The D5T consoles have been purchased by separate New York-based rental companies, who are also supplying full sound and communication systems to the individual shows. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is being supplied by Sound Associates, while Spamalot has chosen ProMix as the rental provider. Each of these systems includes a D5T together with D5TC operator's console and a D5T-RE redundant engine, giving fully switchable backup should the need arise.
Nevin Steinberg explains how Acme Sound Partners came to specify the DiGiCo D5T's for both these shows: "We had attended a few D5T demonstrations in New York and Mark Menard, who has a long-standing relationship with Autograph, had worked with Andrew Bruce on the 2004 refit of Les Miserables in London, the first show to utilise a D5T. Mark reported back on the excellent sound quality and flexibility of the software, and that's when we decided to specify it for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I travelled to London myself and spent five days at Autograph while Andrew and his team prepared for Mary Poppins. They took me through the hardware and software set-up process on the forthcoming Poppins console, which was an enormous leg up for us on Scoundrels and a big confidence boost going into production. By this time Acme was convinced that the D5T was also the right console for Spamalot."
Lew Meade,A2D's US director, is very pleased with the way in which the US theatre market and its designers have so quickly embraced the D5T's technology. As an ex-rental company proprietor, he is also very aware how this console would also excite producers with its much smaller footprint, returning to them a significant number of saleable seats. "I am thrilled that the designers and the theatrical audio rental companies have so easily adapted to the digital technology and have seen the immeasurable benefits that the DiGiCo D5T and its family of products can offer."
(Lee Baldock)
