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Fri Jul 08 2005 | ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW OF LIVE 8

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Donal Hodgeson -producer/engineers- who worked alongside Sting for the last 5 years as his studio engineer and pro-tools programmer, reported on Soundgenerator.com on Live 8 in London. His blog offers a unique insight on the handling of all broadcast sound for Sting during this event.

Source: Soundgenerator

Live 8 blog: Sting's sound engineer, Donal Hodgson
6 Jul 2005

Live 8 started for me on Friday July 1st, around 3pm, when I arrived backstage in Hyde Park to supervise broadcast sound for Sting. Well, in all honesty, it had started a week prior as we had already done three days of rehearsal in Wiltshire and - having still not settled on which songs or what order - arriving for the rehearsal was slightly nerve racking! Even though it was rehearsal day, the security wasn't quite what I expected and a simple phone call to our production manager was all it took to convince the security I was legit.

With a bright sticky badge on my t-shirt I was in and roaming round the back stage area dodging lorries, golf carts and mad dashing people. I found my way to the loading area where up several ramps at stage height was the setup area and Sting's production manger calmly surveying all. Inside the setup area, to the back left of the stage it's self, where Sting's crew had the bands gear all laid out and ready on several huge wheeled risers. To the left of our setup was Madonna's and behind us was Pink Floyd's, all on wheeled risers and all surrounded by there own crew who were busy with last minute preparations. I sneaked forward to the side of the stage where Mariah Carey was busy sound checking, well her band and choir were, not all stars it seems show for sound check. Looking across the stage, I caught a glimpse out into what would be the audience area, what a mega view the performing artists would have. Back stage was getting more and more busy so I decide to go off and find the BBC sound truck "sound one" where I would be based for rehearsal and show time.

We were due to start our sound check at 5pm but by 5.15pm it's was obvious we had another three quarters of an hour to wait, which was lucky cause I still hadn't found Sound One amongst all the other sound and video trucks tightly parked up back and below to the left of the stage area. Having tripped over numerous cables and said hello to a massive array of BBC staff I found Sound One and climbed in. Miti was the Sound Engineer responsible for operating the SSL J-series console in the truck, the newest and the flagship of the BBC outside broadcast units. There was a good supply of outboard gear and 48 channels of J-series to play with. We had already emailed over a rough list of required desk inputs which I had refined during the rehearsal period and I informed the boys of some changes we had made since they received there list.

At 6pm, Sting took to the stage for his sound check and ran over the two possible sets for the show. Sting and the band played both sets once and rehearsed a couple of the links, whilst we in the truck watched on the TV monitors and did our best to get the sound as good as possible, making note of some good points to do some manual automation. As soon as Sting left the stage, Miti and his assistant engaged the SSL's recall feature and prepared for the next act. I took my leave and sneaked out the front into what would be the gold circle to watch a little of Madonna's rehearsal. I was going to stay and see Pink Floyd sound check but hunger and sleep or rather the lack of, got the best of me.

My wife and I arrived show day somewhat later than planned and, in what we thought, was a rather blase' manner - probably because we felt a little guilty for missing the start of the show. It was about 4pm by now and we had arranged to meet up with Sting's Keyboard player, Kipper, in the Gold Circle, who we found sheltering from the crowds in a quiet spot with his wife finishing off the remains of a pick-nick lunch, REM playing in the background. I kind of lost track of time but we all rushed into the crowd when we heard Keane announced..

By 6.30pm, it was obvious everything was running behind and we wouldn't be on stage at 8pm. I popped backstage and into the melee to find out when we would be doing our slot. Backstage was mad and a little unsettling, there were so many famous faces that they all blurred into one. I found our production manger in his usual spot back stage. Here, guitars, amps and drum kits were flying every where, as one band came off the revolving stage there gear was moved stage right dismantled and packed whilst the next bands gear was wheeled on from stage left. Most of the crews seemed to know each other and although it was a full on environment, there was a great vibe with a very friendly feel. Realising I had some more time before I was need in the truck I went back to the Gold Circle and caught a couple more bands. I was a little disappointed that the Killers only did one song, but hey better than nothing.

8.15pm, and I went backstage again, finding Sting's crew sitting with the gear watching Velvet Revolver line check whilst the Scissor Sister played out front. We had to line check whilst Velvet Revolver played, which was going to be a very noisy experience so I headed on down to the calm of Sound One. Miti was busy recalling the SSL settings as I climbed into the truck but still managed to show his enthusiasm for Pink Floyd for whom he would be working with later. Lenny Henry came on to our TV monitors and gave Sting a great introduction, after which he ran onto stage and the band went straight into 'Message in a Bottle'. It's was an amazing fifteen minutes for me, time seemed to stand still and as the consummate professional that he is, Sting delivered an outstanding performance making our job very easy and extremely enjoyable. With our time over and no problems to report, I waited for the CD to finalise before departing Sound One. Miti had already begun setting up for Robbie Williams and I thanked the rest of the BBC crew who had been fabulous.

Feeling very happy, I went straight to Stings production office to report all was well and I managed to congratulate Sting very briefly before heading back out into the Gold Circle to catch the last few bands. We watched Pink Floyd and slipped out missing the finale in the hope of finding a black cab, wishful- thinking there, I'll know better next time!
~Donal Hodgeson

By: News Desk

Source: Soundgenerator

Posted on Jul 08, 05 | 1:02 pm

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