With big chart names appearing at the events, such as Liberty X, Girls Aloud and McFly, the FMX team was looking for a bankable solution for their regular client. Setting aside their own Electro-Voice XLC system, "too large for this type of event", they chose EV's recently-launched (PLASA) XLD system, which sets a new standard of precise coverage and dynamic headroom for compact line arrays.The XLD was used as the main PA at the two venues.
With Shuttlesound's Jason Kelly in the supporting role of system tech for the shows, the PA was set up with 12 x XLD 218 and four x XS212 subs, with additional XLC118 subs. It was powered by EV P3000 RL Series amplifiers, controlled by EV's bespoke IRIS (Intelligent Remote Integrated Supervision) management software. The show was mixed from a Midas Heritage 2000 console running Klark Teknik's DN9340 Helix EQ, which provides wireless control over all the commonly-used EQ functions, allowing instant and simultaneous online control of up to 64 channels of EQ from a tablet computer.
Ron McGillivray of FMX says: "I really do like my XLC system, it's just that it was a little too big for these occasions. We were looking for something smaller, that was also suitable for conferencing. The XLD looks well, it performs superbly in the flying position although we have the option to ground-stack it as well, it is very compact and, in my opinion, a worthy addition to EV's family of line array systems."
EV's X-Line Very Compact range (XLD) offers two principal system choices for different applications; the most compact single 8" XLE and the slightly larger, more powerful, double 8" XLD. Each full-range line-array element features two ND2S compression drivers for maximum high-frequency headroom. Both systems can be combined with the matching XS212 bass cabinet for low-frequency extension.
The XLD 218 is a three-way design which uses an 8" neodymium LF transducer, an 8" neodymium LF/MB transducer, and two ND2S neodymium, 2" voice coil compression drivers. The 218 has a sophisticated internal crossover network and can be operated in biamp or triamp modes. It is 9.9" (25cm) high x 28.8" (73cm) wide x 14.4" (37cm) deep, and weighs 47lbs (21.3kg).
(Chris Henry)
