Kirkwood arrived at the first date in Dublin directly from Jamaica in time for a few run-throughs with Britrow's Josh Lloyd, who has completed the XL8 training at Midas' Kidderminster headquarters.
"I've always been a Midas fan and have been using their consoles since 1977, but I think this sounds even better than the XL4," says Kirkwood of the XL8. "Although I'd used other digital desks, I'd never felt as comfortable or as fast on them, and audibly they were a step down. However I find the XL8 a far more natural way of working, and very similar to using an analogue console."
(Jim Evans)