live 33
January 2012 www.prosoundnewseurope.com UNITED KINGDOM
ML Execs swells inventory with d&b J Series David Davies
The TiMax2 SoundHub and Tracker system was used on an outdoor staging of Die Zauberfloete
GERMANY
TiMax reveals the Magic of the Flute Nigel Lord German live event company Neumann & Mueller has augmented its rental inventory with a TiMax2 SoundHub audio show control matrix and TiMax Tracker performer tracking system. The purchase followed a 12-month period of extensive evaluation that culminated in an acclaimed outdoor staging of Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute) at Erfurt’s Domstufen Festspiele event. The
TiMax2 fed an assortment of d&b linearray and trapezoidal enclosures, with main left/right hangs and outfills made up of Q1s, Q7s and Q10s. Across the front of the stage three concealed Q7s took on the dual role of frontfills and first-wavefront reference anchor speakers with further Q7s hidden in graphics panels about 15m upstage. One further anchor was located about 40m deep upstage and comprised a d&b T10 compact
Leading event production specialist ML Executives has expanded its audio hire department with the purchase of a d&b audiotechnik J Series loudspeaker system. Acquired with the assistance of Azule Finance, the new investment comprises 36 J Series loudspeakers with D12 amps. Neil White, project manager at ML Executives, commented: “Adding the d&b J Series to our existing stock of L-Acoustics and EAW systems gives us access in-house to three of the leading loudspeaker brands. Until now we’ve been hiring in this system but recently took the decision to purchase the d&b J Series. We’ve worked with Azule Finance on a number of occasions before and its unique understanding of the live production industry meant they immediately understood the business value of this investment. Thanks to its quick competitive finance solution, we got this speaker system on our books ready for the busy 2012 touring season.” Q
www.azule.co.uk www.mlexecutives.com
line-array system concealed inside a weather station prop. A row of d&b E0 nearfill delays were mounted on the handrail half-way up the audience seating and six TiMax Tracker TT Sensors were located around the periphery of the stage mapping the huge performance area in three-dimensions to an accuracy of 15cm. Q www.dbaudio.com www.neumannmueller.com
WORLD
Fleet Foxes not so ‘helpless’ with Royer R-121 ribbons David Davies Two Royer Labs R-121 ribbon microphones form an integral part of the current touring set-up of Seattle-based alt-folk band Fleet Foxes. Currently touring in support of second studio album Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes uses one R-121 on a 1966 Fender Super Reverb for the acoustic playing of band leader Robin Pecknold. The other mic is positioned in front of a 1965 Fender Vibrolux that is used for acoustic and electric guitars, as well as mandolin. FOH engineer Jared Hankins discovered Royer ribbons during his time as a music production and engineering student at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. “In working with the Royers, I quickly came to discover their warm, natural sound quality,” said
UNITED KINGDOM Still warranting the description ‘effortlessly cool’ at the age of 66, Bryan Ferry has been using AudioTechnica microphones for shows in support of his 13th solo studio album, Olympia. A long-time AudioTechnica user, Ferry favours the AT4055 cardioid condenser mic – the latest version of which is the AE5400. According to product manager Des Jabir, the AT4055 is the ideal complement to Ferry’s deep, low-register vocal delivery as well as his harmonica playing. The singer, said Jabir, loves “the feel of [the Royer Labs mics are part of Fleet Foxes touring set-up
AT4055s], the look of them and the way they sound. I think [he] owns
Hankins. “I particularly like using them to mic guitar amps because they exhibit a very clean, flat sound with a
depth of field that sits beautifully in the mix.”Q www.royerlabs.com
about seven.”
Q
www.eu.audio-technica.com