By the time the tour arrived in Liverpool, FOH engineer Mark Dowdle had clocked up around 50 shows on the XL8. "I was searching for something that would give me the facilities I need for a show of this size: normally more than 100 inputs," he says. "I've used some digital desks which allowed me a lot of inputs on a small surface but they didn't give me the sound I was used to getting, so I gravitated back to analogue."
As a longtime Midas user, when Dowdle heard about the XL8 he looked into spec'ing one for this tour. "I've used XL4s, H3000s and PRO40s over the years and always loved the sound," he continues. "Midas desks have that musicality and transparency I'm looking for, the EQ is always responsive and sounds fantastic. As soon as I got in front of the XL8 and heard it for myself, I knew it was what I was looking for."
Dowdle has used the XL8's automation to programme 29 scenes for the show. "I end up mixing rather actively, but with as many inputs as I have, along with a multitude of instrument changes throughout the show, having a great starting point for each song is invaluable," he says. "It allows me to have everything set exactly the way I want it, so I'm comfortable that I'm starting in a good place and I can take it from there."
Cheryl Preston is operating the Klark Teknik DN9696. "I love it; I had it up and running straight out of the box and its ease of use is unbelievable," she says.
(Jim Evans)
