"My approach with all mixing projects is to have the vocals on top, clean and clear. Once that's established, proper placement of the instrumentation is my next goal," says Colvard. "I try to take the whole set list into consideration to set up the dynamic structure. When the Milo system is properly set up, it is a very transparent and responsive system."
The system for each arena is configured from a touring inventory that also includes UPJ-1P VariO and M'elodie line array loudspeakers, all tied together by a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 616 processors. Bjoern Seelander takes the charge for the European shows.
"I've used many different systems and Meyer is the one, for me, with the best vocal clarity," says Major Tom's David 'Digga' Vinnicombe, who was the system tech for the US leg. The European dates are handled by Bjoern Seelander.
At monitor world, Major Tom's Simon Kemp hovers over an Avid (Digidesign) Profile console which feeds 20 Meyer Sound MJF-212A stage monitors. "I have hardly any EQ on the MJFs," comments Kemp. "They sound fantastic straight out of the box." The foldback system also includes JM-1P arrayable loudspeakers.
The gear roster features a DigiCo SD7 FOH console, API compressors, and Avalon 737 channel strips. Usher's vocals come through a custom Crown C113a headset via Shure UHF-R wireless and a custom Shure KSM-9 handheld. For the 27 shows in North America, Major Tom received equipment support from Thunder Audio of Livonia, Mich. Brian Thorene is monitor tech. Jack Dunnett and David Litchfield Klann are audio system techs.
(Jim Evans)
