While specialising in audio engineering this was more an oversight and events management role and required Dave to not only rig sound and light but operate lights and provide support for Flix Gillett and the events team.

From a audio perspective it was a case of sound reinforcement with ambient microphones throughout the orchestra. While from a lighting perspective the orchestra’s autumn theme of a dance venue was followed with blue being used to illuminate the backdrop, a mirror ball flown in the ceiling and diffused white light to light the orchestra. Additionally two Source 4′s were used to provide lighting of Gerrard Le Fuerve, the Orchestra’s musical director.

Everyone was very happy with how the event went and Flix commented “Thanks loads for all your help today – it was invaluable!“

Dave Johnson Audio recently headed over to the WFX conference in Dallas, Texas to investigate the differences between the UK Church technology scene and the American scene.

Part of this trip included a visit to the huge Gateway Church campus in Southlake, Texas which spent $86m on it’s building which opened a year ago. 10% of that figure was spent on technical production – the main auditorium had three hangs of Meyer Sound’s MILO complete with fourteen Meyer Sound 700-HP sub-woofers controlled via Meyer Sound’s Galileo 616 processor, three DigiCo SD7′s (One at Front of House, one at Monitors and a SD7-B for the onsite broadcast suite). Lighting throughout the main auditorium was intelligent moving heads and LED screens all controlled via MA Lighting’s GrandMA (complete with a fully redundant backup console).

DigiCo, Meyer Sound and MA Lighting were also used in the Children/Youth venues. It really was a venue to behold.

Elsewhere at the conference, European manufacturers L’Acoustic and Nexo were showing their KARA and GEO S systems (including subs) respectively. In comparison with American systems, the mid-range European systems sounded consistently more defined.

Thanks to the Worship Facilities Expo team and both David Leuschner and the Gateway Church Technical Arts team – Look them up on twitter @technicalarts or their website http://www.bigchurchtech.com.

Click below to see a gallery of the Gateway Church tour

Dave Johnson Audio were asked to provide monitor mixing services for the Lincolnshire based Dave Bell Band at Norwich’s Open Venue over the 23/24 July for a Church outreach project. This was the second time that both the band and Dave Johnson Audio had been at the venue.

The band requested a mixture of In Ear Monitors and Wedges all run from a Yamaha LS9-32.

For Dave this was an opportunity to utilise the relatively new idea of placing microphones under the cymbals rather than on the top. There are two reasons why this is growing in popularity.

1. It makes for a cleaner setup
2. For a drummer using In Ear Monitors it provides a more natural sound with less spill than traditional overheads.

Following the successful Healing Encounter tour Dave Johnson Audio was asked by the Dave Bell Band to provide AV and rigging services for their event at the Christian Life Centre. This was the first that B-Man, formerly of [dweeb], had played with the band.

All of the set was programmed in to Q-Lab Live Show Controller complete with the multi-track audio option to allow click, backing tracks and loops in sync with video.

Both Dave’s are looking forward to working with each other in the future.

Working alongside Peachy Productions and Simon Moss Audio the team set about turning the the football stadium into a venue for 5,000 young people.

The main system was two full stacks of d&b audiotechnik C4 with an additional half stack of C4 and a single B2 per side. Monitors were either Martin LE-400 or, for the drummer, a single d&b audiotechnik C7 sub and top.

Artists performing at the event included [dweeb], Bebe Vox and LZ7.

Overall the event was hailed a success and a follow up event is being planned.