I’m out here in Phoenix at the Christian Musician Summit training sound techs on Waves. Everyone is having a great time and I wanted to post a couple recap thoughts from our time with the guys. Here are some basics on MultiRack and using Waves live.

Here is a link to the Waves site for more info on MultiRack.

What is MultiRack?

MultiRack is a host platform for Waves audio processing plug-ins, designed especially for live sound applications. It provides a software equivalent to outboard hardware processing Racks, and signal flow to and from your console is similar to what you’re accustomed to with traditional hardware Racks. MultiRack allows you to program up to 1000 Snapshots per Session, so you can seamlessly change setups between or even within songs.

What do you need to get up and running?

It’s pretty simple to setup with any FOH rig and here are the basic things you need:
1. Connect your console to the sound card or external I/O
2. Create a new Session and set the preferences
3. Add new Racks and set their audio signal flow
4. Add plug-ins for sound processing
5. Create Snapshots for easy recall of Racks and processors
6. Organize Racks into groups for ease of operation and latency management
7. Set up your MIDI environment for remote control

Who is using it?

Daniel Green
FOH Engineer / Coldplay

[info][blockquote cite="Daniel Green / FOH Engineer / Coldplay"]
For vocals, I always use the C4. Chris’s voice has very wide range, so it’s great to have dynamic control across 4 frequency bands. I combine the C4 with a Renaissance EQ and Renaissance Compressor. For vocal effects, I think H-delay, is best sounding delay plugin

For the guitars, I use a PuigChild. followed by the Renaissance EQ.

I use two bass drum mics, each using the same chain: PuigChild, Renaissance EQ, MaxxBass. Both are routed to a single group for further processing using the API 2500 compressor and a little more EQ with the API 550B.

What about bass and master buss?
Nothing on the master buss. On the bass, I use a PuigChild 660 into a Renaissance EQ.
[/blockquote][/info]

Brett Dicus
FOH / Sound Designer (Norah Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr)

[success][blockquote cite="Brett Dicus FOH / Post Production Sound Designer (Norah Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr)"]
On Drums: MaxxBass, Kramer PIE Compressor, Renaissance Reverb – I like the sounds and response. I’ve been using the PIE Compressor for my compressed drum group.

On Guitars: Renaissance Compressor, PIE Compressor, PS22, Cranesong Phoenix. My current tour already has great guitar sounds, so not much processing is necessary. The plugins I’ve listed I use to help me find a place in the mix for everything. Turning mono sources into stereo, creating distinct tone signatures for similar sources, and getting mid-range sources to mix together is a big challenge in a live show.

On Vocals: C4, Renaissance Vox, Renaissance Reverb, H-Delay. The C4 has proven my favorite plugin of all time when contouring vocals. I use the solo feature of the band pass to help focus on issues just as I would in the studio. Now, if I need to work on the sibilance of the vocal or the low-mid I am a lot more efficient having band passes available with the push of one button.

I use Renaissance Reverb and H-Delay because they sound great. Their parameters are efficiently mapped to the control surface making operation just outright enjoyable.

On Bass: MaxxBass, C4 – Every venue is different. There is no perfect system tuning for a room that works for every show. You can’t fix problems in a mix with system tuning either. So having the ability with C4 to contour the threshold and release times makes system tuning easier, and allows us to use less EQ in the low and sub bands.

On Master Outs: Renaissance Compressor, Q10, Brainworx Control V2, V-EQ4. Nothing fancy.
[/blockquote][/success]

Paul David Hager
FOH / Studio Mix Engineer (Miley Cyrus, Goo Goo Dolls, Jonas Brothers)

[info][blockquote cite="Paul David Hager FOH / Studio Mix Engineer (Miley Cyrus, Goo Goo Dolls, Jonas Brothers)"]
For drums: SSL E-Channel, API 550B, L1 Ultramaximizer, IR-1 Convolution Reverb

For guitars: API 550A, Renaissance EQ, CLA-76

For vocals: SSL G-Equalizer, C4 Multiband, CLA-3A

For bass: L1 Ultramaximizer, PuigTec EQs, PuigChild

For keys: C4 Multiband, L1 Ultramaximizer, PuigChild

For live master outs: PuigTec EQs, L2 Ultramaximizer, API 2500

[/blockquote][/info]