FOH and production engineer Shane Haase searched for the most "natural-sounding" equipment, including a Solid State Logic Live L500 console.
Inspired by the blues and soul of their Southern roots and the rock sounds of their generation, the band opts for a raw sound on stage, selecting a variety of both modern and classic audio equipment. "We start with the microphones, which have been chosen to compliment the band's overall dynamic and to express their voices in the most natural way," says Haase, who has been touring professionally for the past decade.
"From the microphones, it's simple signal processing just like anything else: microphone to pre-amp, to dynamic control, time-based processing and out to the masses. But, we play both indoor and outdoor venues so the audio design facilities and flexibility like that of the SSL Live L500 are key to making the FOH mix sit right for every occasion. Between my two racks and the onboard tools that come with the L500, I am able to handle all of my processing with ease."
Adapting to new challenges on tour, and on the night, is an important aspect of an engineer's job. "The L500 is flexible during setup and in the field," says Haase. "There are many routing and custom setup options, and useful information is displayed all the time.... The SSL even communicates with you when it thinks something isn't arranged correctly.
"Having a large touch screen helps me identify and address my problems clearly, while the smaller screen and the knobs give me the precision necessary to fine-tune thresholds or EQs."
(Jim Evans)
