UK - The Royal Albert Hall in London hosts diverse performances every night of the week. DiGiCo consoles are at the centre of the building’s audio setup, a Quantum 852, Quantum 7, SD10, SD9 and SD11 are all owned by the venue. This ensures continuity for quality of sound, whatever the performance, and enables the audio department to prepare shows in advance, improving workflow during quick daily turnarounds.
Ben Evans has been audio operations manager since 2021. “During 2018, we went out to tender and had a d&b audiotechnik system designed for us, in addition to new network infrastructure,” Evans says. “We have a different show pretty much every day, so our five consoles allow us to prep and rehearse efficiently. When combined with our fibre networking, we can serve our multitude of shows effortlessly.”
Tom Marshall is a sound designer and freelance front of house sound mixer for the Royal Albert Hall. He works on many of the performances, whether that is a book launch, pop concert or a recital from the Royal Philharmonic.
“DiGiCo is my go-to tool, it is the nucleus of my work, and I feel very comfortable with it; whether I am mixing or designing, I’d be lost without it,” he says. “There are always demands from directors or producers and the speed of the console means that if I do get a request, I don’t have to make anyone wait, I can make changes instantly.”
When mixing, especially at the Royal Albert Hall, Marshall relies on DiGiCo onboard effects and processing to help things go smoothly. The development of the Spice Rack was a real game-changer for him, so having the continuity across the whole Quantum range has been another bonus of using DiGiCo consoles.
Usability is very important, especially in this busy, high-profile venue, but what really gives DiGiCo the edge for both Marshall and Evans is their relationship with DiGiCo and sales partners Autograph, as they both conclude.
“I find DiGiCo a very personal company in comparison to other manufacturers,” says Evans. “They are very much available on the phone and having such a personal element of support from them is really important for an in-house sound team like us, it’s great to have that relationship.”
“DiGiCo feels like a family. There is always massive support, online and in person, plus a community of tech support and other operators, so you can always get answers very quickly,” Marshall concludes. “For me, DiGiCo is a must.”
