John Delf Moves to New HARMAN Soundcraft Vi Consoles for 5 Seconds of Summer POTTERS BAR, United KingdomIn-demand FOH sound engineer John Delf has spent the past few years working with a succession of leading artists, ranging from Plan B to The Script and The Feeling - while maintaining his own Edge recording studios in Manchester. During that time he was never been far from HARMANs Soundcraft Vi platform as his digital console of choice.
But back in 2012, Delf also added another rising band to his portfolio when he joined Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer as FOH engineer and tour manager, as they embarked on a 2-year arena and stadium world tour supporting One Direction. In just under two years, the band played live in front of over four million people.
In between, the band undertook their own theatre headline tours, before this year graduating to a sold-out 70 date headline arena tour. For the theatre dates John was able to have his console of choice so opted for the Soundcraft Vi4 with a Soundcraft Realtime Rack. But on this latest arena tour he has moved up to Soundcrafts next generation technology. I am using a Vi3000 for UK and Europe, a Vi6 in Australia - and we are hoping for a Vi7000 for the USA leg, he reports, all with the Realtime Rack. The inventory has been provided by Liverpool-based Adlib, sold through Soundcrafts UK distributor, Sound Technology.
Adlib have the worlds best tech for setting this system up in Tony Szabo, praises the sound engineer. Every day the system sounded amazing, and combined with the Vi3000 and UAD [Universal Audio] plugins I got exactly the results I was after.
In his quest to keep abreast of new gear John Delf first heard about the Vi3000 via press articles and Soundcrafts social media. I had previously used the Realtime Rack and loved the results I got from it; its this combination that sold me on the new Vi range, he admits.
Johns first hands-on experience of the desk came at production rehearsals in Lisbon - where the trademark Soundcraft layout was immediately apparent. We specced the desk with two MADI cards and a Dante card, he said. We use the Dante to multitrack the whole show every night and the MADI to run the UAD Realtime rack. Both the recording and the UAD are run from a Mac Mini installed in the flight case in a very slick package put together by Adlib, with a touch screen monitor mounted on the side.
Using the multitrack from the previous nights show I am able to do a virtual soundcheck the next day without the need for the band to be onstage - so by the time they arrive the sound is already where I need it to be.
John Delf has previously combined his sound engineering duties with that of tour manager, and it was his twin skill set that landed him the job with 5SOS; however, now his role is sole FOH mixer. I have been mixing sound for nearly 25 years and I have also been tour managing for almost 20 years so find it quite easy to fit into both of these roles - although I have to say mixing sound is my real passion. And I love mixing this band! They are such good players and they can sing incredibly well whilst running around the stage like maniacs. Every show is sold out and the crowd goes crazy - why would anyone not like doing that?
As for the Vi3000, I absolutely love it, to the point that I am even considering buying one myself. Everything that I need to do for this show is possible with the Vi3000 and it makes everything sound so warm and punchy.
The mixes sound a lot sweeter and feel more controlled and I am amazed at how powerful the desk is in such a small footprint. It is very reminiscent of the Vi4 but in an improved format. The graphics are sharper and the touch screens seem more responsive. The inbuilt compressors feel smoother and the high pass filter feels more distinct.
One thing I love about the Vi range, he continues, is that all the information you need is in front of you - not hidden under loads of layers. Having the four screens means I can see at a glance what settings I have for each channel without having to press several buttons to get to that information. The FaderGlow also means you never get lost in knowing which page you are on. I especially love the fact that you can bring the graphic up across all the faders - they glow a comforting red so you know exactly what page you are on.
In fact the screens generally seem brighter with better contrast and are more responsive to touch. The whole package seems more compact and efficient and workflow is faster.
He also praises the other members of the touring sound crew, monitor engineer Ben Booker, Mark Johnson and Sam Proctor. So we were rather spoilt, he says. I couldnt have asked for better service. Every time I use an Adlib PA I come away extremely happy - apart from having the most highly trained crews, all the gear is in exceptional condition.
And this satisfaction extends to Soundcrafts next generation Vi consoles, which Adlib have been quick to espouse. I would highly recommend the Vi range, he says in conclusion. I think they are some of the best sounding digital desks available and with the UAD Realtime Rack they make an unbeatable combination of flexibility and sonic excellence.
For more information on Sound Technology, please visit www.soundtech.co.uk
Photo Credit: Shirlaine Forrest
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
06/05/2024
By Ilyse McKimmie
Now, more than ever
That's a phrase so often used in the last few years that I've come to dread seeing it in notes like this one. A...
06/05/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12099 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blog-Exabyte-Storage-Demand-960x540-1.jpg/> Demand for storage solutions has reached unprece...
06/05/2024
Around the world, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists continue to impact mu...
06/05/2024
Spotify is making it easier for booklovers to count down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until a new audiobook releases. With Countdown Pages for audioboo...
06/05/2024
Get Ready to join Dan Hong as he hits the streets in his ultimate culinary journ...
06/05/2024
In this video, cinematographer Simon Rowling welcomes viewers behind the scenes as he lights a daytime-interior scene inside a coffee shop. Shooting on Panavisi...
06/05/2024
L3Harris is well positioned to support the complex and multifaceted nature of special operations forces in all domains through our agile and responsive technolo...
06/05/2024
OAKVILLE, Ontario As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, Alert Ready, Canadas national public alerting system, will be distributing a test alert to Canadians i...
06/05/2024
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Horowitz Research has released a new study on the viewing and media habits of U.S. Hispanic/Latine audiences that shows a dramatic decline in...
06/05/2024
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th
Brie Clayton May 6, 2024
0 Comments
New game-changing motion graphics & VFX featu...
06/05/2024
NBC has renewed Night Court for a third season. The courtroom comedy was on the network from 1984 to 1992, and NBC rebooted it in early 2023....
06/05/2024
ABC has revealed its summer schedule. The Bachelorette gets going Monday, July 8, with Jenn Tran the star in season 21. Celebrity Family Feud starts up Tuesday,...
06/05/2024
It's almost go-time for the Holly Springs Salamanders! The season opener is ...
06/05/2024
06 May 2024
AI and Big Data Take the Centre Stage in Central Asia at Beetech 20...
06/05/2024
FIRST LOOK AT JIM PARSONS & MAYIM BIALIK REPRISING THEIR ROLES FROM THE BIG BAN...
06/05/2024
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be...
06/05/2024
Beverly Hills Aerials, LIV Golf Make Australian-Broadcast History by Flying Live...
06/05/2024
Back to All News
Watch the Trailer for A Part of You - Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ry...
06/05/2024
Leadership in 12G-SDI for low impact migration to 4k production...
06/05/2024
Press release - 6 May 2024 07:31
STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Download as PDF
Paris, 06 May 2024 ...
06/05/2024
Tyngsboro, Mass. - May 6, 2024 - Join us at InfoComm 2024 to experience the latest advancements in live production technology. From June 12-14, 2024, at the Las...
06/05/2024
To champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, ava...
06/05/2024
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'Talented actress Matseliso Mohale has joined SABC2's soapie Muvhango' as Vhangani's lover and a c...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury MthethoDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
06/05/2024
Intrinsic, a software and AI robotics company at Alphabet, has integrated NVIDIA AI and Isaac platform technologies to advance the complex field of autonomous r...
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity experts at the RSA Conference this week will be on the hunt for ways to secure their operations in the era of generative AI.
They'll find man...
06/05/2024
1) What is the rationale of the transaction? What is the benefit for SES shareholders?
This combination creates a stronger and more competitive multi-orbit ope...
05/05/2024
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Announces New Comedy Series Roosters, Starring Jeroen ...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Showdown Alert: Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura' Drops Electr...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
04/05/2024
New faces and new storylines': What to expect on Izingane ZeS'thembu...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
John Delf Moves to New HARMAN Soundcraft Vi Consoles for 5 Seconds of Summer POTTERS BAR, United KingdomIn-demand FOH sound engineer John Delf has spent the past few years working with a succession of leading artists, ranging from Plan B to The Script and The Feeling - while maintaining his own Edge recording studios in Manchester. During that time he was never been far from HARMANs Soundcraft Vi platform as his digital console of choice. 
