Meeting Topic: Live Wire Remote Recorders & SSL C200
Speaker Name: Doug McClement - Live Wire Remote Recorders, Steve Zaretzky - VP Broadcast Sales SSL, Don Wershba, Senior VP SSL
Meeting Location: Live Wire Remote Recorders, Toronto
Doug McClement invited Toronto AES Members to visit his warehouse in Toronto this month to see the recent upgrades to his Live Wire Remote Truck, a 32 foot air-ride remote trailer. The 16' x 12' 5.1 surround control room is now equipped with an SSL C200 console. The truck has recorded concerts in cities including New York, Nashville, Quebec, Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa, Cleveland, The Maritimes, Vancouver, Detroit, Buffalo, Boston, and Daytona Beach, Florida.
Doug briefly outlined the history if Live Wire from 1975, from basement studios, to remote live recordings 1979. His first truck was the Comfort Sound Remote from 1979-1985, where he recorded stereo simulcasts with CHUM in 80s, which culminated in the creation of the 24 hour MuchMusic network. Doug says, "You always say you can do the gig, then you figure it out."
In 2002, Live Wire upgraded to the current trailer, as the motor in the tractor can explode, but you can still make the gig! The studio features a 96 track Pro Tools System. MADI Interfaces connect Pro Tools to the SSL, and they also run 96 tracks for backup. Part of the motivation for adding the SSLwas, although the truck was built for surround, nobody called for it until the last 1.5 years. Now the bulk of remote work is done in surround.
Live wire does a great deal of festival and live-to-air work, so the instant recall, additional inputs, and traditional console topography is essential. Doug remarked, "if I designed a console for what I do, it would look like this." Since groups often travel with their own engineers, the C200 is laid out like an analog console. You don't have to scroll through 8 pages, and you're never more than 2 buttons away from a move. Remote recording is like a PA gig in some respects.
Steve Zaretzky and Don Wershba from SSL were also on hand to give a short presentation on SSL Consoles and Outboard and answer questions.
The meeting was well received, and everybody enjoyed the tour through the truck!
