Audix' good time capsule

The BRMB Party in the Park III, staged in Cotton Park, Birmingham was a sound success — thanks in part to Raycom's Audix OM7 capsule. One of the first live multiple performer gigs to use the Sony mic with the OM7 capsule, the Party III attracted an audience of over 55,000, and organisers were very impressed with the system.

"This was the first time we've used the capsule, but it won't be the last," says Phil Wood from BRMB. "The frequency response was very good and there was a lot less feedback than in previous years — and when you've got 21 different bands playing throughout the day, that is definitely music to my ears!"

The system used is, basically, a standard Sony mic with a completely different head on it. Designed specifically to improve the sound quality of live performances, the capsule is endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Some 21 bands performed in the rain, including headliners Eternal, Dodgy, Ocean Colour Scene, the Spice Girls, Peter Andre, and East 17.

Raycom. (Contact Details)

Juan very useful amp

CyberLogic's range of high power multi-channel amplifiers has become a regular feature on the Spanish rock'n'roll circuit, touring with Twin Cam Audio, one of Spain's leading rental companies, during their hectic 1996 season. Twin Cam's ten eight-channel NC-800 Series Power Systems have featured on a number of high profile tours, including Victor Manuel, Miguel Rios, Anna Belen, Juan Manuel Serrat, Miguel Bose, and Joaquim Sabina. In addition, three NC-812 systems have recently been supplied to the National Theatre of Catalonia, ready for the theatre's inauguration in late 1996.

Err... notice anything similar about the names of these high profile Spanish pop stars? I might brush up on my Spanish, dub myself Miguel Manuel, release a couple of dodgy duets with Julio Iglesias and rake in the pesetas.

The Twin Cam Audio team is also finding the CyberLogic Power Systems' front panel indicators — especially the Output Current LED — invaluable in a live situation. The ability to monitor in real-time exactly what is happening between the amps and the PA system, and to detect any malfunction of interference immediately, has met with strong approval.

Pictured is the Twin Cam Audio team during the set up for the El Gusto Es Nuestro concert featuring Victor Manuel, Miguel Rios, Anna Belen, and Manuel Serrat staged during September in Mallorca.

Cyberlogic Corporation, USA. (Contact Details)

Scenes of graphic silence

Metallica's FOH Engineer, Big Mick Hughes, has incorporated Klark Teknik graphics, gates, and compressors in the sound system for their current world tour. Big Mick (pictured with Monitor Engineer Paul Owen) aims to deliver the same high quality and the same high volume to every part of every venue — (adopting unflappable Des Lynam voice) so just how did he do that?

KT's DN 3600 programmable graphic EQs, with the characteristics of the well-regarded analogue DN 360 under digital control, were chosen for "accuracy and band separation". They are used in conjunction with the DN 3698 remote controller, allowing individual stacks to be 'tuned' from the appropriate position in the auditorium rather than the engineer's station using the two-way radio communication system.

"A superb interface of digital control with an analogue sound that's just like the DN 360," is how Big Mick describes the DN 3600. "Notch filters with a graphic EQ are a nice touch, along with the radio signal control system."

The same principles are behind the choice of Klark Teknik's DN 510 gates. "Incredibly fast attack giving you silent gating, no click on activation, a completely natural sound and very accurate" was Mick Hughes' verdict.

SSE Hire of Birmingham is supplying the sound system for the tour, during which Metallica is performing in nearly every territory throughout the world.

Mark IV PAG. (Contact Details)

XTA clean audio sweep

Cheshire-based rental company Concert Systems are using an XTA Electronics RT1 real-time spectrum analyser on three recent tours — the Bluetones, The Prodigy, and The Beautiful South have had nationwide dates throughout October and November.

Ian Nelson, System Engineer for Concert Systems says: "The XTA RT1 will be used to perform real-time RT 60 and audio sweep measurements at each venue. The results can be printed out and dumped to a laptop PC. This will provide useful information to have on the tour and will help us develop a database of acoustic characteristics, which will be invaluable in the planning of future tours."

Ian went on to say, "The Prodigy tour will also be making full use of the RT1's 130dBA SPL range!"

Beyerdynamic. (Contact Details)

Order of biblical proportions

Marquee Audio have been asked by TP Sound to supply all amplification and processing equipment for the new production of Jesus Christ Superstar, being staged at the newly-reopened London Lyceum in November. The contract, described by TP's Dave Perry as "substantial" (described by anyone else as 'flipping huge'), will meet Sound Designer Richard Ryan's specification for the show.

Marquee Audio have fulfilled Theatre Projects' order for no fewer than 60 Yamaha H5000 amplifiers, weighing three tons, plus four Yamaha SPX 1000s, eight Lexicon PCM 80s, and two Lexicon PCM 90s, along with eight BSS Audio TCS-804 Dual Time Correctors and an Omnidrive, as well as five Aphex Compellors. The in-the-round production is particularly heavy on loudspeakers, and the sound reinforcement will be provided by EAW, mixed through three Cadac desks. Sennheiser radio mics and Garwood in-ear monitors will also be used.

Marquee Audio. (Contact Details)

Midas touched by the hand of Godenzi

FOH Engineer, John Godenzi, was recently out on the road, on tour with James Taylor, with a Midas XL4. A James Taylor gig has the potential to be a difficult proposition for an engineer, with dynamics shift from vocals and piano to full rocking band within the space of eight bars, and every song has cues flying out every which way. John Godenzi met with little difficulty, with the ShowCo sound system. The XL4 has comprehensive snapshot automation, triggered via MIDI program change messages. The Midas can also send MIDI program changes that will change outboard effects, which can then be assigned to automated VCA subgroup faders — all of which Godenzi finds straightforward enough that much of the time he changes patches and effects cues on-the-fly. His verdict? — "Best bloody console I've used in 25 years. I can't imagine using anything else. God bless Midas."

Mark IV PAG. (Contact Details)

Taste of Celestion

The City of Chicago recently purchased 30 Celestion KR8 loudspeakers for this year's annual 'Taste of Chicago' celebrations (sounds like a pre-packed pizza festival). The KR8s were used to provide general sound reinforcement throughout Grant Park, where the festival was held over 11 days.

In addition to the fair's daily events, evening concerts were held featuring the likes of James Brown, Harry Connick Jnr, Del Amitri, and Hank Williams Jnr. To ensure that the music could be appreciated throughout the park, a split was taken from the stage and run 2,000 feet to the production trailer. From there, a signal was sent out on delay to the 30 Celestion KR8s flown individually on light poles amongst the various entertainment areas.

Chicago Sound's Vice President of Engineering, Ian Hunt said: "The City was very pleased with the KR8s. Their compact, Euro-style design met their appearance requirements with ease, as they didn't want big, obtrusive cabinets at the top of the light poles." Celestion were given the key to the city and supplied with a life's time worth of Chicago Town frozen pizza.

Celestion International Ltd. (Contact Details)

Cliff faces music with Garwood

Garwood is enjoying record sales of in-ear monitoring systems, with more and more leading performers choosing the Radio Station for stage monitoring. British customers include George Michael, Brian Kennedy, Tony Hadley, the Bluetones, and new indie sensation Kula Shaker. The hugely successful Italian star Eros Ramazotti, visiting the UK during November, toured with 13 Radio Station systems — what do you mean, you didn't see him in concert? On the European leg of her world tour, Gloria Estefan is travelling with five Radio Stations, Vanessa Mae is using 12 units, and Luther Vandross has just bought additional systems for his imminent tour.

Long-time Garwood stalwart Sir Cliff Richard has become the first user of multiple in-ear monitoring systems in the theatre, along with 12 other members of the cast of his new production Heathcliff.

Garwood's new flagship product, the programmable Radio Station IDS, was on display at the Los Angeles AES in November; there is a full upgrade path for Sir Cliff and other current Radio Station users.

Garwood Communications Ltd. (Contact Details)