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Network Audio Visual Drive Max Power Success

Network AV, one of the UK's leading specialists in large scale exhibition feature productions, delivered fully integrated in-house production solutions to the Cruise Strip at Max Power Live at the NEC (2nd - 4th July), including sound, light, staging and a number of creative components.

The event saw the launch of Network AV's new arch roof staging systemthat featured as the central focal point for all the arena action. The stage, which offers a mid-sized 8x8m area, was the base for the main MC, numerous promotional models supplied by Citroen and Yokohama, as well as the show's live DJs. This new Network AV stage is expected to be in strong demand for festivals, city centre entertainments, fashion shows and exhibition stands, with flexible steel deck flooring and independent truss structure. For Max Power Live, the arch roof was left undressed to increase the light flow around the hall, however it does come with full roof and side covering for weather protection.

The Cruise Strip was placed in Hall 5 at the NEC and had a per show capacity of nearly 4,000. With grandstands facing three out of four sides of the arena, sound distribution would be critical in the undressed hall. Network AV are no strangers to this type of installation both in terms of the scale of hardware used and the 'unfriendly' bare hall acoustics. Nick Halliday, Network AV's head of production and technical director Patrick Hocken specified a 40kW system to give a true dance festival feel (a genre Network AV operate in regularly having supplied systems to such events as Homelands, Party in the Park and the BBC Asian Network Melas). Halliday explains: "This was the largest ever sound installation at ‘Max Power Live’ and to ensure a true representation of in-car entertainment systems, we placed 40 18-inch sub bass units on the floor front of house, while flying the mid-high cabinets on the main truss." Hocken continues: "This system, when running at full show level truly shook the gandstands and all their occupants during the 45 minute show, concluding with an explosive climax as an F1 Stock Car crashed into a stationary vehicle as part of the finale set piece."

Lighting was also delivered in house by Network AV, ensuring total continuity between the show soundtrack and the mood enhancing lighting design. Network AV's lighting engineer Paul Fisher created a dynamic blend of colourful washes and blinding scenes as the show transitioned from high action racing to the main cruise strip parade of Max Power Favourites. Over 100 moving heads ranging from MAC 500-2000s were in use, alongside more generic floods, giving a strong mixture of scenes both on stage and for the driving action on the main arena floor.

Network AV completed the production with the application of specially composed production music and audio, created at their Southampton edit suite, alongside live mixing from their own DJs 'Outbreak' & 'Hypnosis'. The use of live DJs, while not unique in this sort of show, was highly unusual in this specific environment. Roger Burlinson, Network AV's creative director explains: "Normally all music used for a show of this type is cued from Production Control because of the need for precision timing. However, because we were so intrinsically involved in the overall production, we were able to structure the show to make it possible to work with live DJs. It was very important to us that the show be authentic and have credibility with the audience, so we rehearsed thoroughly with our own DJs, had up to four different back up options and used live talk back through Shure PSM700 in-ear systems, to ensure all the cues were millisecond perfect. The end result was a thoroughly dynamic and credible stage routine, that barely gave the audience a moment to recover before the next feature."

This event was undoubtedly a milestone for Network AV with the launch of their new stage, the installation of a record breaking sound system for this fixture and the successful completion of a totally in-house production. Their breadth of in-house expertise now extends from sound, through lighting, staging and video to creative studio and live components, all delivered with complete continuity and guaranteed integration.

Network AV's next major project will be the installation of large scale sound systems for nine arenas at the Urban Games on Clapham Common in two weeks time.

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Network Audio Visual Drive Max Power Success

14th July 2004

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