FX's technical manager Adam Pope worked closely with the live to CD company at its inception, recommending that the best way for Live Here Now to proceed would be to source a soundproofed, air conditioned truck into which duplication equipment could then be installed.
After further research, and to supply the required CD output, Pope also advised Live Here Now to invest in 50 seven-bay Magellen CD duplicators, together with a total of 14 Tascam CDRW750 and HHB CDR830+ single CD-R burners for creating master CDs, plus outboard equipment including limiters and compressors. Working in partnership with Will Shapland Mobiles, a Live Here Now engineer mixes the audience mics and live material coming off stage before the masters are burned.
"After our recommendations had been made, Live Here Now wanted technical backup, primarily during installation of the equipment, and within their start-up period," says Pope. "FX was very involved in how all this would be put together logistically. It's a simple concept, but making the whole process happen quickly and efficiently took a bit of working out."
Live Here Now's technology means that within five minutes of the band coming off stage, CDs are available at points of sale around the venue, with up to 500 being sold within half an hour. "We're now looking to increase the number of burners and duplicators so that we can produce the CDs even quicker," says Pope.
(Jim Evans)
