PROJECT
FILE
Mitch Malloy, frontman for Grammy-nominated hard rockers Great
White, counts on a Lectrosonics HHa handheld wireless transmitter
and companion LR receiver when singing live.
Because Great White plays mainly fly-in dates with rented consoles,
PA, and backline, they’re very selective about what gear they carry in
airline baggage. “Often, we’re in a hurry because we play a lot of big fes-
tivals that have tight change-over times between acts,” says Malloy. “The
way the LR receiver automatically finds the least-occupied frequency
band and gives you a visual readout is a real lifesaver under these condi-
tions… Then you put the HHa transmitter next to it and the two pair up
right away over infrared. Plus, at festivals, there’s a ton of RF flying around
in the air because there are so many channels and different kinds of
wireless in use. Not once have our Lectro rigs had a problem with cross-
talk, latency, or anything else.” Superstar Canadian singer Michael Bublé has returned for 91 shows
in North America and Europe in 2019. Dubbed An Evening with Michael
Bublé, the tour relies on a Meyer Sound system supplied by Montreal-
based Solotech – as has been the case for the past 10-plus years.
“Michael loves getting out into the audience on a B-stage, which
he has done the last two tours, but he was having a problem with his
vocal from the main stage PA bleeding into his mic and then going into
his IEMs,” explains Craig Doubet, Bublé’s FOH engineer. “Now… when
he goes to the B-stage, we move his vocal along using some newly-
developed software in Galaxy.”
The main stage system for the tour comprises 16 LEO and 44 LYON
line array loudspeakers configured across the front/out and side sys-
tems. Twelve 1100-LFC low frequency control elements are flown at the
main stage, with front fill from eight MINA and two JM-1P loudspeakers
and floor bass anchored by four 900-LFC elements.
For rap star Nicki Minaj’s 2019 European and U.K. tour, Cleveland-
based Eighth Day Sound supplied the PA and control package, which
featured Digico SD5 consoles for both FOH and monitors, plus five SD-
Racks and an SD-Mini Rack, all on an Optocore loop.
“We used a traditional splitter for some inputs, but also shared inputs
via the loop,” says FOH engineer Kevin Brown. “Looping the consoles also
enabled us to use the con send and receive ports, which was particularly
useful when I needed to send audio down to monitors; this could be
talkbacks, FX, or playback audio from FOH. I also used the new Digigrid
MGR at my console for recording and virtual playback.” Encompass AV just installed a comprehensive Martin Audio CDD
sound system in the fashionable SX Sky Bar nightclub and lounge that
occupies two floors of the luxurious new Hotel Essex across from Chi-
cago’s Grant Park.
“Initially the designer was spec’ing another brand,” says Encompass
AV owner Tim Pickett, “and they brought us onboard because they
wanted to do something special in terms of sound and make it different
and nice, so we moved them into a Martin Audio CDD system.”
The sixth-floor lounge includes a combination of 16 wall-mounted
CDD8s throughout the bar and booth area with six CDD6s in a custom
zone facing the glass windows with a lake view. These are matched with
four CSX118 and two CSX212 subs distributed evenly throughout the
space. There are also eight in-ceiling Martin Audio C8.1Ts in a private
dining area.
62 PROFESSIONAL SOUND