UK - Established in 2011, London brewery Signature Brew’s stated mission is to “unite people through the power of fresh beer, great music and unforgettable experiences”. The company has created beers with artists including Mogwai, IDLES, Mastodon and Enter Shikari over the years and also operates music venues within its Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow and Haggerston, Hackney locations.
The Blackhorse Road venue recently received a significant audio upgrade (supplied by Hertfordshire-based AV specialists Patchwork London) with an Allen & Heath SQ6 compact digital mixer at the heart of the new system. With the venue requiring setup and teardown for each event, Signature Brew needed a system that was both flexible and easy to deploy. Partnered with an Allen & Heath AR2412 AudioRack, the SQ6 was the chosen solution, as Signature Brew founder Sam McGregor explains.
“Initially, the SQ6 came highly recommended from the various engineers I consulted, which was a big plus for me,” he says. “We have a Dante network across the whole space, so we needed a mixing system that fitted into the network and gave us a flexible, lightweight, movable solution that could be easily operated by both our in-house team and visiting engineers. It was also important that it was straightforward to integrate with other FOH and monitor desks if needed, and other setups for video and streaming for example.”
With 48 input channels, 24 onboard preamps, eight stereo effects engines (and Allen & Heath’s DEEP Processing ready) and highly tailorable configuration options, the SQ6 delivers a balance of power and usability that makes it suitable for quick turnaround situations. A single Cat 5 cable connects the SQ6 to the AR2412 AudioRack, with 24 inputs and 12 outputs – the mixer can also be fitted with a choice of network cards including Dante, MADI, Waves and Allen & Heath’s own SLink options.
“We designed the brewery and venue space specifically to make beer and host gigs from the outset,” McGregor reveals, “and we've hosted many unforgettable nights amongst the tanks.
“But it has been no easy process ensuring we can create amazing events and beer in the same room. We've had the room sound treated, the d&b audiotechnik system has been tuned, installed the correct staging, and have recently put in a new lighting rig. The SQ6 system really was the final piece of this puzzle and it’s proved a perfect fit for us.”
