Midas digital consoles a hit in Norway
Norwegian Midas distributor AVAB CAC is reporting multiple sales of Midas digital consoles, with several leading venues purchasing models in the Midas PRO range, including the first Midas PRO3 to be installed in the country.
The Arendal Cultural Centre has taken delivery of the entry level Midas PRO3, to the delight of the arts centre's technical co-ordinator Finn Cato Andersen, who sees the console as a key attraction for visiting engineers. "We know how much engineers value the Midas sound, and we wanted the best possible equipment for our venue," he says.
The console is being used at FOH in the centre's performance space, which has a capacity of up to 1,200 standing (700 seated) and hosts a full range of performance arts from theatre to musicals, classical concerts and rock gigs as well as occasional conferences. With a large number of engineers coming in to use the equipment, Anderson is particularly impressed with the PRO3's intuitive design. "It's simple to learn and simple to use," he explains. "It feels like an analogue mixer, patching is straightforward and there is easy access to the onboard FX, EQ and dynamics. And the sound, of course, is fantastic. The PRO3 has already surpassed our high expectations."
Two more Norwegian cultural centres have taken delivery of Midas PRO6s. At the renowned Arctic Cultural Centre in Hammerfest, technical director Thomas Mikarlsen is impressed with the Midas PRO6 installed in the centre's main concert hall as FOH mixer. "We chose the PRO6 because of its reputation, its user-friendliness, its compact size and its networking capabilities," he says. As well its outstanding sound, the POP(ulation) groups and VCAs make it easy to stay in control."
A PRO6 is also now in use at the Larvik Cultural Centre, where it was installed at the recommendation of technical manager Anders Verde.
At Norway's National Rock and Pop Museum "Rockheim" in Trondheim, a further PRO6 has been installed for the main stage, together with an analogue Midas Heritage 2000.
"Rockheim's acoustics were specifically designed for amplified music, pop, rock, hip hop, etc, and I have never encountered such a stage in almost 30 years of touring ," says Rockheim's Paal Grenne. "Our aim was to create the best concert venue in the country, and for that we wanted state of the art equipment. Midas was the perfect choice."
Meanwhile, Norway's current bestselling band Donkeyboy have purchased a PRO6 as their FOH console, and are using a Klark Teknik DN9696 to record their shows. "We searched for a console that maintained the sound quality and the 'right mixing feel' that were important to us, and when we got to the PRO6, our search was over," says the band's FOH engineer Ingar Aabo. "The sound and feel, the EQ and the summation of the mix made it easy to decide on the PRO6, and now we always specify one where it's not possible to bring in our own. The POPulation groups are a smart new way to setup your layers and have easy access the channels you really want.
"As for the DN9696, it's an invaluable tool that allows us to listen to a previously-recorded show and play it during sound check instead of the band having to repeat something over and over just to tweak some parts. It's easy to use and hook up – a couple of Cat6 cables and we're ready to go."
Donkeyboy have been touring throughout the summer and continue into the autumn.
Photo: Midas PRO3 at the Arendal Cultural Centre with (L to R) Finn Cato Andersen, Kurt Langemyr and Jon Inge Myrene
Photo: Rockheim's Paal Grenne with venue's PRO6