Digidesign will install the D-Show digital mixing console, FOH Rack (with digital mix engine and embedded control computer), Stage Rack unit with recallable, remote-controlled preamps and multi-channel digital snake in the FOH and monitor positions of the three major auditoria used for the world-famous Festival - the Stravinski Hall, Miles Davis Hall and Casino Barrière - along with full Pro Tools HD rigs so that operators can seamlessly integrate a Pro Tools workstation with Venue to record a show or enhance a live performance with Pro Tools playback.
Digidesign will also create another 'first' by setting up licensing arrangements with artists that will enable them to record the shows, send the sound files for editing in California overnight, and have the live mixes up on the internet the next day, using their proprietary DigiDelivery system.
With a full range of DSP effects processing plug-ins, integrated direct-to-Pro Tools recording and playback options, multiple redundant sub-systems, snapshot capabilities and an artist-driven Personal Q monitoring option, the Venue, say Digidesign, provides sound engineers with "the most powerful live sound mixing solution on the market".
Neither the Venue nor the Pro Tools systems are strangers to the 16-day Montreux Festival, the desk having made its debut last year - introduced to the Festival by the event's sound director, Patrick Vogelsang.
Under the supervision of experienced Digidesign engineers, visiting sound engineers will again be able to visit a specially-constructed production workshop/training room where the console and Pro Tools systems will be set up, enabling them to tour the surface's topology and familiarise themselves with the main desk/sidecar arrangement prior to the show.
Once again, a broadcast suite will be set up for the Casino Barrière. The Venue at this location will receive a split from the stage enabling the broadcast mixer to generate stereo mixes for Video, DVD and Broadcast. This system will also be employing Venue's HDx option which provides Venue direct connection to Pro Tools HD systems without the need for additional audio interfaces. This provides the engineers the ability to record sound checks in multi-track form and then use those tracks to refine mixes previous to air using Digidesign's virtual sound check feature.
Meanwhile, Le Voyageur 1 and Le Voyageur 2 mobile trucks - regular features of Montreux - will again take splits from the Stravinski and Miles Davis Halls respectively - tracking to Pro Tools HD using respectively Digital/Analog I/O. The set-up at the Casino effectively eliminates the need for a third truck.
Digidesign's European Marketing and Business Strategy Manager, Martin Bennett comments, "We are delighted by the level of commitment shown from Claude Nobs' organisation and are pleased that we will be able to play an important role in moving the event forward technologically, by setting up the transmission of live recordings via DigiDelivery."
Patrick Vogelsang added: "The main feature of the Venue is its usabaility; we knew from last year that there wouldn't be a problem with the desk - and that the system's intuitive control surface meant that engineers could walk up to it and instantly generate the mix they wanted."Twelve months on digital mixing has become the norm, and the high visibility of Venue in the field means that many top engineers already have experience of the desk."
(Lee Baldock)
