New Orleans-based SOUNd CHeK provided APB-DynaSonics mixing consoles for the Fais Do Do at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The Fais Do Do stage featured mostly traditional Zydeco and Cajun acts, although this year several indie acts such as the Decemberists were added. All were served by two APB-DynaSonics Spectra Ti consoles, one for front of house and the other for monitors. SOUNd CHeK owner Chris Brown oversaw monitors while Mike Montero manned the front of house board.

The Spectra-Ti is APB’s high-end analog console with VCA control on inputs and outputs, mono/stereo/3-speaker LCR monitoring, 10 aux sends, and versatile output and matrixing capabilities. Each of the four bands on the EQ section is sweepable.

In addition to setting up, tearing down, and often mixing six bands per day, the crew of HBO’s hit show, “Treme”, was at the stage with four cameras shooting footage for future episodes.  A submixed 2-track feed was provided via the APB Spectra-Ti at front of house.

Brown, who has a 32-year history at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, states, “This stage is not that big and many of the acts have lots of players, instrumentation and gear. Getting the previous band off the stage quickly is the challenge. There is no sound check and the person mixing has half a song to get it right.

“In these conditions with this variety of acts, digital consoles can actually slow things down. Also, the dynamics run from quiet acoustic performances to full-on Zydeco, which can be deafening at times. Visiting sound mixers appreciated being able to quickly and easily see what was going on with faders and knobs.”

APB-Dynasonics Website