Metallica WorldWired Tour - Behind the scenes (4 of 4): „Big Mick“ Hughes about FoH sound

[@kristjanos1]

Big Mick is the gandalf of sound engineering. Absolutely love him.

[@Guandy]

Mic is going lower and lower, as the interviewer arm gets tired... "D'ya want me to hold that?" Love it!!!

[@hetfieldprophet]

Big Mick gets introduced at their concerts and recieves a standing ovation. He's just as much of the show as the band members.

[@alanwilliams4835]

The absolute master of sound great interview

[@matejfoltyn]

What an absolute legend. You know how to spot someone with passion? If the interviewer doesn´t need to speak, there´s your answer. Love you my man!

[@mothergrid-magazine]

Yeah, this was a quite easy one. And I enjoyed every minute.

[@tehshins]

Absolutely love hearing Big Mick's interviews - what a legend and still so passionate about creating the best sound possible. Top man.

[@AstralHiGH]

Mustve took an insane amount of patience and education to know what he knows

[@CarimboHanky]

big mick... the man behind the huge sound of metallica

[@swaterman08]

I could listen to this dude talk all day.

[@mothergrid-magazine]

Me too.

[@thatsgottahurt666]

I could listen to mick for hours

[@nielsenvega]

I met him in 1992 while doing some Local Crew Stagehand for Metallica in PR, Big Mick was very sweet and humble, He is the Coolest member of Metallica, God Bless him.

[@bigmanvoodoo1]

Big Mick is like Metallica's Gandalf

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

Hagrid. XD

[@jaseaquino]

I thought its Torben Ulrich a.k.a "Delete that" 😂😂

[@thequintessential5503]

Jason Aquino Torbin reminds of Papa Smurf

[@Chicagodog-tu1ek]

I agree with Big Mick about James's microphones, I liked the old mics, not the "new" vintage looking ones.

[@LouieLandsCandyTreat]

Just continually amazed at the complexity and creativity and cost that needs to go into putting these massive stages together.

[@nathanwalsh3028]

This is the man that Vinnie Paul talked to extensively through the years in helping achieve Pantera's trademark live/studio sound.

[@ska2dt]

I fell in love with the old guy when he says "Do yo want me to hold that?". And takes the mic, noticing buddys arm was about to fall off,

[@mothergrid-magazine]

Yeah, saved me big time!

[@jd0879]

@@mothergrid-magazineHaha ya that was funny

[@christianmartinez1]

Always enjoy Big Mick interviews. Well done.

[@codemonkey2k5]

Favorite video in the series

[@stevewilliams9306]

He seems to know a little about setting up for a live show .... only 35 years of experience . HE IS THE MAN !!

[@reidthedrummer]

That man truly loves sound

[@jml039]

This is the magic behind the power

[@HighOnFire1997]

Big Mick still going strong.

[@Dan.Christy]

GOAT FOH Love ya thank for all the lessons

[@arjunsharma_official6321]

Big mick is the man 👨

[@kellyfebrianti]

Great band go along to great management

[@ayibeden]

Back in the day when everyone was talking about Metallica members cutting their hairs and shit, I always told them that It's Big Mick that matters, nothing else matters.

[@gianwinters]

Legendary Metallica FOH engineer!

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

13:41 Santa wanted a little more Christmas. Will there also be more presents then?... *ba-dum-tss*

[@snapascrew]

Really looking forward to hopefully seeing them do an outdoor festival. Only time I ever saw metallica was during one of the shows from this tour in the video. The whole “no subs on the ground” thing is a bummer for a show like metallica but James is the boss :(

[@jd0879]

Nah, I hate Subs on the ground it blocks the view of the stage from the floor

[@CarimboHanky]

if mick cuts his hair and shave the beard, he could walk around and no one would recognize him hahaha

[@TeslaMaster2]

Until he starts talking, I think. Voice is a dead give away.

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

But the way he is, he could be Hagrid's brother.

[@Mullet-ZubazPants]

His wiki page says he apprenticed at the British Steel Corporation. Later became a roadie for Judas Priest. I wonder if it was the British Steel Tour ... "I'm going on tour for British Steel" "British Steel Corp has a tour?" "No, I'm going on tour with the lads from Judas Priest"

[@adriankarma_]

what a nice guy!

[@LouieLandsCandyTreat]

Also love the boxes

[@roshanwrangler1306]

Legend sound engineer 👏

[@vivianstanshall8121]

Nice to see Jason Newstead found work

[@mario-vena-barista]

I've been to this exact concert!

[@martingrimm1963]

Awesome, i pay to see Metallica, he gets paid to be with Metallica :D

[@FEYSCONTROL]

4:34 1 cube weights half a ton!!!!! JEEEEZZZZZ....

[@bdc-muzik]

Clearly not happy with this tour logistically... still... I could listen to Mick for hours

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty1197]

mick which console do you prefer Midas or Yamaha ? thank you

[@mothergrid-magazine]

Could be Midas.

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty1197]

any particular reason why, and I am comparing like Rivage PM5 to like the Midas Pro 6 or 9 ?? just curious please feel free to share your experience. thanks

[@davec5613]

Let's meet Jay :-)

[@rcg7262]

Guys a fucking genius

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

Whoa whoa. Hold up. Wait. They dont use amplifiers anymore?

[@DavidZimmermanAgency]

santa clause really knows how to put on a show

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

I wonder if the interviewer understands everything Big Mick says...ha ha ha

[@pajajaja4682]

I bet other guy is sound engineer too. So presumably he's tuned on the same frequency, then all comes much easier to understand. Accent wise is another story but it's not as bad as try to ask for the way in the Liverpool UK 😁

[@gabrielechegaray8247]

what are the mics he says he use on the snare drum? i dont really get it...

[@drumtum81]

Whoa what does he mean about the backing vocal bits being works?

[@jamescarter8311]

He didn't sound all that concerned about the backup vocals. They'd just get them to work decently.

[@babayaga1767]

so where is the FoH in the round exactly?

[@alaskaaudioguy35]

baba yaga far corner unitliy exit area

[@agaJCh]

Yes Metallica is fantastic yeeaaaa!

[@ae4102]

straight up wizrd

[@theposguy1435]

Hes a smart guy

[@lortallica]

Why would you but 26 tons of video material in the center for a metallica show. If you said i was your adviser or so. I would say delete that. :-) Boxes is all we need for Metallica.

[@andym7333]

did he say he uses no compression on vocal track ?

[@lucianobastos6107]

Top

[@ykdickybill]

Big Mick, just a thought re the gated mics, you could have an optical sensor built into the mic somehow that turns the mic on when you are close to it.....would need a bit of thought but should be do-able ?

[@TheNewFallOfficial]

6:45- tell James to wear an extra pair of socks.

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

Platforms

[@johnerdam961]

Is he the undiscovered twin of Leland Sklar?

[@ozzkrunch4594]

Wizard of inovation

[@EcBaPr]

14 vocal mics.. wonder if they have tried using optogates ?

[@demonlust75]

i mean the guitars!! everything else is fine

[@Locoandchooch]

Mick is gonna be 60. Yikes 🤘🏼

[@alamdaali8776]

WHAT ABOUT THE GUITARS? THEY DONT USE PEDALS ON STAGE.. IT'S ALL ON MOTHERBOARD AND REHEARSED AS WELL? 😱

[@drumfeck5970]

Their techs do all the switching backstage for them.

[@stephencampbell7427]

The focus is off. He is the main subject and not in focus. some should pay attention .

[@maxi-g]

damn that scottish voice though

[@calhta]

Yeh, no part of Micks accent is remotely scottish... Birmingham is a fair distance from Scotland.

[@LiamGaughan]

16:59 haahhaa

[@hamid1106]

SanTallicA :D

[@GarthNader]

Big mick is the 5th member of metallica

[@rolfhotzel3127]

Jim Root Joey Jordison Kirk Hammett Jason Newsread Metallica

[@johncoker13]

..... come again please , but in English.

[@derekrushe]

It's fucking anathema to keep that sound is sacrificed for a fuckiing shiny screen. Concerts have been ruined for me because of shit sound not because of the lights or the video screens.

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

wow 3 Microphones on the snare, yet they get it to sound like swatting a carpet...

[@rocket9580]

what the hell is this guy talking about???? LOL

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

I love how Mick has simply adapted with the whole transition from analogue to digital (though it helps that the equipment is consirate of the old school), instead of just becoming this grumpy old "Meh, this sucks!" guy. - But I have to be honest; I gave MetallicA's sound on the "Hardwired"-tour, from the earliest to the latest videos (which contain different-sounding mixes), dozens of chances, but it all sounds abysmal. - Not being "a hater", but it's some of the worst and least enjoyable musical mixes I've heard, and I've heard a LOT. But I'm convinced that it has to do with digital equipment, being one of the things, such as Fractal for the guitars. - It's hard to believe that they've sat down, WITH people from Fractal, to carefully dial in the modeling, to then come out as sounding like Line 6 Spiders or something. - Maybe it's the recording and mixing or whatever, but still, I'm the listener who's not there by or on the stage so I get to criticize. - I don't know what Fractals are like, but I've heard Kempers and they're just indistinguishable. - I also think that going "direct" is an issue; I believe that a big part of the electric guitar is the speaker and the cabinet, blasting into a microphone. - You can model that all you want, but I think it's just as critical as playing an actual physical instrument. It probably matters more than the amplifier that goes into the speakers, even. But oh well... Cool production though. It just doesn't come across in the sound, unfortunately. At least in their own official videos.

[@VWGTI2013]

The best speakers are JBLs

[@calhta]

Well, in a lot of years with a lot of different systems, thats the first time i've heard anyone say that!

[@applehead252]

I don’t like the round either mate . Bloody hard in the round . Ridiculously stupid really.