Hall 1 is a tiered, 1500-capacity auditorium and previously featured an analogue mixing console working with the venue's d&b Q series PA system. When the console reached the end of its cost-effective working life a replacement was sought, with a digital console the obvious step forward.
"A major criterion for the new console was its 'walk-up friendliness'," says ICC technical event services manager Paul Dipple. "The ICC plays host to many visiting engineers that often have very limited time on site before an event, so the console needed to be able to be learned quickly and intuitively.
"In addition, it's a multi-purpose space and the console needed to be flexible enough to accommodate a mixed programme of events. We also considered the availability of faders on the surface, which is a definite advantage, especially for some of our corporate work. Finally, budget was important, due to the financial climate we still find ourselves in."
"Working on the console has proved to be a seamless transition from the number of analogue consoles employed in the hall over recent times," says ICC sound technician Aaron Croston. "I quickly and easily got used to the operation of the SD8 and it has provided us with some much needed flexibility, with the console's buss structuring capability and the many tools available."
(Jim Evans)
