Adlib’s Scottish operation has reported the sale of L-Acoustics and DiGiCo systems to rental company AudioCP, a busy operation based in Glasgow and headed by Scott Young.

AudioCP was founded in 2012 and specialises in providing carefully crafted sound systems for the live music sector. Young, who studied popular music at Edinburgh’s Napier College before working as a professional drummer for ten years, has also owned and run a recording studio and a rehearsal room. By late 2016, he was looking to invest in a premium audio system for AudioCP complete with a mixing console to enable the company and its business to move up several levels, consolidate their current client base and also pitch for larger and higher profile projects.

Coincidentally – just before Scott started thinking seriously about the upgrade, Adlib Scotland’s business development manager Barclay Dakers invited the company to visit their warehouse (also in Glasgow) – and discuss potential options available through Adlib. At the time he was unaware that Scott was actually on the verge of being in the market for a new system.

From the first approach, Young was impressed by Adlib’s attitude: ‘They were relaxed, friendly, highly knowledgeable in the field of live audio and totally understood where I was at – it was obvious that we were on the same wavelength,’ he recalls.

Barclay recommended that Young and his team consider L-Acoustics’ Kara with SB18 subs – a choice allowing the PA to be groundstacked. Before the final decision was made, Barclay and Adlib Director John Hughes visited AudioCP’s facility, confirming the choice.

‘There are many ‘great sounding systems’ out there’ Young comments, but what gave Adlib/L-Acoustics the edge in this case was a combination of sound quality and flexibility; the potential for cross-rental business and the service and support from Adlib.

Purchasing the DiGiCo SD9 was a big leap for the company in terms of quality and functionality. For many years they had hired in this level of desk for their larger shows and tours, and it made sense to make the further investment to compliment the new speaker system. The console was supplied with a D2 stage rack, and they have since added a Waves SoundGrid Server system to be used alongside the SD9.

In addition to providing L-Acoustics certified training for the regular AudioCP engineers, Adlib supplied one of their touring engineers to assist AudioCP when the system was delivered in setting up and running it for the first time. This gave the opportunity for any questions from their regular engineers to be answered, and Adlib subsequently provided phone support. ‘This aspect was over and above what we expected,’ says Young.

The system immediately went into action on a wide range of shows. For Glasgow University Union’s Fresher’s Week, indie band Clean Cut Kid experienced the tour grade audio provided by AudioCP in the Union’s 2000 capacity venue. Their tour manager commented on the power and clarity of the system, while their touring FOH engineer was able to plug in his showfile into the SD9 and be gig-ready.

It was used for a performance by famous jazz guitarist Martin Taylor – renowned for his fingerstyle technique - who played a show at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of the Glasgow International Jazz festival programme, and proved perfect for highlighting the detail and intense intelligibility demanded by jazz enthusiasts.

In contrast, at last year’s Edinburgh fringe festival, neo folk band Modern Studies performed three dates complete with the Pumpkinseeds Chamber Orchestra and a small choir in the cavernous Stockbridge Church, a challenging gig requiring over 40 channels of audio, which the SD9/D2 combination handled effortlessly.

‘Adlib has been brilliant at every stage of the process, and we will continue to purchase from Adlib as we add to the rental stock – I simply could not recommend them enough.’

Adlib’s John Hughes adds: ‘It’s great to see companies like AudioCP grow their business through considered investments in quality equipment. It’s been a pleasure to do business with Scott and his team and for them I think it has already proved a smart and successful move.’