Audio for the pageant was a complex affair handled by Roland Hemming and Richard Northwood from RH Consulting. The pageant audio comprised many parts – use of the concert stage from the night before, feeds to and from the BBC and the twenty so different pageant elements that had their own audio systems.
Initially a concern was the spacing of the different parts of the pageant so we produced an acoustic model of each element so there was a ‘heat map’ of the whole procession. We wanted everything to be a close as possible, but too close would be cacophonous.
For the decades element there were seven busses that each needed PA systems. These had to be imaginatively mounted on the upper handrails with a sound engineer operating from the lower deck. Inside each bus was a radio transmitter so as each bus approached the VIP seating outside Buckingham Palace the sound from each bus could be fed into the main concert PA system and also sent to the BBC. All the Pageant audio equipment was supplied by Blue-i.
In addition, there were over 1,400 performers around each bus, and each of them were equipped with in-ear monitors fed from another transmitter on the bus. The performers listened to the music along with instructions from a dance captain on a radio mic. The mass-movement in ear systems were supplied by Sound Decisions.
Eight of the eleven celebrations acts also had their own PA systems and again these were equipped with a transmitter so they could be relayed out of the concert PA system.
The Peleton was another important element where we fed the soundtrack into the Mall and Concert PA system. When the Peloton was not on the Mall we had specially designed tricycles with PA systems on. Even these had transmitters between each other and the master bicycle had a remote control on the handlebars to control the sound.
Production Manager Tim Speller worked with the audio team on all the custom solutions including imaginative solutions for portable power for bicycles and busses.
There were lots of other audio elements to keep the team on their toes; audio for a human controlled dragon, a piece where young performers moved from a bus PA system onto one of the concert stages.
OFCOM managed the multitude of radio requirements, made even more challenging by the fact that many transmitters were not in fixed locations as they were part of the procession.
We got amazing support from Andy Deacon and his team from Zen Broadcast, NEP broadcast, Sound Decisions, Blue-i as well as the team from Britannia Row and Delta Live who provided the systems for the stages and the Mall respectively.
The real challenge was that whilst some parts of the Pageant had been rehearsed, the whole pageant hadn’t been, so the first time the team saw it was the same time as everyone else!
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Roland Hemming has worked in professional audio for 30 years. He has managed the two largest audio projects in Europe – the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Millennium Dome. He has worked in live events, construction sites, hotels, rail, cruise ships, theatre, corporate AV, broadcast, education and stadia. He designs systems and provides product development and compliance advice to a variety of manufacturers.
He frequently advises manufacturers on next generation audio products.
For the Olympic Games he was Venue Technology Manager for Audio, working for LOCOG, the London Organising Committee. He was responsible for all Games audio except Ceremonies. This included the delivery of over 400 audio systems, liaising with and giving advice to many interested parties on issues as diverse as rigging, broadcast, radio spectrum, audio for crowd safety, disability and compliance.
LARGE SCALE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTS, IDEAS AND INSIGHT
Principal consultant Richard Northwood has over three decades experience designing, building, commissioning and operating audio, video and lighting systems.
His work covers a wide range of projects from stadium audio to corporate video conferencing suites to interactive visitor attractions.
He designs superior audio systems, producing acoustic models using EASE, providing detailed system schematics and all the information required to execute a project.
His worldwide reputation has established him as someone who will make things work when others cannot. He commissions and troubleshoots AV and audio systems and has a formidable reputation for being able to deal with the most technically complex projects.
He is leader in the use of networked audio and control systems, and is an expert in the use of most digital signal processing systems.
Richard is Level 3 Dante Certified.
DEEP TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXCEPTIONAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Drawing from a strong history in live sound engineering and music production, Will utilises his mechanical mind to ensure that clients achieve the most from their audio systems, applying a meticulous lens to every step of the process from specification to engineering.
Will’s involvement in the industry has taken him to an array of established events and venues across the country as an experienced audio engineer and often assuming a technical project management role. His extensive knowledge and strong interpersonal skills allow him to bridge the information gap with clients, to best understand their needs and ensure feedback is implemented for optimum results.