The new system also features Yamaha CL5 and QL5 consoles, with Rio stage racks, together with an essential element of show control hardware in the form of a Nemesis Audio UMT-2D USB MIDI Trigger. The Gordon Craig's new system is configured with a hang of six d&b audiotechnik T-10s per side, a further four T-10s in a centre cluster, six E-6 speakers as front fills, plus four B4 Subs, with the system powered by d&b audiotechnik's new 10D and 30D install amps.
The theatre and Orbital Sound has had a close working relationship for more than a decade, as Dave Nott, chief technician at the Gordon Craig Theatre, explained, "We needed to upgrade, as much of our previous system was over ten years old, with many components around twice that age. Over the last five years or so, we have been hiring in a system from Orbital Sound a few times per year - once for our ten-week 100-show panto season, and then at least twice throughout the rest of the year for our in-house productions.
"We concluded that it was more economically viable all round to replace our permanent system with equipment that would address all our long-term requirements - to ensure we had a system that would give us another fifteen to twenty years' service, while also saving the annual hire costs.
"Orbital Sound fully understood our need to maximise the available budget and worked hard to provide us with an exceptionally competitive solution, which included supplying us from their ex-hire stock, saving us a considerable amount. We elected to go with d&b audiotechnik again, as the T-Series system has been proven excellent in our venue, but also because our previous d&b system had given us such good service."
The Yamaha CL5 console is used for front of house, with the QL5 normally deployed for band monitoring, with two Yamaha Rio 32-24 stage racks, operating via a Dante network. One Rio unit is located stage left and one in the orchestra pit. With an emphasis on longevity and flexible connectivity, the venue installed comprehensive Cat5e infrastructure throughout, along with the Dante network capability, which will enable Dante inputs and amplifier outputs to be routed anywhere, and remote control of the d&b install amps via the Cat 5e patching.
(Jim Evans)
