FOH engineer Omatali Beckett and monitor engineer Dwight ‘Coolie’ Bancey chose the Waves eMotion LV1 Live Mixer and Waves Ionic 16 stageboxes for the 2024 tour of Jamaican and rapper Sean Paul.

‘The decision twas driven by practical considerations and clear advantages,’ Beckett says. ‘This is the first time we’ve taken the LV1 out on tour with Waves Ionic 16 stageboxes. The quality of Waves Signature Preamps is unmatched, plus, the ability to toggle between pure preamp sound and enhanced richness on a per-input is second to none.’

‘In addition, the eMotion LV1’s compact form factor made it the ideal choice,’ he continues. ‘It is lightweight, and is the only mixer that fits comfortably in the space available within the trailer on our tour bus. With limited room for gear, having a compact mixer allowed us to optimise storage and transport logistics. At each venue, the stagehands effortlessly loaded and unloaded two Pelican cases on wheels. From pushing the gear to connecting it to FOH, you can have everything ready in just 15 to 20 minutes – getting sound out the PA included.’

FOH Omatali’s set-up includes one Waves Ionic 16 Stage Box as Local I/O, one Waves Axis Scope, a Waves Extreme-C SoundGrid Server, a Waves FIT Controller for eMotion LV1 and a Netgear GS110TPv3 switch.

‘For networking during the tour, we used the Fiberfox hermaphroditic adapter, connecting it to the Netgear GS110TPv3 switch using LC to LC cables,’ Beckett says. ‘This allowed us to run fibre between the front of house and monitors.’

Waves plug-ins, seamlessly integrated within the eMotion LV1 interface, play an essential part in Omatali’s live mixing: ‘My must-have Waves plug-ins are first of all the Tract System Calibration plug-in, which is an excellent system analysis tool (used in conjunction with Smaart v9) to take measurements, click FIR filters, and mix the show. The Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain provides a finishing touch to the mix during mastering. I use the F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ to remove harsh frequencies while preserving the musical essence, especially on vocals and keyboards. Scheps Omni Channel 2 is a versatile utility plug-in that works wonders on vocals, bass, guitars, kick drums and toms. I use BB Tubes when I want saturation on vocals, bass, guitars and occasionally keys. Waves’ PSE (Primary Source Expander) is a next-level noise removal for creating separation without isolation on vocals.’

‘The LV1 enables a rapid and straightforward set-up,’ Bancey offers. ‘Once the gear is in place, it takes just around ten minutes to get everything ready. Furthermore, the LV1’s networking is effortless. The system seamlessly integrates, making networking a breeze. And, being modular, it provides flexibility for rearranging components and easy troubleshooting if needed.’

His set-up includes three Waves Ionic 16 SoundGrid stageboxes, a Waves Axis Scope, Waves Extreme-C Server, Waves Fit Controller and a Netgear GS110TPv3 switch. The systems are connected via fibre.

‘The Waves Feedback Hunter is a must-have,’ Bancey notes. ‘It has a remarkable impact on my monitor engineering and has become a staple in my toolbox. This plug-in works so effectively that it feels almost magical. It is also a confidence booster – even in time-critical situations. Feedback Hunter revolutionises how I handle feedback during gigs.’

Other plug-in favourites are the Waves SSL Channel G-Channel for I kick and toms. ‘It adds tone and character to drum sounds,’ he says. ‘I use Renaissance Reverb to enhance drum and vocal reverbs. Waves H-Delay Hybrid Delay is absolutely perfect for vocal effects, and I use the Vitamin Sonic Enhancer plug-in on my IEM matrix bus for mastering. I also rely on several default plug-ins – filters, compressors, and EQs – within the eMotion LV1, to tackle latency and refine the sound on my Ableton tracks.’

‘The LV1 embraces cutting-edge technology and innovation, making it perfect for those who embrace new tech,’ Beckett says. ‘This rig performs flawlessly with rock-solid reliability, ensuring consistent sound quality night after night. The Waves eMotion LV1 and Ionic 16 stageboxes totally redefine excellence in live sound.’

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