Brit Row supports Team GB Homecoming party
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With production led by Global Touring Office, the star-studded line up saw Rag’n’Bone Man (otherwise known as Rory Graham) open and close the event with a powerful audio control package supplied by Brit Row.
“I think any show post-pandemic has a certain electric feel about it, but this one was another level,” comments Rag’n’Bone Man’s FOH engineer, Rob Sadler. “To be part of the show welcoming back Team GB is a high accolade in anyone’s books, and the pre-show ambient noise of the crowd in the arena was welcoming to say the least.”
Rag'n'Bone Man’s live sound has developed considerably for the new album cycle - with the introduction of a bigger band and the absence of any backing tracks.
“It’s a lot more rock ‘n’ roll,” continues Sadler. “Rory’s vocal is the show, so it’s my priority to make sure it sits on top of the mix. The choir and strings - which were mixed by Davide Lombardi - add a completely different feel and emotion to the songs, very fitting for this occasion.”
Sadler mixed on a DiGiCo SD10 with an XTA D2 Stereo Dynamic EQ, Bricasti M7, and Empirical Labs Distressor for artist vocals, a TC Electronic Reverb 4000 for drums and a Smart Research C2 compressor as a mix bus.
“I’ve been using variations of this set up for the past four years,” he notes. “The SD10 does everything I need and sounds great. I’m really enjoying the Smart C2 at the moment. It gives the mix a final polish.
“Rory’s mix is actually quite traditional, in that I just need to give him time and pitch,” he says. “He likes the drums and bass quite loud, with the main piano sound upfront for pitching and a sprinkle of everything else panned around him and away from that precious centre channel. It’s all about creating lots of space for his vocals.”
For low end consistency, Tinsley opted for a pair of d&b audiotechnik M2’s ‘low passed’ between 150-200hz, to which he sends only kick, bass, and low mid piano.
“Desperate to simplify my gear this year, I started using a DiGiCo SD10,” he says. “The setup is incredibly simple, with the intention of making it easy to replicate around the world for consistency. We also had 12 ways of Shure PSM1000 IEM, a couple of hardwires, a buttkicker, a shaker plate, and side fill subs, with the only ‘spice’ factor being the two Empirical Labs FATSOs.”
On another successful outing for the UK’s premier rock ‘n’ soul singer, Sadler concludes with a nod to Brit Row’s service: “From initial emails through to production rehearsals and being on the road, Brit Row have been great. Nothing is ever an issue, the audio package is perfect, and our audio tech Josh Graham is world class. He made sure everything we were doing would work in sync with the show’s in-house audio system. It couldn’t have gone better.”
