This week on Gig Gab, Brad Madix drops by for a masterclass in live sound mixing, sharing insights from his expansive career that’s touched the stages of Florence + the Machine, Sara Bareilles, Queensrÿche, Rush, and Linkin Park, to name a few.

Diving into the nuances of live performance, Brad helps Dave Hamilton unpack the evolution of touring post-COVID. With a focus on the technical, discussions veer into the realms of using virtual sound checks, the intricacies — and benefits — of playing to a click, and the revolutionary impact of mixing with scenes.

Brad emphasizes the importance of learning your mixer inside out and shares practical advice on managing levels and maintaining a reasonably loud stage volume. “Always Be Performing” isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s a philosophy that underscores their conversation, highlighting the constant adaptation and learning required in the dynamic world of live music production.

In a lighter moment, Brad regales listeners with tales from the road, including humorous instances of mistaken identity involving Geddy Lee and another with Bruce Willis (well, someone in Japan certainly thought so!), offering a glimpse into the lighter side of touring life.

The episode is a treasure trove of tips and tricks for live sound engineers of all levels. Packing for tour life, navigating the challenges of live streams, and the shift in touring dynamics since COVID are also dissected, providing a comprehensive overview for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the live music scene. Whether you’re behind the mixer or dreaming of your next gig, this episode is a reminder that in the world of live music, the key to success is to “Always Be Performing”, embracing every challenge and opportunity with open arms and, especially, open ears.

P.S. It turns out I lied at the end of the episode: I completely neglected to properly hit ‘record’ on the video stream, so that doesn’t exist. Sorry, folks! -Dave

Chapters and Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 415 – Monday, February 5th, 2024
  • Masterful Mixes & Mistaken Identities: Brad Madix’s Tips from Florence to Rush to Linkin Park, & Celebrity Mix-Ups
  • Feb 5th: International Clash Day
  • Brad’s First visit to Gig Gab in May, 2020
• 00:03:40 Diablo Digital (with Greg Price, Metallica’s FOH engineer)
  • Sara Barellis – Live @ Hollywood Bowl
  • Virtual Sound Check
  • Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
  • Phish’s Live Streams
• 00:13:35 What’s Different About Touring since COVID?
  • webster.com/dictionary/underplay">“Underplay” to test the tour and generate some buzz
  • It’s Gotta Be Kinda Right!
• 00:20:37 Playing to a click
• 00:22:17 Monitors with TimeCode
  • Brent Carpenter, Rush Monitor Engineer
• 00:24:37 Mixing with Scenes
  • AVID S6L
• 00:30:13 Learn Your Mixer
• 00:35:19 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle’s new EPK plan starts at just $6.95 per month, and Gig Gab podcast listeners can go to Bandzoogle.com to try it free for 30 days, then use the promo code “giggabEPK” to get 10% off the first year of the new EPK plan subscription.
• 00:36:43 More Tips and Tricks
  • Mute the Sends to the Effects – Not the returns!
• 00:40:02 Be reasonably loud on stage
  • Set it…and forget it!
• 00:46:02 Managing Your Levels Throughout The Night
• 00:55:38 Packing for Tour
  • Dave Cook on Gig Gab
• 01:00:35 Story Time with Brad
  • 01:01:10 Is That Geddy Lee?
  • 01:04:10 Can I get a picture with Bruce Willis?
• 01:05:30 Gig Gab 415 Outtro
  • Diablo Digital
  • Brad Madix
  • Contact Us!
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