Radio Riot has selected Martin Audio’s BlacklineQ Series loudspeakers to deliver consistent sound across the UK pub circuit. The three-piece band performs Britpop and guitar-driven covers spanning five decades, requiring a portable system capable of big gig sound.
Lead singer and guitarist David Preston turned to the new series after seeking a PA capable of delivering impact from a system that could fit in the boot of a car. Preston has been playing with bassist Luke Stephens and drummer Dean Fowler since the age of 19.
We did originals, covers, and an Oasis tribute band over the last 25 years together but around nine years ago stopped because life got busy, Preston said. We all missed it, so we got back into it last year with Radio Riot.
For Preston, who brings a professional audio background to the project, production standards are non-negotiable. Everything is mic’d up no matter what the venue, whether it’s a small function room, a cricket club or a pub, he said. We want the full show, every time.
The portable rig comprises a pair of Blackline Q15 tops and a pair of Blackline Q118 subwoofers driven by a Linea Research 44M06 amplifier. The Q15 is capable of a peak SPL of 133dB, featuring a 15-inch LF driver with a 4-inch voice coil and a 1.4-inch exit HF compression driver with a 3-inch dome. Its 70-90 horizontal by 50 vertical Differential Dispersion horn ensures wide, consistent coverage.
The Q118 is an 18-inch compact, high-performance subwoofer extending low-frequency response down to 38Hz, with a peak SPL of 136dB.
Ilove the top-end clarity that the Q15 delivers, Preston said. And because we always mic up the full backline, the subs handle whatever we throw at them.
The band spent one and a half years building the show before playing their first gig. Preston noted the system is smaller than previous setups but delivers the same power with considerably more clarity. For system control, Preston runs Martin Audio’s System Engineer 8 software on a tablet, using the Linea Research amplifier’s onboard DSP for system EQ.
Every venue we’ve played, the BlacklineQ covers the space exactly as we need it to, Preston said. They’re really good-sounding speakers with great definition.
For more information: https://martin-audio.com
For more information, visit martin-audio.com.