Splitbeam is the theatre division of Gearhouse, South Africa’s largest rental company. With this title comes the expectation of greatness, but Splitbeam does not fail to deliver, investing their time in high-quality gear for the purpose of servicing high-quality theatre productions. One of the latest investments is in a DiGiCo SD7T supplied by DWR, DiGiCo’s distributor for the territory.
The theatre industry has its own demands and they differ from the other areas of the entertainment market. Sound is, of course, completely crucial and Splitbeam knows it has the right to be treated as the top priority.
“Bad sound is as detrimental to production as an actor forgetting their lines,” said Splitbeam’s MD, Alistair Kilbee. “Good sound feels natural, never taking away from what is happening on stage but supplementing it, giving the sound for the ears to match what the eyes see for the magic of theatre to take place.
“Mixing sound is the art of balance; balancing what comes out of the speaker to transform noise into a recognisable piece of information that feels good to experience. This is where the gear becomes important. Having a console capable of not merely handling the show, but orchestrating it, the engineer acting as the conductor for the sounds, matching, mixing and blending them to become an audible canvas.”
This is where Splitbeam makes it known that they take things seriously, and why they invested in a DiGiCo SD7T, the flagship console from DiGiCo that can perform under the most delicate of conditions, like the theatre.
“The SD7T is immense,” continues Kilbee. “It boasts the features that sound engineers drool over: 253 (MAX) Input Channels, 128 Aux/Sub-Group Busses, L/R/LCR Master Buss, 32 x 32 Full Processing Matrix, two Solo 256 Dynamic Equalizers, 256 DiGiTuBes, 256 Multiband Compressors, 48 Digital FX, 32 Graphic Equalizers, optional Waves Integration, 48/96/192 kHz Sample Rate and one loop as standard optics. These features make it an exceptional instrument, and Splitbeam’s exceptional quality matches the quality of the machine.”
Currently being used on the musical production Chicago, the SD7T is performing at a world-class level. “The theatre is about crafting an experience that is both transformative and human,” Kilbee concludes. “As the audience’s senses are being stimulated, it becomes vital to understand that the sound is all about their enjoyment and journey. With the DiGiCo SD7T, it not only ensures this but shapes it. Splitbeam’s investment in the product co-signs it as a great console and as a great tool capable of producing great experiences and great art.”
