Date: July 2007

MODERN CLASSIC: ATHENS’ NEWEST VENUE INSTALLS FIRST GREEK XL8

The Badminton Theatre in Athens has become the first Greek venue to install a Midas XL8 Live Performance System. The system was supplied by Midas and Klark Teknik’s Greek distributor, Omikron Control.

The Badminton is now a 2,500-capacity theatre, but a clue to the venue’s original function is in the name: it was created from a badminton arena built for the 2004 Olympic Games. After the games, the building was used to stage a four-month run of Cats, proving it could function as a successful theatre. It has been rented by the Athens-based A.B.C.D company for a 20-year term, and a major six-month renovation project took place which included digging down 7.5 metres to create an amphitheatre-style auditorium.

Wanting to provide the best possible quality right across the theatre, A.B.C.D. opted for the Midas XL8 when it came to choosing a mixing system. “We wanted to create a high quality theatre experience for our audiences by providing the best-possible sound, lighting, visuals, seating etc,” says Renos Papapaschos, technical director of A.B.C.D. “Because we felt the XL8 was the best possible live console we could buy, we were happy to be one of the first customers to have this system installed into our venue.”

Papapaschos, a long-time Midas user, stresses that it took just five minutes for him to feel comfortable in front of the XL8 control surface. “The operation is so similar to that of Midas analogue consoles that engineers who haven’t trained on digital can learn it quickly,” he says. “A lot of different shows come through here, so it has to be easy to use. Many engineers also pass by to find out how it works. Everyone experiences the same thing: it’s very user friendly, and most things you need to access are right in front of you. This removes the problem experienced with most digital consoles: losing instant access to a lot of information. It also sounds even better than the Midas analogue consoles I’ve worked with over the years, which is really saying a lot. I recently did a classical mix with orchestra, choir and tenors, and I didn’t need any EQ because the sound of the console was so good.

“We are also impressed by the XL8’s other main features such as its automation, which you rely heavily on in the theatre. For our recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar, the XL8 was also used for all monitoring, so we used all the inputs and outputs and had the desk working to full capacity. Its networking capability provides very good communications via fibre optic, and it’s great to be able to check the network and make sure everything’s working fine. And as we don’t need to load lots of plug-ins, it boots up and starts working quickly and reliably.”

However Papapaschos has opted to use a Klark Teknik Helix digital EQ with the XL8. “This is a great add-on to the console,” he says. “It allows very fast access to the auxiliaries through the Solo Tracking System function, which shows the solo’d outputs on the Helix master unit or a wireless tablet PC. I often use this for EQing the surround speakers; it’s very fast and accurate to press solo and do the EQ.”

The Badminton XL8 now has a number of high profile musicals under its belt, from the opening production of Swan Lake, through to Tap Dogs, a show by Greek composer Giannis Markopoulos and Jesus Christ Superstar.

 

Photo caption: Renos Papapaschos, technical director of A.B.C.D. with the Midas XL8

Photo caption: The Midas XL8 in the Badminton Theatre, Athens

ENDS

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Editor’s information:
Klark Teknik was founded in 1974 and in the years immediately following, their innovative approach to design and development allowed them to introduce some truly groundbreaking designs. Klark Teknik was responsible for the world’s first digital delay and digital reverb units, however it was their concepts for equalisation devices that really changed the world of professional audio resulting in the DN370 and the famous DN360. Today Klark Teknik continues to bring innovation in design and dedication to engineering and sonic quality in both the analogue and digital realm of signal processing, with the Square ONE and Show Command ranges updating the brand.

Midas live performance mixing consoles have been used by the world's most demanding sound engineers, performers and rental companies for three decades. The company strives to raise the standards of sonic quality through its programme of continual research and development, implementing new control functionality and user-friendly desk operation to anticipate and accommodate the ever-evolving needs of audio professionals who specify Midas consoles for their major tours, festivals, international events, broadcast projects and prestigious fixed installations.

 

Bosch Communications Systems—a business unit of Bosch Security Systems—is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional audio, wireless, life safety and communication equipment. Bosch Communications Systems offers complete system solutions for the world's most critical, high-profile installations and events.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros in fiscal 2006. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 300 subsidiary and regional companies in over 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spends more than three billion euros each year for research and development, and in 2006 applied for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.”

The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com.