For The Doves, VDC supplied Michael Jobson Management with multicore looms, single manufactured leads, cable, components and patch panels, which were used throughout the band's recent UK and US tours. For The White Stripes, VDC constructed a custom panel and multicore using Van Damme Black Series cable. This enabled the band's concerts to be recorded for future release.
VDC also provided dance band Goldfrapp with a new patch panel for its custom stagebox, enabling the band to significantly increase the number of channels available during live dates. Monitor engineer Darren Scully says: "VDC made our original stagebox, so it made sense to go back to the company when we wanted to expand it. They retro-fitted a patch panel, which allowed us to use three more eight-channel satellite boxes. This meant we had a lot more channels available and we could do much faster changeovers, something that is particularly important at festivals where there are a lot of bands playing."
Another dance band that benefited from VDC's technical know-how this summer was Royksopp. The band needed a four-channel custom foot pedal board cable system, which was quickly supplied and used extensively during the band's recent UK tour.
Impact Sound & Light also turned to VDC for a complete custom system to accompany the new PA system it bought at the beginning of the summer. Managing director John Burbridge says: "We bought a new PA and needed multicore cables and stageboxes to go with it, so we approached VDC because we felt Van Damme Black Series cable was the way to go. It's industry standard and very tough and reliable. We've used this cable in the past and have always been happy with the results. VDC supplied cables to link the mixing desk with the stage and also built us a number of stageboxes."
Impact has used the new system at a number of concerts and festivals including tour dates for The Happy Mondays in Cornwall, live dates for The Levellers, the Vale Earth Fair in Guernsey and the Falmouth Week celebrations. It has also been used by a number of local bands in the South West of England.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
