| JUNE 2008 | |
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DIGICO MAKES SOUND SENSE FOR STAGE SOUND SERVICES |
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Welsh audio company Stage Sound Services has a bit of history with DiGiCo mixing consoles. The company first invested in a D1 three years ago and, in the intervening years, has continually built on its inventory. “We purchased the D1 after assessing the different options available,” says Stage Sound Services’ owner Phil Hurley. “It came out as the best on the market, so we decided DiGiCo was the way to go.” Hurley’s next DiGiCo investment came in the form of a D5-T12 for the Me And My Girl theatre tour, which went on to a rental contract with Blitz Communications for use on a variety of shows. “Autograph Hire approached me about supplying a complete DiGiCo set-up for the Desperately Seeking Susan production that was to hit the West End,” says Hurley. “The D5-T12 was ideal. I purchased a second D5-TC system with redundant engines and the remote Theatre Controller for the Mamma Mia tour in Barcelona . This purchase meant we had a system that met both sound designer Bobby Aitken’s standard as well as that of Autograph.” The Stage Sound umbrella spreads wide and includes the hire of DiGiCo consoles to the National Theatre for its summer events, a contract it has had for the last two years. “We work on numerous productions, including corporate events, as well as dry hiring equipment and we do an element of design as well,” says Hurley. The system that was being used on Desperately Seeking Susan has transferred to another Aitken-designed show, Dirty Dancing, in Utrecht. Stage Sound has invested in a yet another new system that is being used on the year long Mary Poppins UK tour starting in June this year which will take in Plymouth, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Cardiff, all of which are again Autograph shows. “DiGiCo consoles being used on a tour of this length emphasises the degree of support that both Sound Stage Services and DiGiCo show when it comes to backing the product,” says Hurley. “The fact that one of the leading sound companies puts its faith in the product, as well as the show, says it all. “DiGiCo consoles are not just great products for our own production needs, they are also great when it comes to business in general, as their popularity means they can easily be rented out to other companies.” And the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Hurley’s DiGiCo consoles are rented out on pretty much a full time basis. “The three D5Ts are out with Autograph now,” says Hurley. “The D1 is in the National Theatre at the moment and when it comes back it will go straight out with a company called Complicitate Dance Company that has a summer tour coming up from July through to November, stopping at Barcelona, Paris and the Barbican.” So what does Hurley like most about DiGiCo? “It’s a recognised ‘standard’ digital console that people have got confidence in, and I like the open relationship I have with the guys at DiGiCo. You can phone them up at any time if you’ve got a problem and they will solve it. They are a very friendly company to deal with, very responsive and very quick. What more can you ask?”
Press Contacts: Sarah James at Gasoline Media |
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