Alfacam SA invests in DiGiCo SD12

Quentin Console Quentin Kyle Console
 
Alfacam SA is a leading industry supplier and operator for events and shows in the Outside Broadcasting market in South Africa, offering HD TV facilities.
 
In 2013 Greg Nefdt purchased OB16, now fondly known as OB1, with all associated equipment from Euro Media Group and founded Alfacam S.A. operating out of Bush Hill Estate AH in Randburg.
 
Alfacam are no strangers to the DiGiCo platform. OB1 upon arrival was kitted out with a Soundtracs DPC-II and a DiGiCo D1. These consoles have worked many years on successful gigs but it was time for an upgrade.
 
DWR have been dealing with Alfacam for over a year now, assisting with possible DiGiCo solutions. Quentin Davis had many different options and solutions available to him but his heart was set on DiGiCo from the outset. “Having a good sounding desk is imperative and critical. Future proofing the OB van was another huge concern and this was the reason we decided on going with the DiGiCo SD12,” says Quentin.
 
“Besides the product being amazing, the final factor for the purchase was knowing we would be looked after by DWR. The support and service around the product is where DWR won, dealing with amazing, talented people such as Kyle Robson, Duncan Riley and general interactions with personnel working at DWR, the attention to detail and the service offered far exceeds my expectations. One phone call to DWR and the support is instantaneous. ‘’
 
Quentin was immediately impressed by the audio quality of the console once installed in the OB van. “I played a couple tracks that I`m used to in the van and straight away could hear a difference. The sound quality of the pre-amps on the SD12 are just superb. The progression is natural because everything of the workflow is the same, it feels so comfortable. The beauty of these consoles is how flexible they are and not having to go into 101 menus to achieve what you want, it’s all so visual and I think one of the things in live event and broadcasting is that time is of the essence, you need to be pretty quick which is possible with these beautiful machines.”
 
The SD12 went straight onto a gig the day after it was installed. One of the events it was put to use was at the Gymkhana GRiD at Carnival City where they learnt the power behind their purchase. “The high sound pressure levels of the cars was a concern for me. I decided to drive the channels quite hard to see just what would happen from the pre-amp down the line to the outputs. I drove the compression fairly hard and was so impressed how smooth and subtle it was. At no stage did I feel that I was driving the console to a point where the SD12 would not handle it. It is an absolutely smooth console that takes a beating,” laughs Quentin
 
We found Quentin`s background story interesting.
 
In 1996 Quentin Davis completed tech and managed to secure two job interviews with the SABC, one in radio which is where he wanted to be and the other with outside broadcast. Two weeks later he received a telephone call from the SABC offering him a job with the outside broadcast division – this was a huge challenge for him as he knew nothing about OB’s. Up to the challenge Quentin accepted the offer, and as the saying goes 21 years down the line and he is still here.
 
Quentin’s very first big production for the SABC came in the form of the African Cup of Nations in 1996. Not only was this his very first big production but it was also his first away trip to Bloemfontein for the SABC.
 
Quentin worked for the SABC as a junior assistant at the SABC’s Cape Town branch from 1996 through to 1998. In 1998 his big break came when the European Tour Golf came to South Africa and they did the South Africa Open Tour in Stellenbosch where he met the English crew and they worked closely together on a daily basis. During this stage a discussion took place with regard to a possible work opportunity in the UK. A month later an offer from The Technical Manager of CTV in the UK came through. In early 1999 he moved to the UK with extreme excitement at being given the opportunity to work for CTV in the UK.
 
CTV had just bought new OB trucks and they were looking for crew. After just two weeks after his arrival in the UK he worked on the Cricket World Cup broadcasting from a brand-new truck that he had never seen in his life before, it was a case of sink or swim so he had to learn very quickly. During this time he got to know the guys extremely well as they not only worked together they also travelled together and were continuously in each other’s company. “We have all progressed in our respective working careers, so I would say that this was my journey.”
 
From 1999 – 2010 he did the BRIT Awards, BAFTA Awards at Leicester Square, The World Cup, cricket and music award shows covering shows from Kylie Minogue to Robbie Williams to Westlife. From here the work just came in.
 
Quentin recalls the first time he saw a DiGiCo SD7 on a live outside broadcast. “It was at the Opening and Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012.” They had two mirrored consoles that was responsible for the live ceremonies.
Quentin always knew that he would return to South Africa so in 2010 he made the decision that he needed a change in his life and that it was time to return home. CTV UK were booked to do two venues in South Africa for the Football World Cup; one being in Polokwane and the other in Nelspruit, Quentin was based in Nelspruit where he was responsible for the audio setup of the broadcast. After 12 years of working in the UK Quentin made the decision that it was time to return to South Africa.
After his arrival back in South Africa, it took about a month for him to receive a phone call from Alfacam to assist their SA branch and five years down the line he is still here enjoying every minute of it.