Tour De France
Delta’s PA for the Square comprised VDosc loudspeakers controlled via XTA DP226 digital signal processors. “We had a DiGiCo D5 Live digital mixing console, operated by Richard Sharratt, covering playback from CT and radio microphones along with around 40 press feeds and a broadcast mix,” explains Delta designer and project engineer Steve Lutley. “A PM5D, FM115 wedges and Senheisser G2 in-ear system covered monitor requirements and we had a Midas H3000 for Lamar, who was the main act for the opening ceremony, as requested by his front of house engineer, Steve Levett.”
“We were controlling the system with XTA’s AudioCore 8.4 software, but we used a slightly different way of wirelessing it than we would normally,” adds system technician, Al Woods. “We put a rack mounted computer at front of house and we network that wirelessly to a tablet, to take over the whole of the mother computer. This is a great method because it means you can access more than one programme on the tablet. You can have your Smart analysing system on the tablet, carry a mic around with you and switch between Smart and AudioCore, working in real time instead of having to go back to front of house, which is quite an interesting way of doing things.”
“The music for the Opening Ceremony had been specially composed by Julian Scott,” adds Delta managing director, Mark Bonner. “The show’s executive producer, Kathleen Gearhart-Filmer, is a really clever lady and produced a show with Will and the innovision team that was perfect for the audience demographic and did an excellent job of breaking up what was, in effect, simply introducing 190 cyclists.”
“Two French children and two English children moved around the different areas, performing live to camera footage. Steve had to follow them around, getting radio mics on top of buildings, backstage and away up the street. In fact, the communications and stage management for that element became a job in itself, as there were so many people coming on and off stage and everything had to be done in two languages.”
