Digico Triumphs at Diana Memorial Concert

Eight D5 Consoles Ensure Smooth Audio Transmission

More than 60,000 people joined Princes William and Harry at Wembley Stadium in London, UK on July 1 to celebrate the life of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The eight hour concert, which included performances by the English National Ballet, Duran Duran, The Feeling, Kanye West, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart and Elton John was broadcast to 500 million homes in 140 countries; with concert sound provided by UK firm Britannia Row Productions, supported by UK digital console manufacturer DiGiCo, with a total of eight DiGiCo D5 consoles utilised throughout the production.

Following DiGiCo’s success at the Live8 concerts in London almost two years to the day, Britannia Row, led by Audio Production Manager Derek Zieba, once again chose the DiGiCo team and product to provide seamless audio console facilities for visiting engineers, plus feeds to the BBC broadcast crew.

And, as with all modern large-scale productions, the quick changeovers between performers called for the utmost agility in the audio chain. Once a problem with conventional analogue boards, the D5’s again proved to be a benefit to the production, providing immediate parameter reset according to each performer’s requirements, thus helping with adherence to the strict time structure in place for the event and the worldwide broadcast.

A total of five DiGiCo D5 consoles were available in the front-of-house (FOH) mix position. One D5 acted as main system controller and a further two D5s were used on alternate mix positions to allow for the short turnaround time between bands. An additional D5 was available for prepping, while a fifth D5 was brought in by Rod Stewart’s engineer, Lars Brogaard for personal use during his set.

Monitor World saw a further two DiGiCo D5s working alternately between performers, while a third D5 was set-up at the rear of the area as an introduction to the board should that be required by visiting engineers.

The on-site DiGiCo crew, which included Chief Executive Bob Doyle, Technical Director John Stadius, Technical Sales Manager Tim Shaxson and Head of Software Development and Support Roger Wood, worked closely with both Britannia Row crew and visiting engineers to ensure that all went smoothly, however given the extremely high quality of staff working on the show, their belt-and-braces approach to the production was hardly required during the event.

“We’ve had a D5 up in Monitor World purely for an introduction to the product and for appraisal purposes, should it be required,” explained Roger Wood, who oversaw the area on behalf of DiGiCo. “In reality however, no-one needed, or asked to use it. All the visiting engineers were completely happy and at home with the console from moment one. If anything, this shows just how accepted the DiGiCo product now stands in the professional audio community.”

Outboard effects racks, or indeed the lack of them, was another noticeable feature at both FOH and Monitor positions, with very little on show in both areas.

“The D5 offers so much in the terms of compression, EQ, gates and the like, that quite frankly, you don’t need to bring outboard in any more,” explained Bob Doyle. “Some engineers will bring in a specific unit as they feel right, but in general, for a show like this, they are all happy to work with what we provide internally within the console. People have grown up. They trust the systems. They know it will do the job. As such, we are proud to be involved again with Brit Row in helping to make a landmark show in both live and broadcast values.”

The DiGiCo systems, along with Britannia Row’s equipment and crews were also extensively deployed during the London leg of the Live Earth series of concerts the following weekend, which was also held in Wembley Stadium.

  “The reliability of the D5’s has been amazing,” says Chris. “Both consoles haven’t stopped once which, considering the amount of miles they’ve done and some of the dodgy handling by airfreight companies in certain parts of the world, is a huge testament to the build quality. Opening the box and knowing it will work perfectly every single day is excellent.”   Overall the tour is going very well, Chris and Rod’s experience as Kylie’s regular FOH / monitor team proving a valuable resource for the four classical singers as they get to grips with the rigours of what is, essentially, a rock ’n’ roll-style tour.   “We’ve formed very good relationships with them,” says Chris. “They trust us to use the technology to present to them in best possible way and the audiences are going home happy.”   He continues: “We are operating with the highest production values on this tour. Ticket prices are high and so people’s expectations are also high. We simply can’t afford for the show to be below par, because if it is, they will stay away. Most audiences these days have sophisticated home entertainment systems and they want that sound replicated here in the live venue! Generally they don’t understand the mechanics of live audio and nor should they. “But thanks in no small part to the DiGiCo consoles, we can fulfil those expectation levels.”