MIDAS XL8 ON WINNING STREAK AT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Norway's largest rental company AVAB CAC has provided the sound system for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, held annually at the Oslo Spektrum, for the last 10 years.
Sound quality is of the utmost importance at this prestigious event, and AVAB CAC prides itself on using the best technology available. For that reason, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony 2007 featured a Midas XL8 Live Performance System at front of house for the first time.
"This year we knew we had to be digital, as we have been for a few years, but we also wanted to provide a console with sound quality equal to that of an XL4,and with double the amount of inputs and far more outputs then a H3000," says Asle Nilsen, head of AVAB CAC's sound department.
The answer to this conundrum was obvious, with AVAB CAC turning to an XL8 to fulfil their requirements and more.
At the controls of the XL8 were AVAB CAC senior FOH engineer Geir Østensjø. "The XL8 is a tremendous digital tool that provides easy access to all the knobs and faders, just as if you're working on an analogue desk," he says. "The five bright screens give you a great overview of what's coming into and going out of the desk, while the POP (population) groups give fast and easy access to all the channels with one push of a button. With the new 1.06 software, the XL8 ticks all the boxes we feel a digital console should, as well as being by far the best sounding console ever."
This year's Nobel Peace Prize paid tribute to the 2007 Laureates Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The star-studded show was hosted by Hollywood actors Uma Thurman and Kevin Spacey, while artists including Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, KT Tunstall, Earth Wind and Fire, Norway's own Morten Harket from a-ha, and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.
All artists played live, with a tremendous number of inputs and outputs to be routed in and out during 30-second changeovers. "This couldn't be done without a digital tool, and the fact the XL8 provides a very reliable and well planned splitter system – the DL431 and the I/O DL451 - makes this so much easier," concludes Nilsen. "The show was flawless and many people commented afterwards that the sound was absolutely brilliant."
AVAB CAC senior FOH engineer Geir Østensjø with the XL8 at the Nobel Peace Prize
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Editors' information:
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.