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Dragonforce for Adlib
Adlib is supplying lighting and audio equipment and crew for the current Dragonforce UK tour.
The energetic speed metallers come complete with a powerful ‘rock-tastic' lightshow designed by Stuart Gray, and one of the clearest, cleanest, mega loud metallic sonic experiences mixed by Bruce Reiter.
Adlib is supplying a Nexo Alpha system, with the standard configuration being 18 M3 mid high boxes, 12 B1 bass cabinets and ten S2 subs. Playing a wide variety of venues, they're flying where possible and ground stacking the rest of the time. For general infills, they are utilising four Adlib AA122s.
Nexo's NX242 processors are used across all the Nexo elements, feeding Camco Tecton amplifiers driving the mid highs, Crown VZ5002s powering the bass and subs and Crown XTi's for the infills.
The system is time aligned each day by Adlib's systems engineer Richy Nicholson using EAW's SMAART analysis software.
The FOH desk is a DigiDesign Venue, Reiter's console of choice because "It sounds fantastic". He's using only one piece of outboard - a dbx Drive Rack PA which contains a sub-harmonic synth, through which he routes the toms to an aux send and returns it to the channel with added boom and click.
They are using EV Rev microphones, including the RE510 vocal mic which "sounds awesome" enthuses Atlanta, GA based Reiter, who certainly seems to have cracked the challenge of getting it hugely loud with every word being totally audible. They are using some Sennheiser mics on the toms and the new EV PL series on cymbals and other vocals.
Creatively, he tries to keep the low tight as howling guitars are the primary focus, so the bass needs to be controlled because of the sheer pace of the band.
Reiter has worked with Dragonforce since 2006 and has done two previous tours with them using Adlib about which he comments, "They're all great people".
Monitors are mixed by Adlib's Dave Davies, who's been onboard for a year. All six of them use Sennheiser G2 stereo IEMs which keeps the stage extremely clean, allowing them to maximise every inch of it for their hectic show.
Davies mixes with a Yamaha PM5D which he likes. It's also a logical choice to run in tandem with the IEM system, and the two combined make for an exceptionally quick set up and tear down. They are also running Pro Tools for clicks and firing the guitar sounds and pedal changes. The monitor set up is really straightforward explains Davies, "They are a no-nonsense rock ‘n' roll band" and fit onto one page of the PM5D.
Adlib's Stuart Gray was delighted to get the opportunity of injecting some anthemic rock ‘n' roll and ACL looks based on beam technology into the show, which he's really enjoying.
The design is based on three 40 ft trusses and a bunch of fixtures on the deck, which move day-to-day according to the venue and how the stage set risers and ramps have to be moved to fit the available space.
The back truss is rigged with five bars of 6 PARs, six Martin Professional MAC 250 Washes, four bars of ACLs and four Linear 4-lites; the mid truss has six MAC 250 Washes and another four bars of ACLs and the front truss has four bars of six PARs, six Source Four profiles focussed on specific riser areas and another four linear 4-lites.
On the floor are six MAC 250 Washes in front of the set and 12 JTE PixelPAR 90s, some up-lighting from beneath the grilled risers and others dotted around the set. Upstage are four vertically mounted ACL bars on tank traps.
Smoke is a serious business, provided by a mix of two JEM ZR33's and a DF50 Hazer.
Gray operates using an Avolites Pearl Expert console - his desk of choice for a fast, furious show like this, replete with improvisational moments, when you need to have everything available and be totally hands-on.
He comments that he is very impressed with the brightness of the MAC 250s, which are also an ideally compact size for some of the smaller venues when stage space and headroom has been really tight.
For control, they are using two Avolites ART 2000 dimming racks, one with 48 ways of dimming and the other with 12 ways of dimming and 36 ways of switched hot power.
Adlib Lighting also supplied all trussing and 1 tonne Lodestar motors and technicians Tim Spilman and Shaun Moore.
10th October 2008
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