Audio specialist Tube UK helped to deliver Manchester’s 2017 Christmas Switch On ceremony in the city’s Albert Square, headlined by Sigala, who was joined by Pixie Lott and X-Factor favourites Yes Lad.

The d&b sound system specified for the show was designed by Tube’s John Redfern.

All artists were accompanied by backing tracks run via one of tube’s QLab systems, with Sigala playing his set live. The QLab was also used to play out a series of beds running in the background – radio-style – accompanying the in-between act banter.

The main d&b V-Series PA flyers and their accompanying ground stacked subs and fills were located at the Lloyd Street end of the Square, with the Town Hall to the left hand side of the main audience area.

Five ground stacked delay arrays – a mix of V and Y series speakers – were positioned across and around the space to ensure that the public enjoyed an excellent sonic experience from all over the square.

All the d&b speakers were powered by D80 amplifiers.

Two Yamaha CL5 consoles were deployed, one at FOH and one for monitor mixing, complete with d&b M4 wedges onstage and Sennheiser 5000 hand-held mics.

The main challenge of this gig every year, according to Redfern, is the exceptionally tight install turnaround time, starting at 8am on the day, with the showing going up at 6pm. Everything has to be ready for soundcheck and rehearsals at 1pm, a process that can be hampered if the weather is bad.

To ensure they hit all the deadlines, six tube engineers worked on the project including Adam Taylor who ran FOH, John Redfern who co-ordinated monitors and stage and tube director Melvyn Coote, who was systems engineer for the event.