Let’s go mad with the acronyms! SJ from DMX has found a lucrative regular rental for his new EV XLD line array system – at the Q CLUB in central Birmingham.

Birmingham-based hire and installation company DMX Productions has been contracted to supply sound reinforcement to the unique Q Club in Birmingham, and has invested in an Electro-Voice XLD compact line array system which has quickly become a near-permanent fixture in the venue.

The intriguing Q Club is back after 5 years, recently refurbished and under new management. Once upon a time, this massive venue, a former Methodist church, was the heart of Birmingham’s clubbing community - now, it is rebuilding its reputation for hosting the top events. With a main dancefloor overlooked by tiered seating which ascends up towards the ornate high ceilings, extra atmosphere is lent by the grand pipe organ that dominates one end of the club.

SJ Grevett, the energetic young owner of DMX Productions, has had his new EV XLD line array boxes in almost continuous use in the venue, particularly by promoters of the Cream Classics nights. Just 6x flown XLD281 modules per side are enough to cover the dancefloor of this huge space, (increasing to 8 modules if coverage of the tiered seating is required) which offers quite an acoustic challenge with its highly reverberant environment. “It’s got high ceilings, all wooden seats and floors and glass windows,” says SJ, “the only way to make it sound good is to put 3000 people in here!”

Typically the bass output is handled by 6x EV Xsubs and 2x XLC215 subwoofers, but SJ has had up to 12x Xsubs in the house. Front-of-house control is a Midas 40-channel Verona analogue mixing console, and the rack includes Klark-Teknik’s DN9340 Helix processors. System management is provided by the IRIS-Net control and supervision software, and the XLD system is powered by new Tour Grade amplifiers from EV. Even the DJs are taking the group line, using EV’s ZXA5 powered monitors.

SJ completed one of Shuttlesound’s 2-day EV training courses, which cover everything from IRIS Net threw to LAPS and rigging. This proved fortuitous when the failure of a truck forklift delayed the arrival of his new XLD PA system until just 6 hours before the opening event at the Q Club. Despite never having used the rig in its entirety, SJ and his crew flew the arrays, packed the subs under the stage, and enjoyed a successful night.