SPS Audio was appointed as the production company for the event, selecting a modular iDR10 MixRack and iLive-144 Control Surface to manage FOH on the main stage, an iDR-48 with iLive-T112 on the dance stage, and an iDR-32 with iLive-T80 on the new music stage. Ellie Goulding also brought in her touring iDR-48 with iLive-R72 surface on monitors for her performance on the main stage.
Beach Break Live is now in its fourth year, and is renowned for having a high calibre line-up for a modest ticket price. The 2010 line up included Vampire Weekend, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Ellie Goulding, Plan B, 2Many DJs and the Futureheads.
"The only way I can manage this event within budget is to take care of everything myself. That includes providing all the crew, audio, lighting, stages from steel deck upwards, and appoint myself production manager," says SPS Audio MD, Steve Yelland. "The key piece of gear at BBL is my iLive-144 system, which is in a league of its own when it comes to price versus performance, and works faultlessly with the idea of providing an exceptional standard on a budget."
SPS employed its high-end EV line array system to complement iLive on the main stage, and installed Rob Richie as resident FOH engineer.
"I was very happy to mix all of the acts that we handled on iLive, with some fantastic results. The visiting engineers - some a little apprehensive at first - went away very happy, many of them heading off with the intention to look at iLive in the future," says Richie.
"iLive is a stunning digital board at a very reasonable price and a direct comparison to some of the more accepted desks out there. We only had one refusal to use it during the festival and all the engineers who did use it commented on how easy it was to operate and how amazing it sounded. As a festival desk it's easy for band engineers to get their heads around and quickly get a mix, rather than spend time trying to figure out how it works."
(Jim Evans)
