So why go digital? Patridge explained: "We liked the idea for ease of set-up and the smaller footprint. We were very happy to work with a company that was so enthusiastic about developing a digital desk for the theatre market. Sonically, the D5T sounds excellent whilst still retaining the warmth of an analogue desk. It's also intuitive to work with and simple to programme."
Trace said: "I particularly like the touch-screen function, it mimics the control surface you would find on an analogue desk, also knowing that settings that have been stored are totally repeatable, especially for onstage monitors."
Both were impressed with live updates and whilst it initially presented a steep learning curve, it does allow adjustments to be made on the fly, automatically updating the rest of the show.
Everything from the mic to the speaker is digitally fed. The D5T, the DS-00 monitor console from DiGiCo's sister company Soundtracs and stage racks are interconnected with an optocore fibre optic loop integrated into the DiGiCo system. The D5T also has relays allowing GPOs to be sent from FOH to the monitor desk, triggering cues for backstage mics, cuelight systems and band foldback.
The monitor desk has an even smaller footprint than the D5T, essential considering the physical space it has to occupy, and the company's gain tracking software is used to ensure that any change in gain at FOH do not affect levels from the monitor desk. The result - no monitor engineer and fixed settings on all outputs. Outboard processing includes TC Electronic 4000s with ICON software, TC Fireworxs and Finalizers on vocals and Lexicon PCM 81s for guitars. Amplification is provided by Camco Vortex 6s.
The room is very wide but not too deep making full coverage a challenge. The main PA system is from L-Acoustics, and features twin left and right hangs of 10 V-Dosc cabinets with two dV-Dosc elements for front-fill. 10 more dV-Dosc are hung as a centre array to complete the LCR FOH system, while four compact coaxial MTD108a systems are employed to provide supplementary coverage to the far edges of the audience seating area. Also in the centre cluster are three d&b Audiotechnik B2 subs, with two sets of three stacked left and right on the floor.
The sound from the excellent eight piece band and the clarity and separation between the instruments and voices was exceptional.
Sarah Rushton-Read
