Livesound Adds Soundcraft Vi1™ to its Console Inventory

Based outside Berne, it was the need for a monitor desk to mix the reference sound for leading Swiss rock band, Patent Ochsner that drove the latest acquisition. And the company knows the Vi1 can expect high usage on its return—right across the company’s core markets.

Livesound B-AG are a long-term customer of Soundcraft—and of its Swiss distributor, Dr. W.A. Guenther Distribution, who over the past two decades has kept Livesound B-AG supplied with several of Soundcraft’s flagship analogue dual-purpose MH4’s, as well as an MH3 and pair of GB8 desks.

But in 2008 they were ready to embrace Soundcraft’s digital platform for the first time, purchasing a Vi4 for a tour by big-selling Swiss rap artist, Bligg. It performed FOH duties for two tours before this year relocating to monitor duties for the artist’s Spring tour; it is now out with leading Swiss rapper, Stress.

“After the Vi4 we knew we needed a smaller, easy-to-handle desk for 400-capacity venues, where a reduced footprint was essential,” stated Thomas Gfeller, who co-founded the production company 36 years ago. He said the further investment in Soundcraft technology had been a dynamic response to this market demand for small venue touring.

“It also made sense to have it in our general inventory because of the desk’s intuitive control surface,” he continued. “Being fast to set up and easy to use, we can deploy it on different events—from rock concerts to corporate shows.” And to achieve further flexibility the company added a Vi6 stagebox, with optical multicore.

The sale was supervised by Dr. W.A. Guenther Distribution, who also organised a Vi1 demo prior to purchasing as part of a competitive evaluation. The rental company’s sound engineers assessed their options before coming down once again in favour of the Vi platform.

Livesound B-AG is part of a pool of Soundcraft users in Switzerland, who can cooperate on a cross-hire basis. Although the company rarely strays beyond the Swiss borders, it has collaborated with leading German company, Satis&Fy (on Rock im Park Festival in Nürnberg), as well as Linkin Park outdoor shows in Stuttgart, and at Ferropolis in Gräfenhainichen.

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