When it comes to staging largescale international musicals in different countries, one thing remains paramount. Quality counts � at every level. Attention to detail and providing the same unparalleled support is second nature to Orbital Sound, with its reputation for touring sizeable sound and communications systems to just about anywhere in the world.
When it comes to staging large-scale international musicals in different countries, one thing remains paramount. Quality counts � at every level. Attention to detail and providing the same unparalleled support is second nature to Orbital Sound, with its reputation for touring sizeable sound and communications systems to just about anywhere in the world.
2015 has been an exceptionally busy year for the international team, with productions opening in Moscow, Holland and Japan within weeks of each other. The much loved musical "Singin' in the Rain" took to the stage at the Rossia Theatre in Moscow in October, featuring sound design by Gareth Owen and an all-d&b audiotechnik system.
Gareth has designed the last three major musical productions at the Rossia Theatre, starting with Little Mermaid followed by Beauty and the Beast, all with sound equipment and technical support from Orbital Sound. Respect for cultural differences and working practices is essential, with Gareth recalling a couple of incidents from Little Mermaid: "we were using a laser tool to measure between speakers, and I was using one as the audience came in. It nearly caused a diplomatic incident, as with Russian dignitaries in the audience, they associated the laser with a gun!" Sometimes it is building works that the team has to contend with � the Rossia Theatre was still being completed during tech, after a short break, the team came back to find that everything had been painted over, including the mix position!
Orbital's MD Chris Headlam added "you really have to be on top of things like radio frequencies and AC power. Our systems are natively 230v, which means we cover 90% of the world's power requirements without the need for conversion transformers. It's vital to know the real world frequency spectrum in each territory and also the potential use of 1.9, 2.4 and 5Ghz ranges, as those are increasingly used by sound and communication systems. Their capacity and banding varies enormously from country to country and just relying on "the sticker" won't work � you have to gain that knowledge through experience".
Sound system highlights:
d&b audiotechnik FOH system
� T10s with E6 and E8 fills and delays
� E3 surround system
� QSUBS and B2s
� Amplifiers � D6s and D12s, with EPAC3s for surround
FOH Mixing
� Avid Venue Control Surface
Radio Microphones
� Shure UHR4D+ 2-ch Radio Receiver and Shure UR1M Micro Beltpack Radio Transmitter
When it comes to staging largescale international musicals in different countries, one thing remains paramount. Quality counts � at every level. Attention to detail and providing the same unparalleled support is second nature to Orbital Sound, with its reputation for touring sizeable sound and communications systems to just about anywhere in the world.
