Last weekend in Music City, the Nashville Section of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) held its Vocal Microphone Invitational at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Nashville, Studio A.
This free event focused on capturing vocals in the studio and live on stage, and included live a cappella vocal performances by male and female vocalists through a wide variety of studio and live vocal microphones. The day-long event was capped off by a discussion with an all-star panel of studio and live engineers that was moderated by Lynn Fuston, Pro Audio Review technical editor and engineer (Kathy Troccoli, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk).
Fuston was joined by three studio pros with voluminous discographies: Michael Wagener (Ozzy Osbourne, Kings X, Skid Row, Dokken, Stryker, Lordi), who is the owner and operator of WireWorld Studios and Double Trouble Productions (he also conducts a series of educational workshops); Jeff Balding, a long-time Nashville veteran with a diverse discography (Shania Twain, Megadeth, Giant, Lionel Ritchie, Kelly Pickler); and producer/engineer Neal Cappellino, who is also a 20-plus year Nashville veteran that built his career on working with a broad swath of artists (Alison Krauss & Union Station, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Darius Rucker). Cappellino also operates The DogHouse recording studio.
Joining the panel from the post-production and live event recording camp was Michael Davis, owner and chief engineer of Digital Audio Post. Davis is a musician and composer who has toured as keyboard player and programmer with Dolly Parton. He’s also provided audio for numerous TV and film projects, and provided post-production services for CMT’s Summerfest concert series and other programs.
From the front-of-house world came a pair of live sound professionals: Jonathan Loeser, who currently serves at FOH for Rascal Flatts, in addition to work for Colbie Caillat, Olivia Newton-John and Prince; and Brett Blanden, a longtime veteran in studio and live sound, currently working at FOH for Lady Antebellum.
