The Stone Roses return with Midas PRO6

The Stone Roses’ legendary comeback gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park saw the band perform to 225,000 fans over three nights, with a Midas PRO6 digital mixing console on hand for mixing duties.

Taking to the stage together for the first time in 16 years, Ian Brown, John Squire, Reni and Mani delight fans with one of the most hotly anticipated gigs of all time, and FOH engineer and long-time Midas user Robbie McGrath was tasked with mixing the across the three nights.

McGrath, who has also mixed for such high profile rock acts as The Rolling Stones, Kasabian and AC/DC, commented: “The head amps are incredible, I can set up the PRO6 the same way as I would a great analogue console such as the Midas XL4. On top of this you have a very smooth digital trim, which is fab. The EQ is exceptionally musical – it really retains that much-loved Midas sound and the on board compressors are amazing.

“The Stone Roses’ are incredibly talented,” he added. “Because it’s drums, bass, guitar and vocals, with no trimmings whatsoever, I need a desk that will concentrate on the quality of the raw music, at the end of the day that’s what this band are all about.”

With so much anticipation surrounding The Stone Roses’ comeback, there was evidently much pressure on McGrath and the PRO6 to deliver, which, he insists, the console did to maximum effect: “Energy is everything, and that’s what this desk has in abundance. Compressors are hugely important to me; if you use compressors correctly you can get a mix at 101db to sound like you’re kicking 110, or, if you’re into audio terrorism, 110 that sounds like 115!”

Midas Brand Development manager Richard Ferriday commented: “That’s high praise indeed for our compressor plug-ins, coming from someone with Robbie’s wealth of experience. The good news for us mere mortals, is that the same Midas compressor plug-ins are included on the PRO2 and the new PRO1 consoles.”

Keep up to date with the latest developments from the world of pro audio by registering for our free daily newsletter.