The system ran Jands' Vista v2 software, and on some sections of the tour operating duties were taken on by John Barker while Sinclair fulfilled other design commitments on his busy schedule - including tours by Peter Gabriel and Goldfrapp, also utilising Vista systems.
Sinclair's innovative design for Adele was sculpted using entirely white light, a bold aesthetic move which has won considerable acclaim. None of the moving lights were seen to move, there was minimal flashing, and was a real case of subtlety and suggestion to augment Adele's powerful performance and natural stage presence.
There was a distinctive back wall of 96 cone-shaped lampshades each illuminated from behind with a 60 Watt incandescent household light bulb - all individually dimmed. These had been dipped in a special rubber solution treatment to make them break-resistant.
The Matrix facilities on the Vista S1 - one of the many tools added with the Vista v2 upgrade - made mapping and programming this unique arrangement of lights extremely easy.
The lighting rig echoed the simplicity of the show's concept. Rigged across three overhead trusses were seven Robe ColorSpot 2500E AT moving lights and 20 ETC Source Four profiles, and on the deck were 16 Martin Professional MAC 2K Washes, all supplied by Neg Earth Lights.
Commenting on the Vista v2 software, Sinclair says, "I really like it. It is very solid and a marked step forward from V1. It feels almost as if the console directly connects my brain to the lights."
In addition to Sinclair's Vista systems being used on Adele, Pulp, Peter Gabriel and Goldfrapp tours throughout 2011, one has also just gone out on Will Young's latest UK tour, operated by Jason Hynde.
Jands Europe's Neil Vann commented, "Rob's designs are always interesting, fantastic looking and very precise. Vista v2 offers the perfect balance to get the detailed control he demands, with the simplicity to get the most from the tight timeframes that today's productions have to work to. If you haven't taken a look at Vista v2 for yourself yet, take the chance to see just how much you could be getting from your time."
* Adele cancelled tour dates in America last month, as well as six gigs in the UK, after problems with her voice. Doctors told the 23-year-old that she needed to rest her vocal cords and stop all promotional appearances for the rest of the year.
For more on Adele's recent tour, see the November issue of LSi - out now. View free online in a digital format or download the free iPhone/iPad app LSi-View to read on the go
(Jim Evans)
