Speed of installation and recallability are key elements of the show's sound design, with Brooker's design using a combined Cadac analogue and digital approach at the heart of the system - in the form of an 82-input J-Type Live Production Console and Digital Series Stage Rack, equipped with D16 digital mix matrices and M16 remote controlled microphone amplifiers.
The majority of the design is based on the London show, with the exception of the L-Acoustics' V- Dosc line array, which replaces the Opus Audio PA system on the grounds of set up speed and practicality. A Robert Mackintosh and Frank Farian production, Daddy Cool is directed by Andy Goldberg, with music from Boney M and Frank Farian Productions.
"This has been an entertaining show to work on from the outset, with the tour presenting us with some interesting new dimensions to cater for," says Brooker. "The stage is set just over half way back in the 70m diameter tent, giving us around half of the tent as the auditorium area with one continuous rake of seating. We had just ten days to load in before the first previews here in Berlin, and the recall features on both the J-Type and D16s were just fantastic, enabling us to get up and running rapidly.
"The only thing we changed on the Cadac rig was to rebuild the Cadac band rack for touring, with the rest of the kit identical to the London show. I am absolutely delighted with the way it has all worked and how it sounds - the warmth of the Cadac analogue sound without doubt contributes to our success in replicating the original Boney M sound.
"We proved in London that the all-Cadac solution for FOH and monitoring worked superbly, giving us the best quality audio path all the way through. While it was a great shame that we couldn't use the Opus system this time, the V- Dosc line array is a great alternative and was the obvious choice for the tour. The audiences here have been going absolutely nuts - Boney M has a huge following here in Germany."
The show uses V- Dosc speakers rigged eight per side, with three dv- Dosc cabinets underhung as the near-fill. The centre cluster comprises nine dv-Dosc speakers, with SB218 subs. The picture is completed with the L-Acoustics MTD112 surround sound system plus Tannoy S300s used as front-fills.
(Jim Evans)
