The production lighting rig is based around Avolites control and Robe moving lights, a combination that Chinn has used for several other live music venue installations. He comments: "We really wanted to put production values at the top of the agenda here, so I chose leading brands with proven track records for reliability. They offer a flexible, dynamic creative package to benefit all the events and shows that will be staged in Leeds Academy."
The 2000 capacity main room specification includes the first two Robe DigitalSpot 7000 DTs in the UK plus eight Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs, eight ColorWash 575E AT Zooms and six Robe ColorSpot 250E ATs for moving lights. There are also 10 Martin Professional Atomic strobes, eight bars of 6 PARs, four 8-lite Moles, four Robe 4-cell REDBlinder 2-48s, eight ETC Source Four Juniors for key lighting and Look Solutions Unique hazer and Viper atmospheric effects. All of these are controlled from the D4 Elite.
Chinn says he specified the console because he needed power, flexibility and instant access to all the functionality. He also wanted a desk that was familiar to those using the house rig day-to-day and incoming LDs.
(Jim Evans)
