The main audio issue at the Royal Albert Hall - a notoriously challenging acoustical environment - was designing and installing a system capable of dealing with a wide variety of performers and musical genres.
The 2004 line-up was headlined by The Who, Jools Holland and friends, The Stereophonics, Tom Jones, and - for the first time - a comedy night featuring Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and others. Entec supplied a centre speaker hang comprising of d&b C4/7 enclosures, which matched the distinct curvature of the famous venue, with B2 subs under the forestage, and C7/690 ground fills. The main array was four wide and seven deep left and right, and it followed the same sonic principals as the highly successful d&b system Entec designed and engineered for last year's event.
For the first time this year, shorter throw d&b Q7s from the German manufacturer's Q line array series were also utilized as rear choir fills, which worked really well. FOH control offered a Midas XL4 console plus a Heritage 3000. Outboard included an Eventide H3000 harmoniser, PCM 91s, a TC Electronics D2 delay and a TC M2000 multi-effects unit. Processing was Drawmer gates, an assortment of dbx compression, and Avalon valve compressors. Monitors consisted of an Entec APW wedge system controlled by a Midas Heritage 3000 with Klark DN3600 programmable EQ. Entec also supplied a selection of mics including Shure, AKG and Audio Technica, a Shure UHF radio mic system and KT and BSS DI boxes.
The various headline acts' audio spec sheets were studied well in advance to ensure any specific or additional kit was supplied as required. The Who's impressive monitor set up also included Lexicon PCM 70s, Yamaha Rev 5s, SPX 990s, dbx compressors, Drawmer gates and Summit valve compressors. Their show was engineered FOH by Paul Ramsay, with Bob Pridden assisted by Simon Higgs on monitors.
The Teenage Cancer Trust project was co-ordinated for Entec's by their head of sound, Dick Hayes. Crew chief was Ritchie Gibson, Matt Butcher was FOH babysitter, Paul Keeble ran monitor world, and the system and stage techs were "Magic" Ellis and Stefano Serpagli. The Who kicked off the proceedings in great sound and style. There's a historical connection between the maverick rock band and Entec - Dick Hayes remembers when Bob Pridden gave him the first ever 'proper' gig of his illustrious career, which just happened to be The Who at the Royal Albert Hall back in 1969!
The Teenage Cancer Trust was the brainchild of Roger Daltry, and started with 'The Who and Friends' concert in 2000. Since then, the annual concerts have raised over £2 million for the Trust, which saw the opening of the Liverpool Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in November 2003. The 2005 event is already planned to continue raising awareness and funds for the charity.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
