XTA Provide Definitive Management for Ultimate Tour

Ten years ago, Take That performed to crowds of screaming girls. The girls are all grown up now, but they’re still screaming just as loud and packing venues up and down the UK for the boys’ Ultimate Tour 2006.

The show is big and lavish, with the requisite high values encompassing every aspect of the production. The PA, provided by Capital Sound Hire, is no exception with over 100 cabinets delivering a No-Compromise experience. With the complexity and size of such an event, a combination of XTA DP224, DP226 and DP428 processors were Capital’s first choice. Using the latest AudioCore version 8.11, the 20 XTA units are networked simply and quickly every night.

The set comprises two stages: the main stage and a raised B stage in the centre of the arena which is connected to the main stage by a catwalk and suspended directly above the front of house position.

System technicians for the tour are Al Woods and Sam Kruger, with Woods predominantly in charge of the main stage and Kruger the B stage. “We have a Martin line array system in two parts,” explains Woods. “The main system comprises up to 14 W8L enclosures with the new Longbow components, and two wider dispersion LD under hangs positioned horizontally and vertically.”

In most venues, there are six Martin LS subs with up to 12 LCs flown as side hangs. “Sam and I collaborate on both stages with predictions, EQ settings, pre sets and stuff like that,” continues Woods. “We drive the main system from a mixture of XTA DP428s, DP224s and DP226s, which are set up as line driver, delay and EQ units. Then either side of the stage we have XTA DP226s doing crossover duties for the subs, the Longbows, the LCs, LMs, etc.

“On a day-to-day basis, we pretty much leave the crossovers the same apart from loading in different presets for the different amounts of boxes at the various venues.”

“The B stage is pretty much the same sort of thing,” adds Kruger. “We’re using the same speakers as the main side hangs, plus the new downfills. The only strange thing about this end is that we’ve got our amp racks for the flown systems and a fourth XTA rack up on the technical platform that’s flown above the catwalk, and these run as crossovers for the B stage.”