for KING & COUNTRY Marches On With DiGiCo For A
01/12/2020
The Christmas tour directly chases up the four-time Grammy Award-winning duo's successful Together Again: A Drive-In Tour, which ran from September 10 through October 30. Maintaining the same socially-distanced drive-in show format that has become the norm for 2020, the current largely outdoor tour is stopping at a variety of locations across the southern US, including arenas, fairgrounds, and drive-in movie theatres, as well as iconic sites like Pasadena's Rose Bowl, Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, and Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway. And like the tour leg before it, for KING & COUNTRY's final trek for 2020 continues to carry the same DiGiCo consoles that FOH Engineer Ralph Rivera and Monitor Engineer Zach Escobar have been using all year.
Up until about four years ago, we were touring with another console brand, but then I finally got a taste of DiGiCo with an SD8 and I've never looked back, says Rivera, who has been with for KING & COUNTRY for eight years but has also worked with the Smallbone family for 23 years, previously running FOH for Joel and Luke's also-famous sister, Grammy Award-winning Rebecca St. James.
Blackhawk Audio has been our touring partner for five years now, and we've been on their DiGiCo SD12s for FOH and monitors for the past three of those, he continues. It would be hard for me to say any one specific thing that I appreciate about the SD12 because I appreciate everything about it, including how flexible it is to use and how great it sounds, even before any plug-ins are added. It's been a solid and reliable performer and keeps getting better, especially with the 96-input channel upgrade, which is helpful because we're typically running 84 physical inputs between the stage, tracks, RF, and program feeds.
Connected via fiber, both the FOH and monitor consoles are paired with SD-Racks, each loaded with seven 32-bit Ultimate Stadius Mic Preamp modules, five 32-bit DAC modules, and two AES output cards. A DiGiGrid MGB interface at the house console allows Rivera to connect to his laptop for live multitrack recording of all the shows for virtual soundchecks using the Waves Tracks Live platform. Similarly, the SD12 96 monitor console also is equipped with a DMI-WAVES SoundGrid expansion card for multitrack recording when desired.
Although there are eight musicians on stage, the input count is higher than might be expected because nearly every band member is a multi-instrumentalist. Everyone in the band pretty much plays every instrument, and four of them are also background vocalists, describes Escobar, who has been with the group since January of this year. Our guitar player will jump to the bass riser and play there for a few songs, then jump down to the synth station. Our drummer plays keytar for a song, and our bass player plays cello, mellophone, and marimba, so there's a lot of moving around on stage. There's also a trombone, a second drum kit, marching drums, and tube bells.
Because there are so many inputs and I need all the faders accessible quickly, I use the Aux to Faders panel religiously instead of the physical solo buttons. That allows me to keep my bread-and-butter layers on the desk at all times. I also reach for EQ and dynamics rotaries pretty regularly as well as aux pan rotaries. Then I keep my crowd mics in a CG with that fader assigned to one of the masters, so I can easily ride audience mics between songs and at special moments. I'm really pleased with the setup and everything's been working great.
Escobar is generating a dozen stereo monitor mixes-eight for the performers, plus four more for backline, playback tech, spare/guest mix, and himself-all of which are being heard on JH Audio JH13V2 PROs. Every mix for every member is different for every song, so the quicker I can get to a fader, the better, he adds. Because we're a one-truck tour where space is everything,' the SD12 puts a decent fader count into a small form factor that is good for me and great for our truck pack.
The DiGiCo consoles also get high praise for their pristine sonics. I hear multiple comments every night about how good the show sounded and how appreciative people are to be able to hear everything so clearly, especially the vocals, says Rivera. I love the SD12's onboard processing and use it on almost all of my channels and in conjunction with Waves plug-ins, which I use on vocals and drums to take the same sounds from the studio and vice versa.
Joel, Luke, and the whole band have also been pleased with the sound of the SD12, shares Escobar. They like that it doesn't color or tonally change what they're sending me. It's a true representation of what they're playing, which is really the ideal.
Both engineers go on to thank Production Manager Matt Brewer, Stage Manager Ezra Salmine, Blackhawk System Tech Cody Wayne Scott, and Tour Manager Chico, among the rest of the crew. These guys make the impossible happen-including building our own stage and PA towers every single day-and they allow Ralph and I to keep our minds on the mixes. This show couldn't happen without them, says Escobar.
Same goes for DiGiCo, Rivera adds. Ryan Shelton and Kyle McMahon at Group One Limited [DiGiCo's US distributor]
LINK: | https://digico.biz/for-king-country-marches-on-with-digico-for-a-drumm... |
See more stories from digico |
More from DiGiCo
01/04/2024
De La Warr Pavilion: Due to popular demand, beachfront venue
Sited on the beachfront in Bexhill, East Sussex, De La Warr Pavilion boasts an impressive variety of music, comedy, and theatrical performances each year. On to...
01/04/2024
W E Audio adds two Quantum 338 Pulse consoles with
W E Audio's Luke Ireland and Samuel Cooper agree that there is always the opportunity to find a new DiGiCo convert and providing the full audio package for ...
01/04/2024
DiGiCo Announces V1742 Software Release for SD and Quantum Consoles
CHESSINGTON, UK - April 2024 - DiGiCo announces the release of its latest software release, Version 1742, designed for all SD and Quantum consoles. Now availabl...
01/04/2024
Quantum 225 for AfriForum Teater
Heading the technical operations at the theatre is Pieter-Louis van Twisk, a seasoned professional in the live events industry and the recipient of the prestigi...
01/04/2024
DiGiCo Quantums shine at NEW BUND 31 Performing Arts Center
A 2,500-seat theatre with professional acoustic design features DiGiCo Quantum digital mixing consoles to handle a large number of channels during live performa...
01/03/2024
DiGiCo Quantum 7s seamlessly integrate sound at revival performance of
First performed at National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in 2012, The Ballad of the Canal was the first original folk opera presented. The recent revival u...
01/03/2024
DiGiCo Quantum Range onboard processing delivers streamlined flexibility for The
With a DiGiCo Quantum 7 throughout at front of house, and a Quantum 5 at the monitor position, for the latter portion of the tour, The 1975 can be assured their...
01/03/2024
Drake Takes First DiGiCo Quantum852 Console On Tour
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada - March 2024 - Drake, the artist credited with popularizing the expression YOLO- you only live once -has managed to pack enough accompl...
01/03/2024
Fall Out Boy Falls For DiGiCo's Quantum Consoles
CHICAGO, Illinois - March 2024 - I don't know that there's another desk that we could really do it all with, says Chad Olech, front-of-house mix engin...
01/03/2024
DiGiCo Quantum 225 fits the bill at Brighton's Komedia
Our previous console was pretty tired, and it was getting to the point where we were having to spend time explaining the features to visiting engineers, which i...
01/02/2024
Bridgestone Arena Makes it a Hat Trick with a Third
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - February 2024 - Good things come in threes: Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, home to the NHL Predators, has been named the top arena in...
01/02/2024
DiGiCo Quantum338 Helps Christ Wesleyan Church for The Way and
MILTON, Pennsylvania - February 2024 - Christ Wesleyan Church (CWC) celebrated its centennial last year, a 100-year-old church community that has maintained its...
01/02/2024
Japan's TOKYO-SANKO invests in DiGiCo Quantum 338 consoles
DiGiCo is a super machine. The company produces faultless consoles that can adapt to many different scenarios, says Mr Tetsuya Matsunaga, audio department mana...
01/02/2024
DiGiCo Quantum 225 at centre of precision upgrade for ultimate
Predominately working alone this One Man touring solution' enables Marynissen to deliver high-end results with a tiny footprint, both physically, environme...
01/02/2024
A new level for Ragam Pro AVL with India's first
From humble beginnings 50 years ago, Kodaly, Kerala-based Ragam Pro AVL has created a reputation for delivering first class events. Recently we have planned t...
01/01/2024
DiGiCo Introduces Fourier Interface Card
ANAHEIM, California - NAMM Show stand 17901, LVCC North Hall, Level 2 - January 25, 2024 - Following on from the recent news that DiGiCo has acquired Fourier Au...
01/01/2024
DiGiCo Announces Pulse Software Updates for Quantum338, Quantum338T, and Quantum225
ANAHEIM, California - NAMM Show stand 17901, LVCC North Hall, Level 2 - January ...
01/01/2024
Hard-Fi leans on DiGiCo for first UK tour in over
Reflecting on his induction into the band, Parker recalls being recruited by Hard-Fi's management before their debut album release in 2005. I remember rece...
01/01/2024
DiGiCo delivers audio wizardry on Maisie Peters' The Good Witch
Kennedy started using DiGiCo consoles in 2012, and says the workflow immediately resonated with him, stating, What goes in, comes out exactly as you've fil...
01/01/2024
DiGiCo Quantum 225, fit for a King!
We've been discussing this investment for quite some time, beams Kyle Robson from DWR Distribution. When it comes to emerging technology, it's truly r...
01/01/2024
Tone Art sets high standards for the Danish musical theatre
The primary objective of our company is not just to produce a multitude of shows; it's about delivering experiences that excel both technically and creative...
01/11/2023
A DiGiCo Quantum225 Double Play for Ian Munsick on Tour
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - November 2023 - Since he signed with Warner Music Nashville in 2021, Wyoming native Ian Munsick's star has risen rapidly. He's ea...
01/11/2023
DiGiCo installed at centre of 2.2m Euro refurbishment at Vilnius
Situated in the capital of Vilnius, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the L l Puppet Theatre was established in 1977 in th...
01/11/2023
Two For The Road: Big Daddy Weave Takes A Pair
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - November 2023 - Nashville-based band Big Daddy Weave has been raising the roof and bringing down the house on their ongoing 2023 Heaven C...
01/11/2023
DiGiCo Adds the Right Spice to Karol G's Maana Ser
MEDELL N, Colombia - November 2023 - They knew her as Carolina Giraldo Navarro in her native Medell n, Colombia, but the world now knows her as Karol G. She'...
01/11/2023
DiGiCo Quantum consoles deliver outstanding audio to millions of fans
I've been using the Quantum 338 since the console's release three years ago, says Ashford. For the second phase of the Motomami tour, we utilised the ...
01/10/2023
Maluma's Don Juan World Tour Loves DiGiCo Quantum338 Consoles
MEDELL N, Colombia - October 2023 - Singer, composer, rapper, entrepreneur, activist-all those descriptives and more characterize Maluma, the Latin Grammy Award...
01/10/2023
DiGiCo and Fourier Audio Set to Transform Live Sound
NEW YORK CITY - October 25, 2023 - AES Stand #823 - Building upon the announcement from earlier this month that it has joined forces with industry pioneer DiGiC...
01/10/2023
DiGiCo Quantum 225 consoles deliver powerful audio boost to latest
Choosing DiGiCo for our latest tour with Alizzz was a no-brainer, recalls Oliveras. Having had experience with their systems on previous tours, we were well a...
01/10/2023
Paulus Choir Musical monitoring relies on DiGiCo S31+ and KLANG:vokal
In the end, 151 participants volunteered over two years to put together their own musical, in their free time, and that's what makes this unique, says Gorg...
01/10/2023
National Theatre in Oslo leaps ahead with DiGiCo Quantum 338T
For over 120 years, the National Theatre in Oslo has been an arena for both Norwegian and foreign classics, new drama and performing arts, as well as children...
01/10/2023
DiGiCo Gets Dallas' AT&T Performing Arts Center Connected
DALLAS, Texas - October 2023 - The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas will observe its 15th anniversary next year and the five performance venues o...
01/10/2023
Blur stay loyal to DiGiCo for sell-out reunion tour
The mammoth gigs marked 35 years since the band's formation, which was followed by a lengthy career of catchy chart-topping hits, numerous music awards and ...
01/10/2023
DiGiCo and Fourier Audio prepare to plug in live sound
Fourier Audio's team of software engineers and sound designers are focused on delivering live audio solutions that enhance an engineer's ability to crea...
01/09/2023
Long Nights, Impossible Odds: DiGiCo is the Blue Collar Desk
CHICAGO, Illinois - September 2023 - With an enduring legacy spanning more than five decades, the members of Chicago rock band Styx are still showing no signs o...
01/09/2023
NF Takes DiGiCo SD5 Consoles Out on a Mission of
September 2023 - Hip-hop artist Nate Feuerstein, known as NF, is out on the HOPE Tour, his first headlining arena trek in support of his new album of the same n...
01/09/2023
DiGiCo Quantums make Perfect Sense' for Arctic Monkeys' engineers for
Racking up a remarkable combined tenure of 31 years with the band, with Doyle taking on the role of Monitor Engineer in 2006, with Kettle joining as FOH Enginee...
01/09/2023
DiGiCo Quantum5 and KLANG deliver perfect solution for Jacky Cheung
Revered as an icon in Hong Kong's popular culture and dubbed the God of Songs', Cheung's accolades include a World Music Award for World's Bes...
01/09/2023
DiGiCo 4REA4 the brains behind seamless format conversion and connectivity
Named after Uffo Horn, an important native of Trutnov who greatly influenced the culture and politics in the region in 19th century, the Social and Cultural Cen...
01/09/2023
DiGiCo and KLANG Heat Up Burna Boy's Stadium Tour
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - August 2023 - With more than 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify, not to mention over 300 million streams of his song Last Last a...
01/09/2023
DiGiCo and KLANG Team Up To Bring New Monitoring Tech
LOS ANGELES, California - September 2023 - It can take a while to get a group of people to embrace a new way of doing things, and it certainly doesn't help ...
01/08/2023
DiGiCo SD9 Pair Helps Dylan Scott Keep it Lean and
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - August 2023 - This summer, Dylan Scott celebrated the seventh anniversary of his first number one hit on Billboard's Country Airplay ...
01/08/2023
DiGiCo brings new Quantum852 powerhouse to PLASA Show 2023
First announced in May, Quantum852 will make its debut trade show appearance at the PLASA Show. The Quantum852 represents a significant leap forward in processi...
01/08/2023
Travon Snipes Gives Post Malone the DiGiCo Quantum Treatment
HOUSTON, Texas - August 2023 - In June, Post Malone joined a short list of musical artists-Drake, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and others-by being presented with t...
01/08/2023
DiGiCo's S21 unleashes new possibilities for artistic creation and expression
The 48-channel DiGiCo S21 is equipped with a DMI card, plus two portable 16 inpu...
01/08/2023
Max Pezzali takes centre stage with DiGiCo Quantum7 on epic
Born in 1994, Nicolino sees himself as one of the rising talents' in the industry. He studied at the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale (APM), a year-...
01/08/2023
DiGiCo brings audio excellence to one of Lithuania's largest theatres
SONUS Exsertus, stage technology design and integration company and DiGiCo's distributor for the Baltics and Georgia, was chosen to deliver the Lithuanian N...
01/08/2023
Spectacular return of Dinamitas', Lithuania's biggest street culture festival, powered
Tomas danovi ius, Sound System Designer/Engineer at SONUS Exsertus, who also wo...
01/07/2023
DiGiCo Keeps Control Steady for Maroon 5 on Tour and
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - July 2023 - Three-time Grammy Award winners Maroon 5 took off on a concise but intense tour this year. UK + Europe 2023 was the 15th concert...
01/07/2023
DiGiCo Quantum 338 triumphs at The Voice Lithuania grand finale
This year was The Voice Lithuania 10th anniversary season, which is celebrated in style with a spectacular grand finale. The event was held at Lithuania's l...