CANEGREEN

This year sees north London-based sound rental company Canegreen celebrate its 25th anniversary, with MD/co-founder Yan Stile and his colleagues currently enjoying one of the firm’s busiest periods.

    Canegreen’s client roster has expanded over the years to include such greats as Joe Satriani, Lou Reed, Joe Jackson, The Enemy, Sugababes, Morrissey, Kanye West, Michael McDonald and Megadeth, as well as maintaining long-standing relationships with the likes of Paul Weller and George Benson, and supporting events including the NME Big Gig, and the Wychwood and Cambridge Folk festivals.

    The company constantly reviews its technical inventory and recently made a number of strategic purchases — one of which saw Canegreen take delivery of the first Digidesign Profile/Mix Rack system to be sold by SSE Audio Group. This follows SSE’s recently acquired status as a Digidesign D-Show dealer.

    The package comprising the D-Show Profile digital mixing console with the new all-in-one Mix Rack, includes cases manufactured by SSE ‚ the first flightcases off the production line for these products.

    Yan Stile commented: “You can’t beat it for the price. The first analogue console I bought was £30k, so this is a bargain. SSE offered us the best package as they were able to case the system as well,  and we love the innovative ideas in the Profile Case. It really is a neat little package, and we know SSE will offer us the support we need.”

    Canegreen’s hire department, headed by Luther Edmonds, already has the Profile and Mix Rack package lined up for a busy summer of touring. Meanwhile, the diverse requirements of Canegreen’s customers and the company’s busy schedule have also placed heavy demands on its loudspeaker stock. With a full palette of tools from Meyer Sound, Canegreen has sailed through the years and is now larger and stronger, while consistently providing exceptional audio solutions and services.

    The association between Canegreen and Meyer Sound goes back to 1986, when the company acquired its first MSL-3 loudspeaker for a Richard Clayderman tour.

    “The Meyer Sound brand had picked up a lot of support from artists and engineers, particularly those coming over from the States,” said Stile, who enjoyed fame in the ’70s as a member of hit pop band, Kenny, along with one of the UK’s leading transport professionals, Chris Redburn.

    “People were making claims that they could play the Albert Hall with just two MSL-3s! George Benson was one of [director] Pete Edmonds’ clients and he wanted to try the Meyer system, so that was part of our motivation.”

    According to Stile, the decision to purchase Meyer Sound equipment opened a new path for the company: “With regards to profile and attracting clients, the investment did have a significant impact on our business, we immediately increased the inventory, and haven’t looked back really.”

    Since then, Canegreen’s hire inventory has steadily grown to include the majority of products introduced by Meyer Sound in the intervening years. In fact, Canegreen became one of the first companies in the UK to own MILO and MILO 120 line array loudspeakers.

    “We now have almost every tool in the Meyer toolbox, and we use them all, including large quantities of UltraSeries products, MSL-4s, 700-HP and 650-P subwoofers, plus legacy DS-2s and MSL-2s and 3s,” informed Stile.  “We’re also a very enthusiastic owner of MICA line array products, of which we’ve just ordered 16 more cabinets.”

    The toolbox analogy is apt, as Meyer Sound products are designed to seamlessly integrate with each other. They are also built for extended product life and remain largely immune to the vagaries of fashion.

    Stile testifies that loudspeakers that were bought almost two decades ago are still well maintained and in regular use: “The MSL-3s, for example, have been a great purchase for us from a pure business point of view. How many other assets could one acquire for a business that would have such a long and productive working life? Meyer is a family-run business with a vision and passion. Everything they do is for the sake of the product and the users. Product owners like us benefit from this approach.”

    Touring is a very different business today compared to the era of Canegreen’s formation. An upsurge in live sound tours and events driven by falling recording sales has made it ever harder for production companies to distinguish themselves in the increasingly competitive business. Consequently PA rental firms are seeking ways to operate more efficiently — use less crew, shorten prep times, reduce truck space and weight, and trim load-in/out times to the minimum. Equipment has to be rider-friendly and easily adaptable for an assorted mix of applications to ensure maximum use.

    Stile claims that his investments fulfill all these requirements for projects, including the current tour by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (in conjunction with Britannia Row).

    “Over the last few years, Meyer has been acknowledged as the ultimate multi-application system brand,” continued Stile, who is currently planning the company’s move to a new location in July 2009.

    “The systems are flexible, modular, and can be re-configured on the fly as necessary. Compared to conventional systems, Meyer systems are lighter, faster to get in and out, easier to rent and sub-rent, take less truck space, and produce more consistent results, night after night.

    “They are well accepted by production managers and engineers alike so use is consistently high for different projects, regardless of size, venue configurations, musical styles including even the heavier rock acts.

    “My job as MD is to run the business profitably and efficiently and Meyer Sound products are one of the keys to helping me achieve that. They are simply great tools for our business.”
TPi
www.canegreen.com