CSP Mobile’s (www.cspmobile.com) digital audio/video trucks, Unit 6 and Unit 3, were on hand for Fearless Entertainment’s new MTV Live series from the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Nas and Akon (pictured) each played one-hour sets at the mid-January event, where audio engineer Lance Vardis recorded the performances on Unit 6’s Yamaha PM-1D digital board.
“Akon uses a clever blend of turntables, replay and live band,” Vardis says. “His rhythm section sits right in the groove pocket and Akon’s vocal sat right in the mix. I used a Shure Beta 87C vocal mic, which seems to give Akon a great presence without a lot of additive equalization.”
Though he often uses the onboard dynamics of the Yamaha PM-1D, Vardis went with a little bit of outboard tweaking, relying on a pair of Distressor EL8s with British EQ across the drum bus and two more on the bass group and lead vocal. “I love using an Eventide H3000SE for vocal double, as well as a good old TC Electronic 2290 for slap,” he adds.
