Electro-Voice adds clarity to Voice in a Million
- Details
With technical production on a tight timescale, an Electro-Voice X2 line array system (part of the X-Line Advance family) delivered punchy, even coverage across the arena, while Electro-Voice ND86 dynamic supercardioid vocal microphones ensured each child’s voice was captured in perfect detail.
Founded in 2006 by Robert and Jo Garofalo, Voice in a Million is a charitable organisation dedicated to helping children who have been orphaned, abandoned or separated from their families at birth.
Handling technical production for this year’s event was Birmingham-based DMX Productions, whose managing director, SJ Grevett, looked to front of house engineer Neal Allen for the ideal audio solution.
They found it in the shape of an impressive 42-element Electro-Voice X2 line array system comprising left-right hangs of 15 X2-212/90 and X2-212/120 line array elements per side plus side-fills of six X2-212/90 per side. A further eight Electro-Voice XLE181 elements were deployed as in-fills; 18 Electro-Voice X12-128 dual 18-inch subwoofers provided ample low-end extension.
“The X2 gave us a better overall sound and more power than the previous system,” says Allen. “Though my faders were at 3 dB less output, the entire show benefitted from greater clarity - especially in the mid-high frequencies.”
The concert’s charitable status also meant that time was limited: “We had limited local crew, but even with that challenge, we were in and out of the venue in two hours and 10 minutes.”
Finally, the use of Electro-Voice ND86 dynamic supercardioid microphones meant the front of the signal chain was every bit as impressive as the end. “We needed a microphone with the characteristics of a condenser but the controllability of a dynamic - that’s why I wanted the EV ND86 mics,” Allen explains.
SJ Grevett, of DMX Productions, was equally pleased: “The system gave us greater clarity - a feature that was of paramount importance as for most of the children performing this was their first time singing live on the Wembley stage.”
(Jim Evans)
