In addition, the monitoring expert Carsten Hesse aka Slick Prolidol will discuss the use and advantages of the products on stage.

The new ‘MIXCON x BVD present DJ & Producer Conference’ at Prolight + Sound is creating a hotspot for the DJ and music industry, bringing together the most important players on the scene. The format is being realised in cooperation with MIXCON Germany and the Berufsverband Discjockey e.V. (BVD e.V.) – two heavyweights that have been supporting the DJ and producer community for years. The focus is on networking and exchange, business aspects, current trends and prospects in technologies, marketing strategies and the sustainable future of the industry.

Also new is the ‘MixLab’, where everything revolves around the world of mixing consoles. It combines the areas of live sound and studio in an interactive special area that offers sound enthusiasts a holistic experience by fusing practical and creative aspects. Technology enthusiasts, sound designers, sound engineers and musicians will have the opportunity to try out the latest mixing desk technologies and take part in practical workshops and interactive demonstrations.

Prolight + Sound is also celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new, forward-looking format entitled ‘MusicOneX’. The interactive special area is a further development of the Performance + Production Hub and is being created in collaboration with the Sample Music Festival (SMF). Together with manufacturers, innovators and educational and cultural institutions, the area – which covers more than 3,000 m² – focuses on creative and technological aspects of music creation. Interdisciplinary applications offer valuable insights and inspire prosumers, content creators and students in their professional development. A networked programme of live performance, production, marketing, gaming and lifestyle creates an interactive experience that actively involves the audience while imparting knowledge.

A number of well-known brands are represented in the ‘MusicOneX’ area – including Ableton, Adam Audio, AIAIAI, Alpha Theta, AudioScape, AVoIPoE, Beatsurfing, Broadtek, Beyerdynamic, Crosspad, Decksaver, Dimavery, DJ Allianz, DJ City, DMC, Dreamtonics, Focusrite, House of Music, Humpter, Hyperactive, Jetpack, JICO, Kurzweil, Launchpad Pro, LD Systems, LEDTEK, Mad Music Cases, Melodics, Native Instruments, Novation, Omnitronic, PAT, Pioneer DJ, Portablismgear, Raycademy, RØDE, SAE Institute, Sequential, Serato, Sessiondesk, SOMA, Steinigke, TASCAM, Technics, Vocoflex and Yamaha.

The Special Area also offers various event highlights including workshops, courses, hands-on experiences and presentations. These include:

• Production Island: an exclusive area dedicated to music production. In a pop-up studio, experienced engineers such as Clemens Matznick and Timo Krämer will demonstrate new products from selected brands directly in the workflow. Practical sessions on topics such as AI in music production, vocal production & mixing, speaker placement & studio acoustics round off the programme.
• Controllerism Stage: workshops and showcases on MIDI controllers
• Mobile DJ Stage: talks and product presentations by DJ Allianz, the official professional association of mobile DJs in Germany
• Fusion Jam Box: an interactive experience zone where traditional instruments meet cutting-edge technology
• SAE Institute Live: practical courses from the internationally renowned SAE Institute on audio engineering, film production, game development and more
• Electronic Music Arts: the audience is there live when the most outstanding DJs, modular artists and music producers are chosen over four days
• DJCity Linkup: DJCity, one of the world's largest online pools for DJs, is hosting its annual linkup exclusively at ‘MusicOneX’ in 2025. The German DJ elite will meet there to network and exchange ideas about the latest trends
• Vintage Concert Audio: fascinating exhibition of historic mixing desks, iconic microphones, classic effects and legendary speaker systems.

Renowned experts such as product specialist and FRONT242 drummer Tim Kroker, who presents the latest technologies in his sessions, and DJ Iron, who presents innovative techniques in the field of DJing and music production, will be there. DJ Ray-D, one of Europe's most renowned turntablists, will be sharing his knowledge of the Technics brand. Dshanna, a big name in Berlin's EDM scene, will be demonstrating modern production methods as a product specialist for TASCAM and Ableton. Visitors can also experience the interactive sound installations of Andrew Hockey.

Picture: Robin Kirchner

In cooperation with the German sound engineers' association ‘Verband Deutscher Tonmeister e.V.’ (VDT), the ’ProAudio College" offers international workshops and seminars for audio professionals and the next generation of industry talent in the live and studio sectors.

The focus is on exclusive training modules from the IGVW SQQ7 standard, current tasks in the field of sound reinforcement and Pro Audio applications in and for the theatre. Among other things, the topics covered include concepts of mixing desk programming in connection with latency and monitoring, experiments on the fundamentals of digital audio systems, sound reinforcement in difficult rooms, and the benefits and prospects of active room acoustics systems.

On the Main Stage (Hall 11.0), a series of high-calibre keynote speeches will provide inspiring insights into current and future industry topics. In ‘AI: The Stage is Yours’, for example, Dr Uve Samuels, CEO and Founder of the Exponential Innovation Institute, will show how artificial intelligence is revolutionising customer experiences in the event industry. In ‘Entertaining Change’, Sven Ortel, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, will discuss how the fusion of technology and storytelling can be used to create immersive experiences.

In their keynote speech ‘Immersive Physics: Translating Cosmic Mysteries into Artistic Expression’, Christo Squier and Chris Ball build a fascinating bridge between science and sound design. An inspiring reflection on the staging of female musicians and their role in live performances awaits the audience in the lecture ‘Gitarristin als Showeffekt?’ (Female Guitarists as a Show Effect?) by the guitarist Yasi Hofer. The 30th anniversary of Prolight + Sound is the focus of the PLS Community Nights, three networking evenings at exclusive locations in Frankfurt, to which all participants of the trade fair are cordially invited.

A special highlight for music lovers will be on Thursday evening (20 April) at the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof: the ‘DMC - German DJ Championships’, where the best turntablists in Germany will be demonstrating their skills. Another highlight will be the guest appearance on Tuesday (8 April) by Wolfgang Flür, former member of the band Kraftwerk, who will be thrilling the audience with his project ‘MusikSoldat’. Participation in all lectures, workshops and product demonstrations, as well as the PLS Community Nights (the latter only with registration and admission wristband), is free of charge for visitors with a valid ticket.

www.pls.messefrankfurt.com