HMV ‘Next Big Thing’ series recorded with Avid Venue systems

With almost 200 bands performing over 12 days across the UK, HMV’s ‘Next Big Thing’ series of concerts saw touring company CATO Music record and produce performances with three Avid VENUE SC48 consoles and Pro Tools 10.

Among those performing as part of the ‘Next Big Thing’ series were DJ Fresh, Labrinth, Modestep, Fatoumata Diawara, The Boxettes, fiN, and YouTube sensation Conor Maynard.

Daniel Humphreys of CATO Music, who served as the tour’s production manager, said: “To record a festival that was on such a fast turnaround schedule, we needed a workflow that was trusted, seamless, and fast. Using the SC48 and Pro Tools 10 ensured that a quality recording was captured.”

Jim King, head of live recording at CATO, added: “The ability to use Snapshots and the way the console named the audio tracks via [VENUE Link over] Ethernet was invaluable. We sound checked, fired up Pro Tools, and the channel list was imported straight away. Then all we had to do was arm the tracks and press record. It was the perfect tool for the job, as space and time were limited.

“The sheer quality of the mic pres were the absolute reason we chose to use the SC48 and Pro Tools 10 for this project,” he continued. “We were mixing new bands, and that big, warm, tight sound offered by this console was exactly what was needed. Also, Pro Tools is a trusted name for recording. That was important for bands’ management to see and showed we meant business.”

Avid live sound sales manager Mick Brophy added: “Producing live recordings is exactly what the integration between VENUE SC48 and Pro Tools 10 was designed to do. Doing it for such a great festival as The HMV Next Big Thing is an honor for Avid.”

Humphreys concluded: “It’s been a sell-out festival and a huge success for HMV. I know it sounds like a cliché, but we really couldn’t have done it without Avid.”

15 of the best performances from across the 12 days are now available for download at hmv.com.

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