Marking their 40th anniversary, legendary Belgian band Clouseau embarked on a year-long tour across the Benelux region, including a 14-show run at the Sportpaleis, the largest indoor venue in the country. For these high-profile shows, the band relied DiGiCo Quantum 338 and Quantum 7 digital mixing consoles alongside Klang immersive monitoring.
The primary A/V supplier for the Clouseau tour, Ampli provided an extensive complement of equipment, including the mixing consoles, amplification, transmitters, intercoms and cabling, with Clouseau’s long-time sound engineers, Marcel Cortleven at FOH on a Quantum 338 and Marc Luyckx on a Quantum 7 for monitors. The choice of the consoles marked a significant step up for the band.
‘Using DiGiCo’s Quantum 7 for monitors gave me the flexibility to integrate Klang’s immersive monitoring system via the DMI-Klang cards,’ says Cortleven. ‘The system allowed me to create more space on stage, which was crucial given the expanded line-up of 16 musicians. The added space made a huge difference for the performers, while the ease of integration, thanks to the new DiGiCo software, made the entire process smooth.’
The Klang immersive monitoring system was used for the first time on this tour, with two DMI-Klang cards – one supplied by Ampli and another by Amptec,. The integration of Klang allowed Cortleven to position instruments in the mix more effectively, enhancing the overall sound quality and making the band’s in-ear experience more natural and dynamic.
Meanwhile, Luyckx praises the Quantum 338 for its advanced capabilities: ‘The Quantum 338 offered a powerful engine and superb screens, which were especially helpful during daylight,’ he says. ‘We had 75 inputs, eight outputs, and 22 inserts, which required a lot of control. The ability to access 36 channel strips without switching between layers made the workflow much easier. The Mustard Compressor options on the DiGiCo consoles were also fantastic for adding musical creativity to the sound design.’
Renowned for its challenging acoustics, the Sportpaleis presented an additional test for the engineers. Known for its vast space and poor sound conditions, the venue required careful planning and expert management to ensure that the sound would reach the audience with clarity and impact.
‘The sound engineers make all the difference in a venue like the Sportpaleis,’ Luyckx explains. ‘The DiGiCo Quantum consoles gave me the tools I needed to ensure the sound was crisp and powerful, overcoming the venue’s acoustic challenges. The integration of Klang on the monitor side also gave the musicians a more immersive and spatial sound that improved the overall performance.’
Both engineers acknowledge the importance of the collaboration between Ampli, Amptec, DiGiCo and Klang in bringing this ambitious tour to life. ‘I’d like to thank all the teams for their invaluable support in getting everything set up,’ says Cortleven. ‘We couldn’t have done it without their expertise and dedication.’
‘It was a pleasure to work with DiGiCo’s new Quantum technology,’ Luyckx adds. ‘It made everything easier and more creative, especially in such a demanding venue.’
