Pro audio service company 22live deployed a main sound reinforcement system headed by Martin Audio Wavefront Precision arrays on a recent tour by the Australian Pink Floyd show, which provides an authentic tribute to the original band.
22live first begin working with the band on its late 2022 tour of the UK. Paul Timmins, now hire director and one of the founders of the recently formed pro audio service company, was reunited with the long-term team of band manager Kevin Hopgood, production manager Chris Gadd and front of house engineer Trevor Gilligan.
There were a number of factors to consider for Timmins, along with 22live technical director Simon Gladstone and operations director Stefan Phillips, when they were preparing their bid as a new player in the market. In addition to general touring economics, the roster also included the choice of PA, and Martin Audio has long filled that role for the band.
“Although Trevor was happy to try out a new PA, the thing that we really had to demonstrate to make the argument was that the Martin Audio SXCF118 cardioid sub would be sufficient to provide the low end the tour required,” states Timmins. As a result, its performance capability was to put to the test at a demonstration organized at Martin Audio headquarters in High Wycombe attended by key personnel that included the band’s system technician Mark Edwards.
Timmins: “Both Trevor and Mark were extremely familiar with the Martin Audio SX218, and it was therefore easy to demonstrate the capability of the SXCF118 by using the 218 as the benchmark—and in fact the demo concluded with the SXCF118 coming out on top in terms of both performance and flexibility.”
22live was duly offered the tour, which embarked on a 30-date UK run. Among the inventory were 32 Martin Audio WPC (dual 10-inch) and 18 WPS (dual 8-inch) line array enclosures, 16 SXCF118 cardioid subwoofers, six Martin Audio WPM (for stage fills) and four Martin Audio TORUS T1215 loudspeakers.
“What can I say — I love this system! Gilligan says. “It’s great to be back on the Martin Audio gear. It’s a very detailed box and matches the subs perfectly. All in all, a great choice by all involved.
“I definitely made the right decision with the little subs,” he continues. “The bass guitar and low end of the drum kit is way more musical. Mark [Edwards] did a sub array — in an old theatre in Bath; it’s normally a bit lumpy in there but this time it was great, very solid and punchy.”
The only venue that had required a bigger system was the Glasgow Hydro Arena, where 22live topped the PA system up with an additional 24 Martin Audio WPL (dual 12-inch) enclosures. This brought the following comment from Trevor Gilligan: “We had a great night in the Hydro; the PA worked perfectly … the best mixing experience I have had there.”
The band continued to tour with the same setup throughout 2023, with a second European run that commenced in January. From the start of this run, monitor engineer Kevin Smith also adopted Martin Audio on the state, switching to XE500 15-inch bi-amp coaxial differential dispersion monitors at 22live’s recommendation. “They have delivered way above and beyond my expectation and are definitely a step up from what I was using previously,” Smith states.
The production wanted the inventory to be shipped across the ccean in its entirety. “It is the first time they have shipped PA equipment in a long time, and that’s a real testament to their appreciation of the kit,” notes 22live commercial director Alex Penn.
