The London PA specialists have purchased 26 W8LCs - principally for use as main PA in smaller venues, and for auxiliary side hangs and delays in the big arenas, where the larger Martin Audio W8L Line Array will typically perform principal PA duties. At the same time Capital took the opportunity to bolster its W8L stock, adding another four of the original Line Array enclosures. This will allow them to rig 14 boxes per side on the upcoming Stereophonics' British tour, where they will also be running eight of the new W8LS subs each side (using the new Compact Line Array Compact as side hangs). To drive the new W8LC system, Capital commissioned a new dedicated amplifier rack, comprising of 24 Martin Audio MA4.2s.
Capital Sound Hire MD, Keith Davis, confirmed the order soon after hearing the W8LC demo'd at the Brixton Academy. He says the decision was fairly axiomatic, since he was already well aware of the sonic properties and fast rigging attributes of the system's forebear. "The W8L is quick to rig and de-rig and we have not had a single client say that they didn't like it," he said. "It is becoming more and more popular with bands and system techs all the time, and as such, we expect to buy another W8L system in the future."
Such has been Capital Sound's workload that they have needed the new Compact Line Array to boost, rather than replace stock - ten of the new enclosures went straight out to Paris for a GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) conference at Disneyland Paris's Times Square (hung five per side). These were also reinforced with a pair of the new W8LS subs per side (and Martin Audio's W2s on top). At the conclusion of the Stereophonics tour, the W8LCs will be turned around overnight and deployed as main PA on the Eddie Izzard tour (where W8Cs will provide the delays).
(Ruth Rossington)
