Electronic pop band Little Dragon recently took to the stage at Somerset House, London’s major arts and cultural center, with monitor engineer Marco Cruneri utilizing the mixing capabilities of a Harman’s Soundcraft Vi3000 console.
The 3,000-capacity venue is constructed with an open courtyard in the middle of a Victorian-era building, presenting a test for the latest Soundcraft digital console.
With almost a decade of engineering experience and several years working with the Soundcraft Vi Series, Cruneri sees the Vi3000 as the best choice for the band.
“All Vi Series consoles have nice layouts and great sound, but the features on the Vi3000 are what attract me the most as they are excellent for monitor engineers,” he says. “I love the flexibility and versatility of the desk, it allows me to work as I would like. The fact that all the I/O is at the back of the desk makes it really compact.”
During its tour throughout the UK, Little Dragon faced multiple technical challenges including limits on the weight of the trailer and time restrictions during sound checks. But due to the ergonomics of the Vi3000, and the ability to complete sound checks with the iPad ViSi Remote App, Cruneri found it extremely easy to complete sound checks in the short time allocated.
“The iPad App means that I can work faster and more efficiently. I found that unlike some other brands, Soundcraft offers a straightforward console that touring engineers can pick up and immediately mix on, shown by intuitive features like FaderGlow,” he explains.
Cruneri plans to continue using the Vi3000 console for Little Dragon’s performances within the UK as well as carry it again during the upcoming winter tour.