Though the event was headed by Brit Row project manager Lez Dwight, with Stefan Krista managing the inputs and cross-patch from scores of 12-way sub-snakes, Nahuel Gutierrez operated one SSL Live for the 75-member orchestra, generating group stems for FOH, monitors, BBC broadcast and 16 personal monitor stems for the orchestra.
Niccolo Antonietti used the second SSL Live console to mix monitors/IEMs for the house band, along with guest vocals, guest backline and Pro Tools tracks, totalling 60 outputs for 30 stereo mixes. Both SSL Live consoles were located remotely with only a BBC programme shot to watch. As freelance engineers, rehearsal for the Edinburgh Castle concert was the first time Gutierrez and Antonietti had the opportunity to use an SSL Live console.
Antonietti's console handled the house band, made up of drums, bass, guitars, two keyboards, percussion and three backing vocals, as well as director Mike Stevens' keyboard and guitars. He also controlled the handheld microphones for guests, ambient microphones, intercoms, BBC feeds and 16 channels of Pro Tools, bringing Antonietti's desk to 120 input channels. The two SSL Live consoles also had a MADI connection between them to feed stem subgroups back and forth.
"The orchestra was using personal monitors, so I sent them band stems, like guitar, rhythm section, keyboards and vocals, as well as Pro Tools stems," Antonietti explains. "I then received a premix of the orchestra and of all of the other channels that I couldn't get on my desk."
(Jim Evans)
