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Monacor L-Ray Makes Flying Debut at T in the Park
The Tennents T-Break Stage has become an increasingly influential showcase for unsigned bands at Scotland's major festival - T in the Park at Balado.
One of the companies responsible for introducing this feature eight years ago was Glasgow-based production company Dyna-Mix. This year they rigged the 2,000-capacity marquee with Monacor's compact L-RAY/1000 line array system - with two flown hangs, three clusters per side. They also equipped the stage with eight of Monacor's PAB615/SW floor monitors - six floor wedges were provided in three pairs, with two stacked for drumfill.
"We only have six clusters of L-RAY - and we ran them at the limit, 12 hours a day, for three days without a break," reports Dyna-Mix proprietor Jerry Radford. "But we achieved no distortion whatsoever and the clarity was perfect. Both Tennents and the promoters [DF Concerts] were delighted and I would have no problem about using this system again in the same conditions."
The impact of this tent is now such that Radford reckons a minimum of six unsigned bands each year leave the T-Break stage with contract offers.
Last year Attic Lights became the subject of a bidding war after playing T Break and they now have a five-album deal with a major label.
This time around the 60m x 30m tent was also given an extra boost when Paolo Nutini defected from his main stage spot to join the 16 bands in T-Break instead.
But it wasn't just the promoters who had cause to praise the Monacor set-up, as Jerry Radford reports. "Feedback from bands who brought their own monitor engineers was that they were delighted with the PAB615/SW.
"Many said they were astonished by the quality - and these really are the business; the mount of abuse they can take is incredible - in fact we had four stolen during the load-out."
When Dyna-mix, who have been working various stages at T in the Park on and off over the past 13 years, needed to invest in line array technology Jerry Radford took the most-cost effective option available - although he admits that he initially purchased L-RAY/1000 for an installation (which failed to materialise). Since then it has given him sterling service as an essential part of his rental fleet - not only in Balado but events such as the Hey You Get Off My Pavement Festival in Glasgow, with Connect still to come.
The compact, active L-RAY/1000 is an array of high power capability, with four mid-high range speaker units and a dual bass module, each with its own 350W (RMS) power amplifier and controlling software, giving a continuous 700W RMS and peak output of 1000W per cluster
The mid-high range systems are each equipped with 2 x 10cm (4") high-performance speakers and a magnetostatic speaker for a perfect reproduction rich in detail. The LF response and level stability of the bass module - with two 20cm (8") bass speakers - is equally impressive, a result of using components with high power capability and the extensive optimisation of the DSP. Although these are stand-alone systems, adjustment can also take place using a remote PC.
As the T-Break tent becomes increasingly influential so Dyna-Mix will continue to raise the bar accordingly in terms of production values. This year they flew the L-RAY system on trussing supplied by partner company, CPE Lighting, while Stagehire Scotland provided the staging and technical infrastructure.
Dyna-Mix own subs complemented the L-RAY, which was set up and EQ'd via a Klark Teknik HELIX, and both the FOH and monitor mixes were delivered from Midas Veronas.
"We were running a constant 100dB at the desk, which was 20m from the front stage; so we achieved what we needed to achieve. In fact it went without a hitch."
Summing up, Jerry Radford says: "The T-Break tent is my baby and it is also a very personal tent to Tennents - in fact they were over the moon with the way the system was presented. We may have kicked the arse out of the L-RAY system but it provided Tennents with all the reassurance they needed."
24th July 2008
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