Enttech specified a total of four Innovason digital audio mixing consoles for the show; two Sy48s on Front of House duty handling both the main act and all the other microphones such as commentators, presenters and guests; and two Sy80s on monitors. Enttech's sound designer, Nikko Xpovomoulos explained that for such an important show that was broadcast live to over ten million viewers, not to mention the 13,000-strong audience in the arena, full redundancy was imperative. He therefore set up A and B systems each comprising and Sy48, a stagebox and an Sy80.
"We had a full-time engineer on each console for the duration of the show, and actually flip-flopped between the two systems so the guys on the B configuration wouldn't get bored!" noted Nikko with a grin, "but we did it because we could, not because we had to. From an audio point of view the show went like a dream and the consoles did their usual great job."
Chief FoH engineer Nikos Espialidis was in complete agreement. Espialidis can normally be found at Athens' internationally renowned new concert hall, Megaron Mousikis where he is head of recording, and where a digital FoH console was installed just three years ago. When it came to comparing his experience on the two desks, he was categoric. "I have to say that I'd never worked on an Innovason before Eurovision. The very first time I came across the Sy48 was in production rehearsals but it's a superb machine. It outclasses our current solution in the Megaron in just about every way - sonically, ergonomically, functionally and in terms of reliability. I was genuinely impressed, and if I could have taken it home with me, I would have done!"
A full review of Eurovision 2006 can be seen in the July-August issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.
(Lee Baldock)
