iLive at Comedy Store

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

ILIVE AT LONDON'S COMEDY STORE

TECHNOLOGY, NEWS, MAY 2007, COMMENTS

London’s famous Comedy Store recently installed an Allen & Heath iLive digital mixing system to improve sound quality and manage the complex audio distribution needs of the club. Initially, it seemed iLive would exceed the demands of the application but after consulting the club’s technical team it became clear that it was a more complex installation.

Input sources include a stage mic, an MC mic, radio mics for improv groups, and DVD and CD playback devices, whilst the club’s output structure is complex with 12 matrices feeding various speaker zones - including different seating sections, the bar area, toilets and entrance hall - plus time align delays, and broadcast feeds for Paramount Comedy channel and the BBC, who both record shows at the Store.

The club also has a tiny sound booth requiring a console with a small footprint, and, due to the demanding schedule, the club employs various engineers to cater for the nightly performances, presenting the need for a recall settings function.

An iDR10 stagerack with 32 mix busses, accompanied by an iLive-112 control surface, was selected through London-based Autograph Sales, who configured and installed the system with freelance engineer, Andy Pullinger of Remedy Sound, and the venue’s technical manager, Simon Mason [pictuted].

“The dynamics are really important to us and we wanted accurate compression and limiting to protect the various areas, and have EQ on all the channels. In iLive we have a compact one-stop solution, rather than a mixer and a load of outboard gear on the side,” explains Mason.

The Comedy Store plans to enable remote control access in the entrance hall via Allen & Heath’s PL Series wallplates, so security staff can change the levels independently. Broadcast feeds will also be made easier as they will be able to run a Cat-5e cable straight to the OB truck without the need for bulky multicores.

“iLive has given us all the flexibility we need, and will provide much more”, concludes Pullinger. “It is incredibly intuitive to use and sonically, is the purest I’ve heard of all the digital consoles I’ve come across. We’re very, very pleased!”

From: May 2007 Issue

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