Barleybeat Production Services, Block A, New Beacon Building, Stafford Enterprise Park, Stone (2026)

15/04/2025

It’s been a busy year already for the Barleybeat team with live gigs, tours and the festival season gathering pace. We’ve been supplying industry standard consoles to stages across the UK, dry hire or with our seasoned crew. Our current lineup includes Midas Pro1, Pro2 and the flagship HD96, Yamaha LS9 and DM3S, Avid Profile, DiGiCo SD8 through to SD12, and Allen & Heath SQ5, SQ6 and SQ7. From compact tour friendly rigs to full festival FOH and monitor setups, we’re ready to deliver at every level.

Whether you're planning a one nighter, a summer tour or need a last minute replacement for a spec critical rider, our kit is rider ready and backed by expert engineers. If it needs to sound flawless, just get in touch and we’ll make it happen.

07/01/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from Barleybeat!! 🎉

Here's to 2025—a year full of opportunities, innovation, and excitement! Thank you for being part of our journey. We can't wait to share all the incredible things we have in store this year.

Wishing you a year of success, happiness, and great sound!

Cheers to 2025! 🥂
– The Barleybeat Team!

18/12/2024

🎄 A Merry Christmas from the Barleybeat Team! 🎄

As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank every single one of you – our clients, partners, and incredible crew – for an unforgettable year. Your trust, collaboration, and hard work have made this year a great success.

Here’s to 2025, a year we know will be even better as we continue to innovate, create, and deliver together!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Cheers to what’s ahead!

– The Barleybeat Team 🎶✨

07/08/2024

Alexander O'Neal’s farewell tour concluded with a sell-out show at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where he proposed to his long-term partner and married her live on stage at 70! Alex has been a loyal client of Barleybeat’s since 2016. We provided sound equipment and skilled sound engineers for the event, featuring Midas HD96, L'Acoustics, and Midas Pro 2 + Monitors.

26/06/2024

There is more to this.

In the world of sound engineering and production, the success of an event hinges on meticulous planning and preparation behind the scenes.

For production teams working with Barleybeat, a sound engineering and equipment hire company, this means ensuring every detail is accounted for before the event. Here's a closer look at the crucial steps taken to ensure the best experience for your audience.

Right place, right time.

The first crucial step is getting the right equipment to the venue on time and in perfect condition. At Barleybeat, a detailed list of all necessary equipment is maintained. Every piece, from microphones and mixers to amplifiers and monitors, is accounted for. Each item is checked, packed, and labelled for easy identification and transport.

Reliable transportation is arranged well in advance. This includes securing vehicles to safely transport delicate and heavy equipment and planning routes to avoid delays. Once at the venue, equipment must be stored in a secure and accessible location. This allows for quick retrieval during setup and minimises the risk of damage or loss.

Having the right people on-site is as important as having the right gear. Barleybeat offers the option to hire just the equipment or a full-service package that includes skilled sound engineers. Barleybeat provides experienced sound engineers and technicians when opting for the full package. Their familiarity with the equipment and the venue is crucial for smooth production.

Detailed schedules and roles are communicated well in advance. Each team member knows their responsibilities, ensuring smooth coordination and ex*****on. Backup personnel are on standby to step in if needed.

Check, check again.

The setup and sound check phase is where all planning comes to fruition. This phase includes following a meticulous step-by-step setup plan. Each piece of equipment is placed according to a pre-determined layout that optimises sound quality and audience experience.

Sound checks are conducted systematically. Each instrument and microphone is tested, and levels are adjusted to ensure a balanced and clear sound. This process is repeated to account for any variables, such as changes in audience size or environmental acoustics. On-the-spot adjustments are made to address any issues that arise during sound checks. This approach ensures that any potential problems are resolved before the event begins.

Planning and comms.

Every aspect of the production is meticulously planned to ensure smooth operation. Comprehensive plans cover every detail, from initial setup to final breakdown.

These plans are shared with all team members, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Pre-event meetings and briefings keep everyone informed and aligned. These sessions allow one to address last-minute concerns and confirm that all preparations are on track.

After the event.

A debriefing session is conducted to review what went well and identify areas for improvement. This continuous feedback loop helps refine processes for future productions. The best can get better.

Sounds great. Barleybeat.

03/05/2024

Barleybeat gets this parody show on the road, with nothing less than a bright 1980s sound, 1983… when times were simpler, hair was bigger, and unsupervised children were getting snatched by inter-dimensional creatures.

You have to understand it to recreate it.

The distinctive sound of 1980s music was largely shaped by the advent of new technology and evolving production techniques. Several key factors contributed to the era's unique sonic character.

The 1980s saw a major rise in the use of synthesizers, which became more affordable and accessible. Popular models like the Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter-8, and Oberheim OB-X were staples in many recording studios. They offered a range of new sounds, including lush pads, striking leads, and deep basslines, which became synonymous with the decade's music.

Drum machines had a profound impact on the sound of the 1980s. Machines like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909 were crucial in the development of genres like hip-hop, dance, and electronic music. The ability to program rhythms with precise timing and incorporate electronic drum sounds that didn't need a live drummer changed music production dramatically.

The 1980s marked the shift from analogue to digital recording with the introduction of digital audio workstations (DAWs) and samplers. The Fairlight CMI and the E-mu Emulator were among the first samplers used widely, allowing musicians to digitally sample and manipulate sounds. This technology gave producers and artists the ability to layer sounds in new ways and with greater control, contributing to the polished and expansive soundscapes characteristic of the decade.

The use of gated reverb, particularly on drums, was a defining production technique of the 1980s. This effect, popularised by Phil Collins's "In the Air Tonight," provided a punchy yet spacey drum sound that became very popular. Other effects like digital delay, chorus, and flanging also helped shape the ethereal and vibrant sound of the music.

26/04/2024

Barleybeat creating the authentic tribute sound shape for the Waterloo ABBA tribute band playing at Sheffield City Hall.

It’s what the audience expects. It’s what Barleybeat deliver.

The whole point of a tribute brand is that they authentically sound like the original acts, in period. The original ABBA, the famous Swedish pop group known for their polished studio recordings, also had a distinctive sound for their live performances. During the 1970s, the equipment and amps they used live on stage were crucial in delivering their iconic sound to live audiences. Barleybeat believes in the details to create an authentic sound, research, planning, and obsessive sound checking.

Research the sound of the time.

ABBA primarily used Shure microphones for their live performances. The Shure SM58 was a popular choice for vocals due to its durability and reliable sound quality, which is essential for live shows. Benny Andersson, the group's primary keyboard player, used a variety of keyboards. The most iconic was the Hohner Clavinet, which is prominently heard in many of their hits. He also used Yamaha and Roland synthesizers, which were cutting-edge at the time. Björn Ulvaeus and bassist Rutger Gunnarsson played on a variety of guitars. Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Pauls were among the guitars used. For bass, a Fender Precision Bass was commonly seen and heard in their live setup. To amplify their instruments, ABBA members generally relied on brands like Fender and Vox for both guitar and bass amplification. These amps helped deliver a clean and powerful sound suitable for the pop music they were famous for. The drum kit used by ABBA's drummer, Ola Brunkert, included Ludwig drums, which were popular among rock and pop musicians due to their superior sound quality. ABBA used a comprehensive PA system on stage to project their music to large audiences. The exact specifics can vary, but systems from brands like JBL were typically used and could deliver clear sound across different frequencies. Reverb units, echo machines, and phasers were commonly used to replicate the studio effects that were a hallmark of ABBA's sound. Brands like Roland and Lexicon were likely part of their setup to enhance vocal and instrumental outputs. ABBA's stage setup was a combination of reliability and the era’s technology, which allowed them to faithfully reproduce their meticulously crafted studio sounds in a live setting.

The Barleybeat team set-up is everything to support tribute acts; ABBA fans have listened to ABBA for real and expect to hear and feel ABBA faithfully. The shape should allow for the activities to be recreated. We use the best equipment, L’acoustics K3 Midas and DiGiCo consoles, and the most skilled and qualified sound engineers carefully planning set-ups and sound checks.

Barleybeat Production Services

15/04/2025

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18/12/2024

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