ADLIB Audio is supplying a JBL VerTec line array system, full sound production and crew to high profile boy band Blue’s current arena tour.

ADLIB is also working with leading show producers Production North for the first time. The tour is being production managed by Iain Whitehead, Rob Coles is the FOH engineer, Marc Peers mixes monitors and Tony Szabo is ADLIB’s systems engineer.

For FOH engineer Rob Coles, VerTec was an obvious choice for Blue ? they needed a rich, powerful and full sound capable of dealing with the band’s dynamic and energy charged shows.

Coles has mixed this type of band before and is familiar with the specific nuances and requirements. “They’re really refreshing to work with” he says.

Coles first used a VerTec system when mixing the Dandy Warhols, opening for David Bowie’s 2003/04 “Reality” tour, for which ADLIB was also the audio contractor. “The system sounded great, Tony is one of the best VerTec technicians in the country and ADLIB have been marvellous” he concludes.

The main system consists of 14 flown VerTec VT4889 elements per side with side hangs using 12 of the medium format VT4888’s per side. The subs are ADLIB’s own DF418 dual horn-loaded, renowned for their seismic qualities. They are also using ADLIB FD enclosures for front fills.

The FOH set up is extremely simple, Coles is using a Yamaha PM5D which also covers all his outboard requirements. This makes the FOH footprint extremely compact and tidy. “Occasionally it makes the coffee as well” quips Tony Szabo.

ADLIB has recently purchased a quantity of Lake Contour crossover units, 5 of which are utilised here, plus and a wireless tablet remote system. They’re using a Meyer Sound SIM3 measurement system to optimise the VerTec each day, ensuring it’s run to maximum efficiency in the space.

Amplification is Camco Vortex 6, some of which have also been newly acquired by ADLIB.

Rob Coles has worked with ADLIB on a number of occasions before. Coles says, “The gear always comes out the warehouse immaculately prepped and the service received from ADLIB is excellent. The VerTec sounds absolutely brilliant”. It was his first tour with the PM5D, which he’s grown to know and like it a lot.

Apart from a few precise requests from the band, Coles is pretty much left to get on with mixing the sound.

Peers is using another PM5D on monitors, again with no outboard racks.

ADLIB is supplying four sets of wired Shure IEMs for the 4 piece backing band, complete with a 15 inch sub to generate some air movement! The Boys are all wearing Sennheiser iems, supplied by Production North.

Peers is also running VerTec 4888’s for side fills, which is “Working brilliantly”. He thinks they are the best cabinets for filling the whole stage and reaching out to all the necessary horizontal dispersion across the stage area..

Vocally, Blue (Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa, and Simon Webbe) all have radically different styles ? they all sing live, using Beta 58 radio mics - and they are all strong singers, so the show is a hectic time for the audio department.