Hire company Wigwam Acoustics has specified a DiGiCo SD7
mixing console and three XTA DP548 processors for Coldplay‘s UK and European
tour in support of their Mylo Xyloto album.
While the band are set to perform at a number of venues
across the continent, the UK group has added an unconventional twist to
proceedings, as they are apt to play occasional shows at different places in
the world at relatively short notice. This approach to the tour has ultimately
resulted in a close relationship with their audio supplier Wigwam Acoustics.
“”It’s fairly fast and furious with Coldplay at the
moment, they jet off here there and everywhere,”” said Wigwam’s Alex
Hadjigeorgiou. “”They do a pretty good job of moving their kit around, but
they do get to the point where it’s physically not going to make it from point
A to point B as quickly as the band and the backline, so we sometimes have to
provide a duplicate system.
“”It means a lot of investment on our part, but you
really don’t mind when you have a good relationship and people are nice about
it. When you see the end result it’s worth it; you don’t mind pulling out all
the stops.””
Another key factor in the relationship is the band’s
meticulous demands when it comes to putting the audio system together.
“”With a band like this, there’s no getting away with ‚Äònearly’
products,”” commented Hadjigeorgiou. “”They know what they want,
especially with their FOH engineer Dan Green being involved with the album side
of things. He’s got a very definite idea of how he wants the shows to sound.
“”It makes our job easier, because they know what they
want. They give us a clear product brief which really aids us in doing a good
job for them.””
One request received by Wigwam was for three XTA DP548
dynamic audio management processors. “”Dan did a blind A/B test of the
DP548 against processors by another manufacturer and he preferred the XTA. It
was pure audio choice,”” said Hadjigeorgiou. “”It was great news for us
because we’ve always found XTA gear to be tremendously reliable, as well as
having great backup from them. We have a really good relationship with XTA,
Richard Fleming is always very supportive and there are never any issues.””
Green mixes for the band on a DiGiCo SD7, with the company’s
latest SD-Racks. While he is happy with the console, it is important for Wigwam
to have full confidence in the manufacturer’s backup, something Hadjigeorgiou
insists has not been lacking.
“”Because of the major investment we have to make as a
company and the high profile of a client like Coldplay, the quality of product
support is very important,”” he explained. “”I’m the guy that gets the
phone calls from these chaps when there is a problem, so when those calls come
I need to be able to sort things out very quickly.
“”We can buy as much gear as we like and put it all out
on the road, but if the support isn’t there it becomes very, very laborious. We
have had a great relationship with Digico over a number of years and the
company seems to go from strength to strength. They employ genuine specialists,
people who are there to help configure systems, offer advice, sort out any
issues and are always available at the end of the phone. We are very happy with
the service that we are getting from them.””
Hadjigeorgiou also expressed his delight that both DiGiCo
and XTA continue to manufacture their products in the UK: “”We are really
pleased that, on this particular tour, we have so much equipment that’s made in
the UK. As far as I know DiGiCo and XTA are two of a very small handful of
companies that actually still manufacture here and we really like that. It is
one of the industries where we do still lead the world, to a great extent.
“”If you ask anyone anywhere, to name a famous studio,
the majority will say Abbey Road. It’s great that we still have that industry
here, that the music that comes out of the UK is still up there and that we
have British companies manufacturing the equipment.
“”There have been some interesting challenges for us
with Coldplay but, as a company, we like challenges. The bottom line is that if
they’re happy, we’re happy.””
Reprinted courtesy of Audio Pro International. Read the full story HERE.