Adlib’s Dave Kay has been onboard as FOH engineer with the Liverpool-based outfit since last summer, when they supported Oasis at Finsbury Park. The Coral are a unique-sounding band, with musical influences from reggae to rock, Motown to country and western, and Kay naturally jumped at the opportunity to work with them. He describes mixing each song "like it’s a different gig" - from dreamy ballads to hardcore guitar thrash.
With six band members, four of whom sing, it’s vital that the vocals have are prominent in the mix, and there’s a few other considerations too - such as some old analogue keyboards - a Phillips Philicorder and a Whirlitzer - injected into the sonic equation. Kay spec’d a Nexo Alpha system for the production tour, consisting of 12 highs and 12 bass enclosures, all powered by Crown amps. He says: "It’s a highly musical box - for a very musical band."
The gigs on the schedule varied greatly, which was another consideration for the sound system, which also had to consume minimal truck space. They played a selection of large colleges and clubs and London’s Astoria. Adlib supplied a Soundcraft Series 5 console for Kay at FOH, and a Midas XL3 for monitors. The latter was an Adlib wedge system, mixed by fellow Adlibian Paul Roberts. The Coral’s onstage sound is very similar to the FOH mix - clear, clean and simplistic.
The FOH effects set-up was straightforward, mirroring the band’s preference for letting the music speak for itself. Kay’s main effects were a touch of chorusing on the vocals and lots of reverb on the acoustic numbers for which he utilized a TC M3000 reverb, two SPX 990s and a TC D2 digital delay. System processing was all via Nexo’s NX242 crossovers, and the system was EQ’d using a BSS VariCurve. Gates were Drawmers and compressors were dbx.
(Lee Baldock)
