LONDON – Florence and the Machine completed a string of U.K. dates with a Midas PRO6 at front of house, operated by sound engineer Ian Laughton and provided by Britannia Row Productions.
Laughton's previous experience of Midas digital systems was using an XL8 for The Verve. "I thought this little baby would so suit Florence; her show is very musical, with lots of dynamics, and this makes it sound exactly how you want her to sound," Laughton said.
Laughton had several days of rehearsals at Elstree Studios to get used to the PRO6, and his XL8 training came back to him as soon as he walked up to it.
"I'm using it just like I did the XL8, and it's great to be back using features like the POP(ulation) Groups," he says. "It just gets better and better to use; it's so intuitive, and you're not limited by anything.
"For example, you might think of something you'd really like the desk to do, and lo and behold, the PRO6 has it covered and you can do it," Laughton said. "Florence does a lot of running around the stage, alternating between singing and talking to the crowd. With the PRO6 I can assign, say, her vocal and immediate FX to the right hand side of the desk (Area B) and my assistant can pan her mic away from the PA and or take her FX off while I am still mixing the band and doing stuff on the left hand side of the desk (Area A). Its brilliant."
Laughton also made good use of the PRO6's onboard effects. "I'm using it all: the KT graphic EQs, the pitch shifter, the delay, stereo band compressors, the gates. There's also an extra compressor I've discovered on the sub groups called the Shimmer, which is fantastic used on Florence's voice. Overall, it sounds phenomenal."
The Florence and the Machine tour dates include stops the U.S. and Australia, plus the summer festival circuit, and Laughton will be taking his PRO6 show settings with him on a USB key. "Another of the great things about digital desks is you can pick up where you left off. I'll be able to bring the whole show back immediately, no matter where I am," he said.
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