C.K. I know Spectrum used to be a Meyer house. You choose to still use SIM,
can you tell us a little bit about why that is, why haven't you gone over to SMAART like so many people?

C.F. Actually we did own quite a few MSL6 and MSL 4 along with the PSW 6, but we were also deeply involved with EAW at the same time. We had demand for each from some of our design clients and enough work to justify owning both. (Quite the same as now with EAW and our D&B stock). The simplest reason for me staying with SIM is probably the "old dog new trick" thing. But for many of our applications we are multi-zoned and the SIM hardware makes that easier to deal with. There is no extra mixer and x-over muting, just set up your branches (console output/EQ/mic) and simple keystrokes switch on only the desired system.

Curtis's SIM Screen Sim System In house Racks

I know many people have written these files in Soundweb to do the switching, but hey, I am already dealing with eight units and a hub.....that's plenty. Funny thing is, Jamie Anderson, who is THE SMAART guy at SIA was my SIM instructor. He truly is a genius and has really advanced the performance an functions you get with SMAART as well as getting more people to understand the benefits of an FFT measuring tool, along with your ears - never by itself. (Even if he is a mono freak). Even though most people tend to see me with SIM, I am a SMAART user as well (using it to try and transfer some settings from Soundweb to Driverack right now for evaluation.)

It is a habit of our shop to pack SIM with all the shows I am on since I am the only one left in-house that has been certified. My laptop, U2A and M30 can almost always be found in my backpack or workbox.

C.K. PC Anywhere, the wireless program you use to communicate with FOH when you go for a walk with your laptop - how did you find that, and can you tell us what different functions you can address with it?

C.F. We use the Orinoco wireless access point and silver PCMCIA cards for the
actual RF stuff. PC Anywhere is a handy tool for letting one computer "take over" another, allowing me the freedom to take over the main drive computer with my laptop and make real-time changes and hear the result. Saved quite a few trips up and down steps!

C.K. Was it a rush for the shows where Robert was away and you held down the
FOH mix? Did you ever just say to yourself, "I am mixing ERIC CLAPTON!!!!"

C.F. It was definately a huge rush, though I didn’t even realize how buzzed I was until one of the other crew members said "Damn, you ARE mixing Eric!" What a super person to work with. Rob has truly established a great relationship with him and the other band members over the years. Eric is really a humble person - he was constantly making sure during rehearsals that his levels and sounds weren't having any adverse effect on what the fans were hearing or to the other band memebers. He is truly out there playing for his audience.

That was proven the night the monitor console went out five songs in and he and the band finished the entire show, encore included, with a frontfill turned around for Eric...they played incredibly that night. I can’t say enough good things about the band or the entire crew on the American leg.

C.K. What advice would you give to younger people who want to get into live
audio work?

C.F. Make sure it's what you want to do, and that you can budget yourself for the feast or famine that can happen in the industry.

Signal flow, signal flow, signal flow! We all are handed these huge input to audience adapters and they all become easier if you understand how that signal gets there. That will allow you to work with more than just the system you are trained on.

Always ask questions...most people out there are very willing to share if they know you really want the answer, and not just a quick fix.

Remember that the ticket purchaser is the ultimate client, and we are out to take care of them.

Your ears are your biggest investment you have - take care of them.

Related Stories:

When Mr. Clapton Came to Town
Clapton System Network
Demanding Excellence: Concert Sound Limited
Clapton and the EAW KF900 System