Tech: Mixing FOH for Black Sabbath’s “The End” Tour with Greg Price

When it comes to heavy metal bands, Black Sabbath needs no introduction-they practically invented the genre. For the band’s final world tour, veteran FOH engineer Greg Price and monitor engineer Myles Hale turned to dual VENUE | S6L systems to mix the legendary band. In our new three-part video series, you’ll learn how S6L has changed the way they mix the band and discover the mixing workflows that help to deliver stunning sound for these historic performances.
Learn more about VENUE | S6L at avid.com/s6l

[@daleplatino]

I just did a show with a S6L and it was incredible.

[@richardbelisle4807]

Amen start by listening to the music

[@Espresso101]

Greg definitely has a unique approach

[@robfulco4739]

Pretty dramatic. The award for greatest dramatic actor goes to...GREG PRICE!!

[@andyduffill1498]

He made me cry. I hadnt cryed for years....

[@Fwuzeem]

'Here's my really expensive mouse'

[@jeremyh8833]

"across the board minimal EQ" *every channel chopped tf up*

[@timothyrixner]

Yeah every time there's an EQ channel shown there's huge scoops on the HPF and small boosts and cuts. Kind of not sure what he's referring to when he talks about the channel breakdown and mix... maybe he's just talking about baseline before he starts mixing for the actual show / venue?

[@jeremyh8833]

@@timothyrixner yea idk what going on here, there are super wide 6 decibel boosts on every channel "flat", I just don't really know what going on with this guy

[@johnnelson2058]

I love black Sabbath

[@TheMaggylu]

Really great, BIG THX 4 sharing!! I enjoyed any Advice... and fuc**ng LEARNED a Lot!! So... THX 2 Greg, TOO. But... might(!) it be, that he had some good Smoke BEFORE? I mean... he STILL IS "in IT ", 1000% concentrated ... but; stoned!? 😎

[@djwizart]

Static mix??? That was funny cause you use eq and plug ins almost everywhere!!!

[@snapascrew]

The point he is making is to not polish a turd when you can just use the right mic and put it in the right spot. Eventually he adds eq and compression, yes but during the first couple days of pre pro if you’re given adequate time to do it right you’re better off doing what he’s saying and being able to get a great mix with minimal eq and compression.

[@derekrushe]

The static mix technique in both the studio and live area is just for you to see if your 3 basic elements are correct (Mic placement, gain structure and high pass filtering). For there, if it sounds okay, you can then shine your mixes without too much trouble.

[@terrywade8361]

Yo G big drums

[@blackwatch_TV]

HEAVY

[@winstonskerritt7520]

Really nice really honest really heartfelt:o)

[@arkie74]

yeah the show sounded good, however it needed a shitload more speakers! that tiny pa, just didnt move the air like it is supposed to. ....like I said, it sounded good, just not at all loud enough. for the cost of tickets, pa size shouldnt be an issue. but concerts aint nothing like they used to be where you went home wore out and hear white noise for a couple of days. its all about money, and fuck the real fans.

[@xerotolerance13]

arkie74 Yeah. The Clair Cohesion. Fine for theaters. But in an arena. Not so much imo. Clair destroyed the best metal/rock pa. And that was the Showco Prism. They took over showco. After the takeover. It was still out on tours. It was their competition. So little by little. They started selling it and destroying it.

[@camtheham13]

Modern sound reinforcement is all about not being worn out and hearing white noise for three days after, that leads to deafness, its about giving the impact and coverage without having absurd spl levels, and thats before you think about legal restrictions

[@samcarlen6097]

I mean, I'd prefer a show to sound great as a reasonable level than be blasted by some ear piecing "S"s or guitars...

[@mrufino1]

@@samcarlen6097agree 100%. I do not miss the days of loud incoherent shows.

[@samcarlen6097]

@@mrufino1 I know I made this comment months ago, but I guess I should add that the OP might have seen Black Sabbath at a venue that has a strict DB restriction, which is very common in cities/residential areas. But yes, concerts sound insanely good now compared to even 10 years ago.

[@richardbelisle4807]

Panning tricky in arena s

[@TheHairbearCrue]

"i never add more than 2-3dB in EQ" 🤣 starting not to feel so bad about hacking away at lectern mics on corporate jobs!

[@yevheniimelnyk8911]

I understand a high pass filtering but can you please explain where and WHY you use low pass filtering?

[@shrike9t1]

Sometimes there is shit in the signal which is not „nice“ on a huge pa ( in the highs, it depends on the System sure...) aswell to get a „analog“ style mix is what we know as „warmth“ could be achieved when Lowpass from 10khz up for example . A digital console is not bether or a analog to compare in my opinion. They sound different , and what you want to achieve - dial it in :-)

[@mrmcnuckle4356]

This guy is obnoxious

[@robertfinch6602]

Lol..

[@Pilot_the_Dune]

Soooooo dramatic.

[@crispyfrostings9620]

I don’t trust an engineer who mixes a show sitting in a chair

[@robertfinch6602]

Y??

[@Yourweakminds]

Hammy hamster and his ham night hamtactular!! - Americans!

[@arkie74]

it sounded good. BUT WAS NOWHERE NEAR LOUD ENOUGH!!!!...... that ruined it for me.... the pa was tiny and didnt fill the room. just like the pa they show , is like the one they used at the bok center in tulsa ok.

[@rossssd4969]

Louder does not equal better quality