After considering all the possible contenders, sound engineer Roger Lindsay decided the Midas XL8 console was the appropriate front-of-house mixing console to address and match the complex demands of the recent sell-out arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.
With a 10-piece live band and over 40 vocalists, all individually mic'd, Lindsay required a console that not only offered a high channel count but also gave him maximum direct control of parameters at console surface level.
The complex musical direction and dynamic pace presented a real challenge, even for a seasoned live engineer like Lindsay. "From start to finish there's no time to relax with so much going on. The way a Lloyd-Webber rock musical works in an arena environment is very different to a conventional band with just a few live vocals. We're running around 50 channels for the band, which is not exceptional for a 10 piece unit, but we also feature over 40 live singers, many of whom, in addition to the nine principals, have multiple solo parts."
However, Lindsay believes that the XL8 offers the right combination of features that has made this production more manageable: "POPulation Groups were one of the main reasons why a MIDAS XL8 was the obvious choice. The way that both these, and the VCAs jump to the top surface at the touch of a single button, is crucial. I've got to be able to instantly access multiple groups of disparate channels throughout the show and the XL.8 does this with the minimum of fuss."
Jesus Christ Superstar opened on 21 September in London and toured UK arenas before a spectacular closing night on 21 October. The show stars newcomer Ben Forster in the title role, with comedian Tim Minchin as Judas and former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm as Mary Magdalene.
