Emerson Drive, newcomers to the country music charts, took delivery of the first U.S.-bound Soundcraft MH3 console in February. Sold by Greg Mace at GJM Sound in Placerville, Calif., the band immediately took the 32-mono/4-stereo-channel dual-purpose desk out on their ongoing tour in support of the self-titled DreamWorks Nashville album released last summer.
Emerson Drive is currently using the MH3 as a dedicated monitor board for festival and fair dates to theaters and clubs. Engineer Carita Sword, who has been out with the group for more than a year now, uses the desk’s dozen auxiliaries to provide six stereo in-ear mixes for the bandmembers, all of whom are using Shure PSM 600s outfitted with Ultimate Ears UE-5 and UE-7 custom molds. Group outputs from the board’s kick and bass channels further drive a subwoofer positioned behind the drummer, while another group output is employed to deliver reverb sends across all of the mixes.
“Even with the minor delays of going out with a brand-new desk for the first time, the band was absolutely thrilled with the MH3 from the start,” said Sword. “The EQ sounds so incredibly nice; it’s very reminiscent of the Series FIVE, which is such a rare treat to find on a board in this price range. Interestingly enough, in the short time that we’ve had our MH3, we’ve already come across three others out on the road. They’re popping up all over the place. I think a lot of companies are pretty excited about its features and quality for the dollar. I know we were. The specs on this board were far beyond anything else in its price range.”
The group has already garnered two Top Five country singles (“I Should Be Sleeping” and “Fall Into Me”), a Number One video on CMT and a Juno Award nomination. The band is currently putting the finishing touches on its second album for DreamWorks Nashville.
For more, visit Soundcraft online at www.soundcraft.com.
