Adlib was asked onboard for Reading/Leeds by Chris Beale of CBA who provided an audio brief and a list of specs for all the different bands. Adlib ensured they specified kit to meet everyone's requirements, and repeated the formula that worked so well at the V Festival of supplying identical systems for both stages at both sites.
One of the biggest challenges of the event was the short changeover times on the high profile NME/Radio 1 stage - most had to be completed in just 10 hectic minutes, with the longest stretching to a leisurely 20.
To ensure this process was as smooth and efficient as possible, Beale also specified the provision of Yamaha PM5D monitor consoles. At the end of the first day, the two Adlib teams emailed the different artists' monitor show setting files between sites, which were then uploaded into the PM5Ds at the other NME/Radio 1 stages. This saved a massive amount of time and gave the second day's line up at both locations a real head start.
Performers on the second stage embraced a diverse mix of genres, and included The Klaxons, Ash, Brand New, The View, We Are Scientists, LCD Soundsystem and many more. Many brought their own engineers. The NME/Radio 1 stage featured a JBL VerTec sound system - with eight VT4889 elements a side for the main hangs and delay hangs of three 4889s per side.
The FOH desks were Midas H3000s, supplied complete with Lake Contour processing and a comprehensive set of industry standard effects including Lexicon PCM 70s, TC D2 delays and Yamaha SPX 2000s. Compressors were a mix of dbx and BSS and the gates were Drawmer.
An analogue console was chosen for out front because it was essential to offer a 'house' desk with which everyone would be familiar. The whole design was based on one of Adlib's tried-and-tested festival rigs that was guaranteed to work and sound good in a myriad of different circumstances. Several band engineers also brought in their own FOH consoles which all had to be re-patched in the changeovers.
Hassane Es Siahi led the team in Reading, where Chris Pyne looked after FOH at NME/Radio 1 and James Neale kept monitor world under control. At Leeds, Marc Peers crew chiefed, with Steve Pattison on NME/Radio 1 FOH babysitting duties and Richy Nicholson on monitors.
For the Radio 1 Lock Up stage/Dance Arena, ADLIB supplied a Nexo Alpha system with a Midas XL 3 console onstage and a Soundcraft Series 4 out front. The monitor systems on both stages were ADLIB's MP3 wedges and they also supplied a full selection of Shure and Sennheiser mics.
"Communication was the key" explains Marc Peers reflecting after the event, "Running the monitors as we did worked exceptionally well. Apart from that, we got in on the Thursday for a Friday early afternoon start, and both teams worked four very long - physically and mentally taxing - days. It was all worth it of course as everyone seemed happy with the technical results, as well as with Adlib's friendly and accessible approach."
(Jim Evans)
