"I think XTA kit sounds great, it's always very clean and detailed." says Suneil. "Having such a smooth graphic as the GQ600 is very important on DJ Shadow's shows.
"Where you would normally have natural dynamics from a band, you are limited in the dynamics that come from recorded tracks. To keep the gig exciting and not to tire the audiences' ears, I constantly work the graphics during the show, using them to highlight the nice bits, the cool sounds and the weird little hooks that draw the listener into the mix.
"The GQ600 is precise and smooth enough that the audience wouldn't hear the changes, but they will feel them," he says, adding: "Hopefully I mess with their heads a bit!"Controlled by three XTA DP226s and a DP224, the show's Funktion One PA system comprised seven Res 5, six F218 and one F221 per side. Here a wireless AudioCore network came into its own, being used to trim the system, while the parametric equalisation helped to eliminate any undesirable low frequencies.
"I specified the GQ600s anyway, but the rest of the XTA kit was a bonus," he says. "There was also a DP324 SiDD inserted on Shadow's vocal mic, which is used for talking to the audience."
Funktion One was specified because it provides a detailed sound, but still has plenty of power for the audience to feel physically involved. So when it came to graphics, they had to be accurate and not colour the sound of the PA or the mix.
"The GQ600 is very effective, but also very subtle sounding," Suneil continues. "Whether you are cutting or boosting frequencies, you never feel or hear that you are hacking into the nature of the PA system you are using.
"I really like how the Q gets tighter the more you cut or boost, because you don't want to be butchering a broad band of frequencies. Unlike fixed or wide Q graphics, the GQ600 is able to get at just that one annoying frequency.
"XTA have put a lot of thought into practicality of use. The equipment does what it is supposed to without too much fuss," he says. "Often you find great sounding equipment, but it's limited because it lacks functions you think should be obvious. So you never quite get the results that you want. In contrast, XTA equipment allows you to use it in a way that suits your needs. And with units like the SiDD, the deeper you go into it, the more control you get out of it. Which means you have a much less compromised result."
(Chris Henry)
