Bowie brings global Reality to 5.1 live

The ever-innovative David Bowie scored another world first on September 8 when he broadcast a live concert from London that was simul-cast with 5.1 sound via satellite to cinemas and theatres across Europe.
Due to time differences around the world, the show was seen the following day across Asia, Japan and Australia. North America, Canada and South America experienced the show about a week later, making the event more of an electronic world tour than a one-off promotion for Bowie’s new Reality album.
The 90-minute performance previewed all 11 tracks from Reality (released September 15 on ISO/Columbia Records) but Bowie performed some old favourites including ‘Hang on to Yourself’ and ‘Modern Love’.
Behind the scenes, the company responsible for the live music mixes was Sanctuary Mobiles, supported by a comprehensive range of additional equipment from GearBox. In Sanctuary’s Fleetwood One truck were Chief engineer Tim Summerhayes with assistant Alex Goodison, while Fleetwood Two was staffed by sound engineer Dave O’Carroll and assistant Dave Loudoun.
Fleetwood One is equipped with a 96-channel Euphonix CS2000, whereas Fleetwood Two has a 72-channel version of the same digitally configurable, highly-automated console. The value of automation in a multi-channel live situation is relatively obvious but O’Carroll said the analogue audio circuitry used in the desks was also an advantage, the “proper, clean analogue path” being a good complement to the 24/96 resolution of the digital paths used for distribution and recording.
“We do a lot of mixing in surround but normally as a post production activity,” Summerhayes added. “The difference at this event was that we were creating the surround mix live but it presented no problems. Both desks are fully-equipped for surround operation.
“It was nice way to work because we were able to put the listener in the audience, as well as create the odd spot where we would have a musical element in the rear speakers, which is something you wouldn’t normally expect.”
(GB)