A combined Allen & Heath iDR installation and iLive digital mixing system were chose as the audio distribution and FOH mixer for a new multi-format theatre at the Buxton Opera House Pavilion Arts Centre in Derbyshire, UK.
The 360-capacity auditorium, which hosts a varied program of theatre and conference events, has an iDR-32 MixRack and iDR-8 Mix Processor installed in a backstage sound rack, with an iLive-T80 Control Surface at the front of house position.
There is also a PL-6 remote fader panel and a laptop loaded with iLive and iDR control software in the studio, as well as a PL-10 rotary control panel in the prompt corner position. The system aqlso includes Martin Audio loudspeakers and amplifiers.
“An iDR-8 was installed in the main opera house to control the speaker PA system and we’ve been impressed by its versatility and user-friendliness, so a combined iDR-8 and iLive mixing system was the obvious choice for the new venue,” explains Guy Dunk, technical manager at Buxton Opera House.
The Arts Centre’s iDR-8 also controls loudspeaker management and the iLive system manages house audio. The combined system enables the venue to set up different scenes for different configurations.
“The flexibility of the iDR-32 and iDR-8, along with the PL remote, has been invaluable; we have one control solution for two venues without the need to move equipment around. The ability to have multiple instant points of control – at FOH with the T80 surface, on stage with a laptop, and in the studio with a laptop and PL-6 – is fantastic,” says Jim Morgan, deputy technical manager. “iLive is infinitely configurable, so at the push of a button we can hand the desk over to inexperienced users, then 10 minutes later hand over to a pro touring engineer for a full blown rock ‘n roll show.”
iLive has already managed events such as the 10-day music festival Four Four Time Music, and the Buxton Festival, taking place in the main house and in the Pavilion Arts Centre.
“Handing over the console to touring engineers was very easy, as the basic mixing tasks are not normally more than one button push away and increasingly touring engineers are becoming familiar with the system – some have turned up with a show ready on a USB drive, as the iLive offline Editor software has allowed them to prep. iLive has been great, switching from one show to another, as well as one venue to another,” concludes Morgan.