Adlib Audio has designed and installed a new PA system, including a Soundcraft Vi4 FOH desk, at the legendary Manchester live music venue, Band on the Wall.
The landmark 350-capacity city centre venue dates back some 200 years and has been associated with live music for much of its rich cultural heritage. The name comes from the 1930s when musicians used to perform from precarious platforms strapped to the wall.
It has now been completely renovated, restored and reborn by registered charity Inner City Music, with the help of a £4 million combined award from the Arts Council England, Manchester City Council and Lottery Heritage Fund. This has enabled the venue to be transformed into a 21st century centre of music with strong community ties.
The system was designed by Adlib's Roger Kirby, whose decision to specify Soundcraft’s popular digital console was based on previous successes: the Vi series has also become a key component of the technical infrastructures that Adlib have been creating for AMG’s series of O2 Academy live music venues.
It was again selected for its routing flexibility and the intuitive design of its control surface which will assist visiting engineers, who may be newcomers to digital mixing. The Vi4’s MADI output allows all 48 input channels plus stereo mix to be sent to the Band on the Wall’s recording studio for capture should this be required.
As there is no monitor desk, the eight monitor sends are all handled by the FOH desk. However there is a 48 channel multi-core infrastructure with break in/out facilities; this will allow swift patching to any visiting monitor console when artists require a dedicated monitor mix.
The venue’s technical manager, Andy Williamson, was delighted to find the Vi4 on the specification when the touring engineer took up his new residency.
“I was aware that Adlib had done a few installations with the Vi6 and Vi4 — and I came across one at O2 Academy Leeds when mixing Scouting for Girls — as well as at KOKO at London. I thought it was really good,” he said.
He confirmed that the desk’s ease of use and multitracking facilities — using MADI out via optical SC connectors up to the recording studio (and also back in on MADI) — were driving factors, and it also gives him the ability to undertake virtual sound checking.
“I like the desk because it’s really tactile and therefore easy for analogue enginers to use it,” he stated. “It also sounds really nice, with the eight Lexicon FX engines and BSS graphics.”
Andy says it is easy to set up a generic template on the Vi4, which can quickly be customised by incoming sound engineers. “Although we are using 48 channels we have made room for expansion as we have 64 channels bandwidth to the studio.”
The venue also has HD cameras, and where performing bands allow the venue to archive their shows, they present them with an HD video.
The music will encompass a wide range of musical genres, from jazz to dance (including DJs), rock to soul, and it will also be utilised for a variety of music-based educational programmes.
Said the venue’s CEO Gavin Sharp,“Adlib has proven itself to be an exemplary company throughout the entire sound install process at Band on the Wall,” said Gavin Sharp CEO of the legendary venue.”
He said that thanks to Adlib’s engineers, the venue is now fully operational and able to fulfil its full remit, which includes presenting the very best music from around the world”
