Allen & Heath’s iLIVE digital mixing console did not disappoint the hordes of music fans and artists that gathered together at The Belmont in Austin, Texas as part of the 27th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference in March.
The days were jam-packed with music industry people from around the world, eager to share their experiences with one another, listen to some great artists and scout for new talent.
Organizers announced that nearly 2,000 music acts of all genres from around the globe performed on more than 100 stages in the downtown area. Live Nation partnered with the Skype Mobile Lounge at The Belmont, located in the heart of the historic district on 6th Street in downtown Austin. The renowned concert promoter showcased up-and-coming artists as well as headliners that had fans lining up around the block.
Allen & Heath outfitted The Belmont with an iLIVE T-112, an iDR-48 and its flagship DJ mixer, XONE DB:4, to provide sound for this busy outdoor stage.
The iLIVE system was in use nonstop for 14 hours a day for three straight days in weather that ranged from the mid-40s to the high 80s and never skipped a beat.
“Our iLIVE console was used by more than two dozen artists in back-to-back sets during the festival,” said Michael Palmer, vice president of sales for Allen & Heath. “Many of the band’s engineers came in cold and were up and running on the system with just a few minutes of instruction.”
The headliners had the luxury of a soundcheck, which is a rarity at SXSW. “It was easy to simply store their mixes on the iLIVE and recall them later in the evening with the touch of a button,” explains Palmer.
Live Nation featured stellar talent including Kids These Days, Capital Cities, The Neighbourhood, Colt Ford, Drake White, Willy Moon and The Chevin. They closed out the festival with alternative rock band Third Eye Blind.
“Live Nation promotes over 22,000 music events world-wide every year so it was a real coup for Allen & Heath to sponsor their stage during SXSW,” said Palmer. “Together, Live Nation, Skype and Allen & Heath created a unique, technology-fueled experience for thousands of music junkies that will not soon be forgotten.”
Allen & Heath also provided digital mixing systems at several other major venues during SXSW including The Fader Fort, Threadgills and Vice Bar.
