"Although the price tag is very cost-effective for this kind of functionality, it is a lot of money to a regional theatre," says Jason Barnes, head of sound at the Old Vic. "However, it's bought us an immense improvement. Putting a show together is now far less stressful and we can do it a lot quicker."
Jason Barnes' own ideas and research took him in the direction of the SFX software programme, rapidly becoming an industry-standard, and, with the input of Andy Huffer from Marquee Audio, a complete system was designed: the Yamaha DM1000 digital console, with the SFX sound playback software package running through a MOTU2408 to a rack-mounted audio PC.
"The original idea was to automate what I do and make it easier to do changes and edits, explained Barnes. "The catalyst was a show that's coming in next season, Beasts & Beauties - Eight Tales from Europe, which will have music all the way through, and which we want to do in surround sound. With the SFX software, our operation has been brought right up to date. I can design, I can programme, and know that it's reliable. We've got real-time fades either on the mixer or in the software, I can store scene memories and changes in the desk, and I can edit the show off-line in our studio. Our previous system was not reliable, and it would just take too long; now I can change things as quickly as the director changes his mind!"
Bristol Old Vic is a producing theatre, generating everything from soundscapes to stage sets in-house for most of their productions. In the past, they have used a large analogue desk, described by Barnes as "too big for small productions, yet too small for big productions." After a successful in-situ trial period set up by Marquee Audio, the theatre has gone for the Yamaha DM1000
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
