MIDAS XL8 MIX FOR NYC’S “CONCERTS IN THE PARKS” SERIES
The Midas XL8 performed in the prestigious company of the New York Philharmonic this summer, as FOH mixing console for the 43rd consecutive Concerts in the Parks series, which brings free of charge world-class classical music performances to parks across New York City’s five boroughs. The XL8 was supplied by Sound Associates, Inc., who are having particular success with the new digital Midas in their theatrical show sound designs, including the hit Sister Act.
Sound Associates Domonic Sack—one of the sound designers for Sister Act and system designer for the Concerts in the Park—was instrumental in introducing the XL8 to PJ Volpe and Rob Gorton, both sound engineers for the Metropolitan Opera and support engineers for the Concerts in the Parks tour. The list of distinguished FOH engineers who mixed with XL8 on the tour included Lawrence Rock of the New York Philharmonic. Wallace Flores of Sound Associates was charged with making Volpe and Gorton’s work with the system as smooth as possible, helping with the setup and overseeing hookup and implementation for the park shows.
“I was on hand to show PJ and Rob around the XL8, how everything works and to answer their questions,” says Flores. “They picked it up very quickly when they demo’d the system with the Met prior to the parks shows, so the same package went out with the Philharmonic with their full confidence.”
“The console did everything they hoped it would do and more,” Flores adds. “And, for such a sophisticated system, it’s really simple to use. PJ and Rob come from the analog world and are also familiar with the prior generation of digital consoles. The difference between what you can do on the XL8 and what you can do on one of the older digital desks is incredible—the XL8 is really in its own brand new category as a sound production tool. It’s so intuitive: an engineer can walk up to the XL8 and be comfortable on it in five minutes, because the layout has that analog feel—and analog sound quality to match. XL8 offers a great combination of hands-on mixing and digital flexibility. You can saturate the mic pre, take a few dB off the top with the digital trim so you know you’re not going to clip, and continue with full signal, all with that warm Midas sound. The list of great features goes on; the possibilities really are endless with XL8.”
Lawrence Rock and the NY Philharmonic in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
PJ Volpe and the Met Opera in Central Park
Photos by Wallace Flores:
ENDS
All brands and trademarks are recognised.
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.