For the European and UK tours, two PM5D's to mix FOH and monitors were supplied by leading pro-audio specialists, Reading-based Skan PA Hire. Jones used the PM5D throughout Gray's recent tours. "I initially intended to use the desk for only a short time but I just loved the sound it produced so I kept it on," he continued. His fellow sound engineer, Jon Ormesher, used the other PM5D to mix monitors. Both desks were ERH models. "There are times when I needed more inputs on the desk so I used soft patching and cards for individual scenes," he added. "The whole set up was quite complex but it worked exceptionally well."
Skan PA's Ant Carr toured with Gray on the UK leg of the tour as the FOH system technician. "The two sound engineers had a very busy and in-depth show programmed into the desks and were working them hard," he said. "It was the busiest I've ever seen PM5Ds work and they performed faultlessly."
The UK part of the tour ended in December before moving on to Europe. "Now we're about to start David Gray's US tour and we'll be using PM5Ds for that, too," said Jones. Eighth Day Sound will supply the desks for the American tour. Overall, Jones is very happy with the results he's had from the desk. "We've had no nightmares at all on the tour and we all know they can and do happen. Back up and support from both Skan PA and Eighth Day Sound has been second to none. The PM5D has proved to be an extremely reliable piece of equipment. It does everything I ask of it," he concluded.
(Lee Baldock)
