«We had been using custom speaker boxes for many years,» states Francis Giguere, technical director for Omnison. «The boxes were quite heavy (3,000 lbs.) with a very old rigging system, so we decided it was time to update our speaker offerings. We held a shoot out with all major PA companies and held listening tests under the worst conditions possible. We decided if the system could sound good under extreme circumstances, it would sound good anywhere. Our first purchase was a NEXO GEO S8 system consisting of 16 cabinets, 2x CD12s and 4x GEO subs, chosen for its size and quality of sound and because the system only requires a two-man rigging setup.»
Claude Lague, owner of Omnison, noted another reason they continue to purchase more NEXO products: the dealer-networking component and the support they receive from YCAS. «We (the dealers) work together, assisting each other when additional boxes may be needed for a particular situation, and with Yamaha’s support, we feel secure if technical assistance is required,» Lague says.
For Canada Day this year, Omnison provided a NEXO GEO D, GEO S8 and Yamaha M7CL digital console along with the new SB168-ES Stage Box as part of the audio set up. «The producer wanted a new concept this year instead of the typical land-based stage set-up,» says Lague. A stage was built out over water, ground-supported, with experienced divers running fiber-optic cable under water out to the performance area.
Over 100,000 people attended Canada Day this year, with celebrations centred around the Old Port of Montreal, the social, economic and cultural soul of the city ever since the French fur traders used it as a trading post in 1611.
For more information:OMNISON