"I really love the PRO2C; it was very easy to get to grips with, and after just 30 minutes I could start the show confidently," says FOH engineer Craig Williams. "I'm more accustomed to the Midas Heritage series and the classic XL3, which I will always love, but the tiny footprint and low weight for a festival like Lake of Stars is perfect. Not needing a rack of outboard saves a huge amount in shipping costs to somewhere like Africa, and even more in sweat when you have to handball the kit across a beach in the sun."
Williams was using the PRO2C for artists including Beverley Knight, Foals, Africa's Freshlyground, Malawian music from Black Missionaries and Lucius Banda and a host of international acts.
Despite this being the first sighting of a PRO2C at a live event, visiting engineers took to it with ease. "The engineers for FOALS and Freshlyground both used the desk and both loved it, Keith from Freshlyground being a PRO6 user," says Williams. "In fact one of the band's engineers liked it so much he's interested in purchasing one for touring. What I really like most about it is the way it sounds; it doesn't sound cheap and grainy like many other digital desks, and the depth of field is beautiful."
Comments Lake of Stars founder Will Jameson, "The festival was born from a desire to raise money for a developing economy, promote Malawi as a top travel destination and expose Malawian artists to international crowds, as well as putting on an amazing event that now forms part of the global festival circuit."
Midas was one of the festival's many technical partners to provide free audio visual equipment, helping raise a profit for the local economy. Last year the festival generated $1m of local spend, employing more than 100 Malawian people and providing a major boost to local families and businesses.
The festival, which attracted 3,500 people this year from across the globe, also ran an outreach programme with ballgames, acoustic performances and an HIV screening clinic.
"We are so happy to welcome Midas to our family of technical partners," continues Jameson. "We have always used Venice desks but to have use of the PRO2C is incredible. All the bands loved it and it coped well with the heat and sand of Malawi - it is also a good size and weight when it comes to being air freighted all the way from the UK. The high production standards set Lake of Stars apart from other events in the region, and having the world's leading console manufacturer involved in the project is a massive boost for us and for Malawi's music industry."
(Jim Evans)
