BBC´S new Top of the Pops

Accelerated set-up means more time for mixing

14 January 2004 - When the BBC decided to revamp Top of the Pops it committed itself to live broadcast and live performances. The new INNOVASON Sy80 digital console was chosen to handle the highly demanding job of mixing sound for the audience PA system plus fold-back for the performing artists.

The live studio sound is handled by SSE. Mixer Chris Trimby, permanently assigned to the show, explains, “Now it is live to air, the show has changed completely. Previously we would record one band then stop, set-up and record the next. Now of course we have to go directly from one to the next. This meant that we needed more inputs and outputs (because we don’t have time to patch) and that’s one of the main reasons we decided to use the INNOVASON Sy80.”

TOTP used to employ up to five stages to record the show but the new streamlined, live show uses two, occasionally three. In the new configuration the Sy80 offers a number of benefits to the show’s producers: turn-around time is accelerated, only one console is required, at just 1.65m wide a great deal of space is saved, configuration and routing is simplified, and there is no danger of running out of channels.

Chris Trimby, who is experienced with a wide variety of live mixing consoles, both analogue and digital, summarises the advantages of working with the Sy80: “Almost every multi-act live event I have been involved with from the Reading Festival to awards ceremonies and TOTP has a tight set-up and rehearsal schedule. What’s fantastic about the Sy80 is that it saves so much time in the set-up phase that I get to spend the time doing what I’m paid for - mixing. Being able to prepare input and output lists offline on my laptop using the Sensoft software is a major bonus. And of course the Sy80 sounds great – it’s incredibly clean and has a gain structure that is totally suited to live work.”

Since the all new TOTP went live towards the end of 2003, live acts have included Starsailor, Kings of Leon, Black Eyed Peas, Busted, Matt Goss, Graham Lyle, Will Young and Alicia Keys.

To get more informations about the specifications of the Sy80, please visit Sy80 product page.