Oh boy everybody... I try and get out, but they just pull me back in!
Been a while since I have really contributed to the forum, but as luck would have it, in my retirement, I land what could potentially be the biggest, most lucrative and dream worthy gig of my life!!! So guess that means I have to come back
After the " Pandemic " started, I pivoted out of sound engineering and into IT work. I started off working as a production manager for an event production company, but after long hors and roughly half the income than what I was making prior to the pandemic, I quickly tired and transitioned into an IT gig for a pretty large company. It pays great, is solid and i do well at the job for the level I am at. I'm not a Sys-Admin yet, but I play in AD and manage an MDM like one. Anyway, let's get on with the fun stuff.
Years ago ( like 10 years ago ) I did sound for a person ( NDA ) and they were impressed with my work. Last year I did sound for them again ( at a gig I had done for years, and continued to do for fun ), and they were again impressed with my work. They asked if I was interested in doing sound for them on a tour, and I said sure, thinking I would never hear back... If you could eat thoughts, I would be dead. Nearly a year later they call, and I tell them I am essentially retired, but let me see what they have in mind. Let's just say that 100% of people who have heard the deal, say I would be an idiot for not taking the offer. My wife who swore she would leave me if I toured again, said better say yes...
So, this artist wants me to be an A1 @ FOH, do their rehearsals, Tune-Up shows, and their Full tour. They told me to pick the Mixer, and PA of my choice and that the tune-up dates are for 3000-6000 cap venues, then the tour dates will of course be full sized 10k+ cap events. I have some ideas but want some feedback from others on what their experience is with some mixers and PA's that fit that bill. This will be a purchased PA system, so limited rentals, but will be renting in European dates.
First my do not want list. I know some may laugh, but I really don't want an Avid S6L; really great mixer, so long as it works... Actually not interested in Avid at all. It is a 14 piece band, and I don't feel a need to burn 96+ channels, so I am looking at smaller format mixers anyway. As for PA I am not interested in EAW, JBL, or RCF, I am looking to run in the L' Acoustics, D&B Audiotechnik, Martin, or Meyer families. I am most familiar with L' Acoustics and D&B. That simple really. We are doing 100% IEM's so I need a mixer that will accommodate that, and for PA, I am more interested in a medium format ( this is not a rock band, more R&B/Pop ).
What I am looking at:
Allen & Heath Avantis, not first choice, but it honestly has enough, and I can get four of them for less than a single Avid S6L; which WILL stop working at some point. I have worked with an Avid S6L 5 times and there was only one instance where a backup wasn't needed... My main is honestly a Digico Quantum 225. It does what it needs to do. If they will allow it, an SD12 would be my first choice. I'm semi worried about availability in foreign countries, but I feel those two options have enough, will be reliable, and easy enough to acquire. If you have any thoughts and or suggestions let me know.
As for PA, I am more or less leaning towards the L' Acoustics Kiva II, or their L System ( totally different fields I know ). I like the D&B V12 & Y12 series, or another choice would be the Meyer Leopard, or the Martin WPC. I have worked with the older Martin W8L and loved those, but time has passed... For the L' Acoustics L system it is more about scalability, I can run a two box, or a four box system and have my needs covered; and then some. Not only that, I like the Point source type of thing it has going for it ( yes I know, it is not actually a PS rig ).
I am very interested in reading others' ideas on what they may choose for this type of thing. I know what I would like, but I am looking for options I may have out of my periphery.
