Comprising an iDR-64 mix engine with iLive-144 control surface, the iLive system was initially installed in Eden's Warm Temperate biome, where the Carnawn Ladies Choir sang a mixture of Christmas and traditional Cornish songs.
"The Biome's dimensions are 135m long 35m high and 65m wide, and with many twists and turns, open spaces and enveloping vegetation, it is acoustically challenging to fill all areas. However, iLive - feeding an EM Acoustic speaker system - filled the biome with the choir's pure harmonies," explains Steve Yelland from local PA company, SPS Systems, which manages many of Eden's AV requirements. "Visitors were encouraged to walk around the Biome to enjoy the performance anywhere in the dome, and as the choir sang without accompaniment, I had the opportunity to create a rich soundscape over the biome."
Since opening in March 2001, the Eden Project has become one of the UK's most visited tourist attractions, and its attractive setting - 35 acres of a former clay mining pit - has made it a great proposition for large music events, including Live 8's Africa Calling event and the annual Eden Sessions, which have included prestigious acts such as Moby, Muse, Brian Wilson, the Magic Numbers, and Basement Jaxx.
Moving from the Warm Temperate biome - which emulates the climate of the Mediterranean, Southwest Australia, and parts of South Africa and California - the system was positioned outdoors to manage audio for the Eden Choir, who were entertaining visitors and BBC viewers with Cornish folk songs. The event culminated in a rendition of the renowned folksong, 'Cornish Lads', highlighting the loss of traditional local industries. Life-sized paper lanterns positioned around the natural arena reflecting themes in the song were lit in turn, and the event ended in a spectacular firework display.
"For iLive's first outing, we didn't go for an easy option - we like a challenge!" explains Allen & Heath MD, Glenn Rogers. "Firstly, we moved the system mid-evening to cater for both indoor and outdoor events, which also meant that the equipment was relocated from the warm biome to the cold and rain of a November evening in the UK. iLive took only minutes to set up a second time, and despite the inclement weather it proved it could withstand the elements."
"This was the first time I had used the iLive system and within 10 minutes I had worked out all the controls - it's surprisingly intuitive to navigate for a digital console, and I didn't feel intimidated mixing live after only a short time with it. It was a hectic evening running two events with different set ups in two completely different environments but I felt comfortable using the system, and it went without a hitch. I'm keen to use iLive again for Eden events as not only is it proven to be easy to set up and run, it is also compact and portable, and can cope with outdoor conditions," concludes Yelland.
(Lee Baldock)
