This year's Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan saw no fewer than eight Soundcraft Vi6 digital audio consoles, provided by Cologne-based rental company Toneheads, mixing the sound for the 42 contestants who took part.
The 57th edition of the contest, held in the capital city of Baku, ran entirely with sound equipment provided from Germany, and Soundcraft digital mixing desks were used exclusively. Cologne-based Brainpool was responsible for the production and subcontractor Toneheads executed the audio element of the show.
A top team of sound engineers was kept busy working on five of the Vi6s, with the other three consoles on standby. Piloting the FOH mix for the main contest were Toni Kern and Guido Preuss, while the opening and interval acts (along with the moderation) were mixed on a separate desk operated by Matthias Reusch, Pit Lenz and Michael Neumahr.
Down in Monitor World, three Vi6 consoles were in constant use. The contestants' reference sound (and opening and interval acts) were assigned to separate Vi6s, with a further desk used in the In Ear Rehearsal Room. These were respectively under the command of Achim Lanzendorf, Lars Studer and Harald Jäger.
With so many acts taking part the sound crew had needed a superb sounding, resilient and — equally important — quick and easy to operate console. Having had so much experience with Soundcraft platforms in German TV shows, all responsible sound engineers were pleased to report that, once again, the Vi6's delivered in Baku.
