TPI_March

ON THE ROAD: AC/DC
Below L-R: Monitor mixer Jon Lewis; system engineer Dave Dixon; Adam Rebacz, engineer for hot support band, The Answer.
and authentic. “However, there are a few differences for coverage areas, with another two under grilles
“I’ve not used an XL8 so far, because I AC/DC. On this tour, I’m using Audio-Technica at Malcolm’s and Cliff’s vocal positions, a pair
haven’t had a reason to, but when the Pro 6 AT4047 large diaphragm condensers on the of ﬂown X-Array side ﬁlls per side, a pair of rear
came out to America and we started working guitars. I ﬁnd they really suit the sound that X-Array ﬁlls per side and another set of X-Array
with it, with Fez’s valuable input, it slotted into Malcolm and Angus get out of their cabinets, downstage ﬁlls laid on their sides. Completing
place really nicely.” and whilst the on-stage SPLs are very loud I’m this formidable system is a drum ﬁll of four X-
The Pro 6 has been used primarily by still able to get warmth from those mics.” Subs and three top boxes.
engineer Adam Rebacz to mix the stunning Irish Mike Adams put the system together
opening act, The Answer, and for Pab to record MONITORS although it was largely inherited from John
AC/DC performances on to a Klark Teknik Joining Pab at the other end of the multicore Roden’s previous design, which is why several
DN9696 hard disk digital multitrack recorder. was another face from the Macca camp, items of outboard kit and wedge choices
Pab: “I set up the Pro 6 as an emergency monitor engineer Jon Lewis who had arrived originate from many tours gone by.
console so that I can un-mute the masters and four days beforehand to relieve his predecessor, A couple of Avalon 737s are inserted across
go straight into a live mix that we already have Mike Adams, for the rest of the European leg. the hi-hat and Johnson’s vocals, an Eventide
dialled in, and occasionally I will check that mix. Lewis is mixing on another Midas desk — a H3000 harmonizer provides vocal doubling, and
You’d be very hard-pressed to tell the difference Heritage 4000, chosen for its higher stereo the racks also feature a dbx IEM processor, Apex
but so far, it hasn’t been necessary resort to this output count. gates and t.c. electronic 1128 graphics which
back-up. It’s very comforting to know it’s just an “It’s my ﬁrst time with a 4000,” he said. shape the overall monitoring curve.
arm’s length away though.” “I’m a regular 3000 user and it’s just the extra Also at Lewis’ end of the production is stage
The irony of having a digital console as channels that make the difference. We’re up to manager Chris ‘Super’ Deters and AC/DC’s
back-up for an analogue board was not lost around 38 outputs for the mixture of in-ears backline tech army — Geoff Banks (a.k.a.
on TPi... or indeed Fez, whose division of [Ultimate Ears UE-11 moulds with Sennheiser Bison), Richard Jones, Takumi Sutsugu and Luke
loyalty between both domains must have been G3 hardware] and wedges... of which there are Lowes. Headed by Chris Nichols, the sound
struggling! many to provide the coverage for the band’s crew also includes Ken Check and Ricardo
Pab’s microphone choices for Macca movement and compensate for the extreme Roman.
have remained fairly static since 2001 and, levels of the backline!” As ever, the beauty of live sound is in the
interestingly, most of those choices apply to Singer Brian Johnson — whose brother ears of the beholder. A clinical hi-ﬁ sound would
AC/DC and other acts he mixes, including Paul Maurice’s company Gig-A-Bite provides the never be right for this band and so it was no
Simon. tour catering — uses one ear mould which is surprise that a main line array was absent. The
“I’ve long been a fan of Audix mics, essential for his moments out on the runway. X-Array system, now around 12-13 years old,
particularly on drums, and there’s no need to Bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd serves as hard evidence that the very latest
change,” he said. “I’ve always like standard both use a pair. cutting-edge technology isn’t always the perfect
Shure 58s for vocals and Brian and the guys are Other than that, there are 17 Firehouse sonic solution.
happy with that choice. 15” downstage wedges zoned into different A meaty slab of well-mixed, no frills, in-
38 • TPi MARCH 09
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