Savage additionally notes that the classic SSL sonic signature combined with the modern control surface of the SSL Live console provide him with the perfect solution to get a great mix.
“The sound of the SSL Live is very sweet; the lows are very deep and tight and I didn’t have to fight to blend and mix,” he says. “I also didn’t need to add too much EQ as the mix just falls into place quickly. When you mix on a good console, the little things add up to make a great sound.
“That’s exactly the feeling I got. Live is a fun console, too. Its compact size ensured that I wasn’t all over the place. It was like driving a sports car; I had access to everything quickly. I loved it.”
The Corey Hart Farewell Concert wasn’t the first time Savage got his hands on an SSL console. He also mixes on an SSL Duality at Studio Piccolo, his commercial studio in Montreal, and started using the SSL MT Plus console over a decade ago for Dion’s initial five-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Today, Savage notes that SSL’s first true live sound console is an even better live solution for him as it incorporates features that improve his previous workflow.
“I did 737 shows at the Colosseum on the MT Plus and I never had a crash in five years, never had a single problem, it was flawless,” he says “Since SSL’s design team is so great, they are always listening to their customers and modifying their solutions to fit our needs.
“Now, the SSL Live gives me several options that I didn’t have with the MT Plus. I can use channels however I want. I can unfold them, offset them and then refold them. Basically, everything that was added to SSL’s other consoles over the years has now been incorporated into the Live console.”