Protec getting good use from increased inventory
Published: MEA
UAE: Production Technology (Protec) has increased its inventory and seen a large proportion of the new equipment out to cover performances from various artists and corporate events. The company has covered a number of high-profile gigs recently including Usher, Jessie J and Seb Fontain and Westlife.
For the Usher gig, Protec used two drops of 12 L-Acoustics V-Dosc with a two dV-Dosc underhang. Out fills were provided by nine JBL Vertec 4888 per side. The subs were 24 L-Acoustics SB218s in four sets of five in cardioid configuration with two sets of two SB218s as infill and dV-Dosc on top. Monitoring was via Turbosound 230s and 330s, while an Avid Profile was used for monitors and the company sub-hired a DiGiCo SD7 for FOH. Protec also provided all mics and backline except for Ushers personal mics. ‘The FOH tour engineer did some gain tailoring on the day of the show but left the time alignment as we set it and expressed his happiness with the system,’ recalled senior audio technician John Parkhouse. ‘This show really was the best I can remember seeing in Dubai for some time.’
Next up for the company was Jessie J and Seb Fontain at Meydan for the post Dubai World Cup party. This gig was the first time that Protec had used only L-Acoustics speakers to cover every aspect of the show. This was due to the company’s recent purchase of the manufacturer’s 115XT HiQ active stage monitors. The main PA was 12 per side V-Dosc, and the company used same sub configuration as it did for Usher. ‘This really is our much tried and tested sub config,’ explained Mr Parkhouse. ‘Nothing can compare in our opinion, and believe me we really have tried every Sub config you can imagine.’ Monitors were four dV-Subs and eight 115XT HiQ with a Yamaha M7 as control.
Also making a debut at the show were Protec’s new Shure KSM9 capsules as per the Jessie J rider request. ‘It has to be said this capsule sounds absolutely wonderful, particularly in the high mids,’ reported Mr Parkhouse. ‘It’s very responsive to a high quality huge vocal range voice such as Jessie J’s.’
Mr Parkhouse mixed the whole event for FOH on an Avid Profile and used a total of eight stereo effects on Jessie J’s voice in varying degrees to try help it sit within her playback tracks. Effects such as two types of reverb, two types of delay, doubler, chorus, symphonic and a phaser were all used. ‘I basically decided to have some fun with it and having listened to her album quite a few times I tried to mimic the album vocal effects as best as I could,’ he explained.
Another recent highlight for the company was Westlife. This show had a similar setup to the Meydan gig with 12 V-Dosc per side, two six drops of dV-Dosc on outfills and 115 wedges as infills. The desk at FOH was a Yamaha PM5D while monitors was a DiGiCo D5. Andy ‘Baggy’ Robinson travelled to Dubai to mix FOH for the band was reportedly ‘elated’ with the system and service. ‘It’s always nice to work with top engineers,’ said Protec’s Ed Ross. ‘And when they like what you’re doing, that’s a reinforcement of the fact that you’re doing it right. I think it reinforces that the UAE can do things properly, there are companies here that can do as good a job as a European company.’