Blue Array invests in DiGiCo Quantum
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Over the past 17 years, Blue Array has become known for its professional service in audio rental and productions. Their DiGiCo journey started in 2016 with the investment of a SD5, which was also a first in the SA market. Today they are home to a DiGiCo S31, SD11, SD5 and now the Quantum 338, all taken care of by senior sound engineer Nathan Thiart and the Blue Array Team.
“The idea behind our latest purchase was to specify rider-driven equipment that would also cater for local audio engineers,” said Nathan, who also heads the Blue Array office in Johannesburg. “We considered the SD12-96, nothing too big nor too fancy, and something that would satisfy the local market. Our main necessity was to acquire a large format console to pair up with the SD5, something that could handle a normal band or festival set-up all the way to an international rider. The S31 is great for day-to-day events but we needed to fill that gap.”
While the Blue Array team had their eye on Quantum, they did not want to put pressure on the business by requesting something that was top of the range, particularly after enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Kobus van Rensburg, owner of the company, would have none of it! Grins Nathan, “Kobus decided that the Quantum 338 was the way to go considering the way events are going, and how technical riders are evolving to Quantum. We knew that this would be the right console for the company.” The next upgrade will include a Quantum engine for the SD5.
“It is such a privilege to work with the Blue Array team. They understand the needs of engineers and make sure they have the right equipment for the job. Having the Quantum 338 keeps this true,” comments Kyle Robson from DWR Distribution. “Once the console had landed in our warehouse, we raced it off to Blue Array. We got a total of ten minutes to play with the Quantum 338 before it went on its first gig.”
The Quantum 338 went straight onto DStv’s Delicious International Food & Music Festival held recently in Johannesburg where it was used for a performance by Nigerian singer and songwriter, Burna Boy. “Over the same period, we also had Burna Boy playing in Namibia where we supplied an additional SD5. Since then, the Quantum has been used on the Johannesburg leg of Rocking the Daisies where we had Marinus Visser operating the Quantum and an SD11 at front of house, while I was on monitors with the SD5 and S31,” Nathan explains. “It was tight, but it worked well, and the show had good attendance. The Quantum will feature at Liefde by die Dam in Cape Town and will be used for Calum Scott’s Bridges South Africa Tour planned for later this year.
It has been a seamless transition for Nathan to move across to the new platform. “There are definitely some new attributes, but in terms of the workflow, everything has stayed the same and we know where to find everything,” he says. “New features that are great such as the Mustard strips, Nodal processing, and the Spice Rack take the workflow to a new level. In addition, the 32bit preamps both on the console and SD-Rack are always welcomed and sound incredible. We always strive to deliver nothing but the best.”
