FOH sound engineer Paul Ramsay who has worked with the band since 1996, has specified a d&b J-Series system with d&b B2-SUBS for the euro tour which visits a range of large theatres and arenas.
Ramsay is mixing the show on the original Midas XL4 console that Entec bought when they first supplied audio for the band in 1996.
While he's a big fan of digital consoles and the DiGiCo brand in particular - he used an SD7 for the 2010 festival run, also supplied by Entec - he felt that the XL4 was and still is spot-on for the band. "Both consoles sound amazing," He says, "The SD7 has a very analogue hands-on feel about it and in fact on the summer run with this board I reckon I got stunning results. However I also really enjoyed mixing on a analogue console again after a good seven years - and the SD7 for this job would be overkill, as it's a pretty simple show to mix, only running 48 inputs and no need for complicated snapshots".
Entec is supplying a total of 20 d&b J-Series top speakers, 12 B2-SUBS and a selection of Q10s and Q7s for in-fill and out-fills. The system is driven by d&b D12 amps, controlled via the R1 management system with all the time alignment programmed within the amps.
Monitors are mixed by Gerry Colclough, and consist of d&b C7 side-fills, a couple of C7 subs to move air for the drummer and a Midas Pro 6 console, with four band members using PSM 900 IEMs.
Entec's crew comprises FOH systems engineer Stefano Serpagali and Richie Gibson, who's looking after the stage end of the equation. For the larger gigs on the itinerary in Milan, Antwerp and Amsterdam, Entec has arranged for additional kit to augment the touring rig to be supplied by local partner companies.
(Jim Evans)
