Lebanon’s Beiteddine Art Festival offered Dubai-based Sound On Stage an unmissable opportunity to put its recently purchased DiGiCo Quantum 326 mixing desk through its paces.
Established in 1992, Sound On Stage Events is headed by MD and sound engineer Rawad Saad and has built a reputation for delivering high-quality services across the UAE and the wider GCC, serving an impressive and diverse client base.
‘Throughout the time that Sound On Stage Events has been using DiGiCo consoles, we’ve experienced the remarkable evolution in both the technology and audio quality,’ he says. ‘DiGiCo continues to set new standards, and we proudly rely on its systems for our most demanding productions.’
Delivering the purchase was 7Hertz, DiGiCo distributor for the Middle East and Gulf Regions. Having enjoyed a close relationship for many years, Sound On Stage Events and 7Hertz were able to work together to ensure that Saad was confident the console would be a good fit for his company.
‘Rawad and his team are highly experienced with DiGiCo and a valued client of 7Hertz, which allowed for focused discussions and trust in reaching the best possible outcome,’ says Chadi El Masri, CEO and Founder of 7Hertz. ‘The end result is that they found the Q326 to be exactly what they were looking for.
‘At 7Hertz, we pride ourselves on providing considered support, guidance, and advice that meets customer requirements while also accounting for future-proofing. It’s important to us that all aspects and options are explored and discussed, with pre and post sales support always close at hand.’
Echoes of a Golden Era – the festival production served by the new console – was an original production that premiered at the festival, featuring renowned Arabic performers Jahida Wehbe, Lubana Al Quntar, and Reham Abdel Hakim. The accompanying orchestra comprised 25 musicians, with additional guest artists.
‘To manage the intricate blend of orchestration, vocals, and live instruments, a concert requires outstanding clarity, dynamic range and versatility,’ Saad says. ‘DiGiCo consoles offer the accuracy and processing capacity needed to handle complex input lists so we are able to stay consistent throughout the performance, while instantly adjusting to the musical changes, due to their smooth interaction with outboard equipment, Snapshot automation and onboard effects. Maintaining the aural depth a performance of this calibre demands requires this degree of control.’
The Beiteddine Art Festival takes place in the 200-year-old Palace of the same name, located in the Chouf Mountains, around 45km from Beirut. An annual celebration of art and culture, it hosts multiple performances and exhibitions. There are two stages, Al Midan, a 5,000 set courtyard, and the middle courtyard, where this concert was staged, with a 1,500-seat capacity. The stage is centred around an impressive fountain and, with the Palace as a backdrop, it is a truly fitting venue for a show of this style.
‘Working with dynamic vocalists and orchestras is a great fit for DiGiCo consoles,’ Saad continues. ‘From the delicate expression of a solo vocalist to the full impact of a live orchestra, the high-resolution preamps and powerful processing engine of the Quantum 326 enables precise control over every aspect of a performance. Managing complex set-ups and reacting quickly to live changes is made simple by the dynamic EQ, multiband compression, and sophisticated Snapshot automation. This is crucial for shows like ours, when emotional delivery and musical accuracy go hand-in-hand.’
Saad upgraded to the DiGiCo Quantum 326 to take advantage of its compact footprint. The console packs a powerful punch, with 128 input channels, 64 Aux and a 24 by 24 full processing matrix packed into the 1.5m frame. The v20 upgrades have also proved very useful, with Saad appreciating the new integration and workflow features.
‘Control Groups Spill and other control and workflow advancements have made daily operations more efficient and user-friendly,’ he says. ‘One notable feature is the recently added Mix Minus tool, which has proven helpful in handling intricate routing in broadcasts with several IEMs. All things considered, the v20 upgrade has increased power and versatility without making the process more difficult, which is something we much appreciate in high-stakes, fast-paced projects.
‘We have contacted the DiGiCo and 7Hertz teams a few times, and each time we have received an exceptional response,’ he concludes. ‘Their personnel have been helpful, informed, and sincere in their efforts to assist us in finding answers, whether it’s for software upgrades, system integration, or urgent troubleshooting prior to a big event. Knowing that we have that degree of support behind us is comforting, particularly when working on well-known productions where timeliness and dependability are crucial.’