Tag Archive: Audio equipment London

1. White Light continues to support technical equipment upgrades in Grassroots venues thanks to Music Venue Trust’s Sound + Vision project

   6 July 2021 13:52 Leave a Comment

   

   Launched in 2017, the Music Venue Trust (MVT)’s Sound + Vision initiative aims to deliver a 21st Century live music experience to artists and audiences in every part of the UK. Leading technical solutions specialist White Light (WL) has been a collaborative partner of MVT on this journey and to date, has supported over 40 Grassroots venues with technical equipment upgrades.

   Despite some projects being delayed to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing funding restrictions, MVT and WL have worked tirelessly to deliver as many system upgrades as possible within Government safety parameters. The latest of these were at Stoke-on-Trent’s The Sugarmill, a premier live music venue and night club, which benefited from a brand-new d&b audiotechnik xS-Series system.

   Jason Larcombe, WL’s Project Manager, comments: “Thanks to MVT’s ongoing work and previously ringfenced funds from Arts Council England, we are delighted to have been able to continue providing support during this turbulent time. This has enabled venues to return with a bang and support vital campaigns such as #ReviveLive. Working with d&b we are proud to have once again introduced an industry-leading manufacturer to Grassroots venues. Our support package includes the provision of ongoing support and training, ensuring the venues leverage the full potential of their new systems.”

   Danni Brownsill, Head of Promotions at Sugarmill adds: “It was a huge relief to reopen with some socially-distanced gigs, after a difficult 12 months, and there was no better way of coming back than with our brand-new d&b system. Great sound is key to running a live music venue. Small venues are the ones where new artists cut their teeth, refine their craft and get discovered. They deserve a system which showcases their sound to the highest possible standard. Huge thank you to MVT, Arts Council England, White Light and d&b for making this project possible.”

   The George Tavern in London has also recently received a Sound + Vision facilitated technical equipment upgrade. Their new specification includes a d&b PA system, with M6 stage monitors and 10D amplifier, a Chauvet stage lighting rig, ChamSys lighting control and Shure microphones.

   The Sound + Vision scheme provides ongoing support for Grassroots music venues. Please contact our team to discuss the opportunities available.

2. White Light’s Audio Services are Making a Lot of Noise

   4 March 2020 10:24 Leave a Comment

   

   For the past 48 years, WL has forged an unparalleled reputation as a technical solution specialist. Whilst we started in lighting, we now offer several technical services, including video, rigging, staging and audio. Following the launch of our audio services over four years ago, this is an area in which we’ve grown considerably, investing in the very latest equipment, partnering with leading manufacturers and appointing expert staff. One of these is Harry Saxton McCann who is WL’s Senior Audio Technical Project Manager and whose role is to ensure that we offer clients the highest calibre of audio delivery and provide solutions bespoke to their needs. We sat down with Harry to discuss his role further alongside the various audio services that the company is able to offer its clients.

   Harry has been in his current role at WL for just over a year now, having previously worked for the company as a freelancer. Since graduating university, he has worked in a range of audio roles from touring rock and roll to high-end corporate events and pretty much everything else in-between. He explains: “I actually got my first job whilst at university at Delta Sound which led me to work on the London Olympics. This would see me then work for all of the Games across the world for the next few years, including the Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, European Games and Commonwealth Games. It was at Delta Sound where I first met WL’s Head of Business Development Lee Dennison. As WL continued to expand its audio offering, I found myself working on a wide range of the company’s projects; to the point where I was working for them most of the time! This led to a conversation with Lee who suggested I join on a permanent basis. Upon hearing the company’s ambitions for its audio department and what it wanted to offer clients, I realised it was a really exciting time to become part of the team”. 

   

   Reinforcing its commitment to constantly strengthening its audio offering, WL has significantly invested in the very latest audio equipment. Last year the company invested in a range of d&b products, including V series, Y Series & E Series to complement its already impressive loudspeaker inventory.The company has also heavily invested in infrastructure. Harry explains: “Before making any investments, we listen to the needs of our clients and engineers, then act accordingly. For many high-end clients, d&b loudspeakers were part of their rider and simply what they expected. Similarly, we made a big push for Yamaha switches, with this investment being led by the fact that audio is now mainly network-based. Engineers are most happy and comfortable when using equipment built for them and not fifty storey office blocks thus having an out-of-the-box fibre ready system just makes everything so much easier; which is why we added it to our inventory”.

   Alongside this, WL has also made a huge investment in an area that is often overlooked: flightcases. Harry explains: “Following a lengthy R & D process, we’ve created a flightcase design that is paving the way for the rest of the audio industry. We’ve aimed to make sure they’re not just units to push equipment around but actually play an integral role themselves. Our flightcases are tidy, easy-to-use and ensure that everything is tightly compacted into one place. The immediate feedback we’ve received from our engineers has been extremely encouraging and we look forward to seeing how the industry as a whole benefits from these as they are put to wider use this year”.

   

   This strengthening of the company’s audio inventory, coupled with its experienced and innovative staff, means that WL’s audio services are constantly in demand. Harry comments: “Essentially, as a company, we are able to offer clients a compact audio solution. We are forging a reputation of providing a time-efficient, well-structured solution; especially for one to two day events. Clients know they can rely on us to turn up and get on with the job; providing the production support and equipment they require”.

   Contact us for more information on 020 8254 4800 or email [email protected]

3. Lee Dennison – Five Years at WL…

   7 November 2019 13:31 Leave a Comment

   

   Our Head of Business Development Lee Dennison recently celebrated five years at WL. As such, we thought we’d sit down with him to discuss his time here, his current role and how the company has evolved since he started.

   When Lee first joined WL back in 2014, it wasn’t in response to a specific job advertisement. Rather, the move was a natural progression. He explains: “I’ve always had a very close affinity to WL. When I worked with my previous companies, I knew of their reputation and had often come in contact with its team, particularly Bryan Raven and Richard Wilson. My joining them came after a chance conversation with Bryan who told me that they were keen to expand their audio offering and provide a credible, competitive service for the clients. It sounded like a great opportunity and one I was delighted to take”.

   When Lee joined WL, the company was keen to begin offering audio services in-house as opposed to outsourcing through others. He comments: “What was so exciting about the role was that it presented an opportunity for me to oversee a fresh audio offering, in which I was able to create a structure, assemble a team and work closely with manufacturers to ensure we were making the right level of investment. What really drew me to the role though was WL’s ethos. It is a company with morals and ethics and wanted to offer customers the correct level of support that would be suited for them – something I’ve always been an advocate of”.

   For the next two years, Lee oversaw WL’s audio department, which quickly grew a strong reputation of supplying bespoke audio solutions; particularly in the corporate event, production and installations market. Yet, for Lee, the growth of team remains one of his proudest achievement: “One of the joys of my role is seeing those who work for the company develop their skills and knowledge. These are people like Leo Humphrey, who joined the company in a junior role and is now a Key Account Manager, as well as Kieran Edmonds who’s now a Project Support Engineer in the Installations team. It’s been fantastic to see them progress and grow as individuals, as well as valuable members of the WL team”.

   With the audio department quickly establishing a formidable reputation, Lee’s next role at WL was to oversee the entire Business Development team. He comments: “Similar to when I initially joined WL, my role as Head of Business Development was another natural step. I’ve always enjoyed what I call ‘front-facing’ work in which I listen to what clients want and work closely with them in order to build long-term relationships. I’m often the first point of contact for a lot of them and relish providing the service they expect from WL. Ultimately, people invest in people and, as a company, WL’s greatest strength has always been its staff and this is a mantra we want to hold onto”.

   Having worked on a range of exciting projects, we asked Lee which was his most memorable during his time at WL. Unsurprisingly, there isn’t just one. He recalls: “I’m particularly proud of our work on the Active Team Training EPIC project; which was an experimental and immersive training programme designed for those working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel. It was pioneering at the time and nobody really knew what it was ‘all about’ but it has since proven itself to be an incredible form of health and safety training. It was also fantastic working with Discovery Eurosport on last year’s Winter Olympic Games coverage and showcasing our SmartStage technology; which is now creating a huge buzz in the education, corporate and events sectors”.

   Whilst Lee is happy to reflect on his time at WL so far, he’s mainly excited about the future and the next steps for the company. He concludes: “A large part of my role now at WL is looking forward and asking where we are going and what type of work we want to take on. As a company, we’re always changing, constantly evolving and that’s really exciting to be a part of. We continue to invest in the latest technology, strengthening our expert teams and ensuring we continue offering our clients the highest level of service possible. Here’s to the next five years!”.

4. White Light Invests in the Latest Audio Equipment

   27 November 2018 09:41 Leave a Comment

   

   From L to R: Richard McLean (d&b), Harry McCann (audio freelancer), Dave Isherwood (WL’s Technical Director), Tom Jeffrey (MD at SFL) and Lee Dennison (WL’s Head of Audio).

    

   As the technical solutions specialist, White Light is constantly investing in the very latest audio equipment to ensure its clients have access to state-of-the-art technology. Following the formation of its audio department four years ago, the company has continued to grow its inventory and recently made a significant investment in a range of leading audio products from manufacturers including d&b, DPA and Shure.

   WL’s Head of Audio Lee Dennison comments: “Ever since we launched our audio department four years ago, we’ve formed a reputation of being able to supply customers with audio solutions bespoke to their needs. Alongside our existing relationships with leading manufacturers, our long-term plan was to start introducing further large brands in year four and ensure we have equipment that is industry-standard and suitable for the range of markets we work in, from theatre to live events to broadcast”.

   The recent d&b investment includes speakers from the E, Y and V series. Lee explains: “We are delighted to have made this commitment to d&b and take on a range of their loudspeakers. These are industry-recognised products and having them readily available in our hire stock will allow us to continue serving our client’s needs”.

   There has been an immediate interest in the d&b range and the systems have already been used on an eclectic range of events, including Six Day London at Lee Valley VeloPark, the UNICEF Halloween Ball which featured a live performance by Rita Ora as well as the WWF Living Planet Lecture at Central Hall Westminster. Lee adds: “With the d&b range already proving extremely popular, this not only showcases its versatility but also the fact that these industry-recognised products are often the first choice for a lot of audio professionals”.

   WL is also continuing its investment in DPA microphone products, including the eagerly-anticipated d:screet CORE 6000 series. This is DPA’s smallest high-end pro audio microphone capsule and has been developed from years of research with leading theatre, film and television professionals. Lee explains: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with DPA and this latest investment shows our commitment to both the brand and these fantastic new products. They are the go-to manufacturer when it comes to microphones, whether it’s for theatre shows, conferences or award ceremonies; making them an invaluable asset to our hire inventory”.

   As an Elite Rental Partner for Shure, WL has continuously invested in the company’s pioneering products. This now includes the brand-new Axient Digital Range. With an unprecedented level of signal stability and audio clarity, the Axient Range incorporates some of the most innovative wireless audio technology in the world. Lee explains: “We had invested in Axient earlier this year but we have now pushed into the ADX range of transmitters including the brand-new ADX1M. They are not only powerful but extremely discrete; making them a game-changer for the corporate market”.

   The d&b, DPA and Shure products are now all available to rent from WL’s hire stock and clients are encouraged to contact WL’s expert team with any queries they may have. Lee concludes: “What this latest investment indicates is our constant desire to pioneer the very latest products and ensure our audio inventory is industry-standard; offering our entire breadth of clients with the best equipment possible”.

   Contact WL’s Hire Team on [email protected] or +44(0)20 8254 482