Interview: Neil Gray
Who are you currently touring with/mixing?
FOH Engineer for Lynyrd Skynyrd.
What are some other bands that you have worked with?
My main experience and background comes from being an ex Showco and Clair Brothers employee.
How long have you been doing live sound and how did you get started?
35 years in the business. I was once a singer in a band. I wasn’t too good at that so I started trying to make us sound better!
What is your favourite console and why?
Midas XL3 — great sounding preamps, EQ, etc. Some of my best shows were on this desk!
Favourite microphone or any other piece of kit?
I’m old school on mics. If the source in front of the mic is good then Shure has a mic that will work!
Most memorable gig or career highlight?
Musically my favourite artist has been Stevie Wonder. I was the monitor engineer for Stevie for several years!
Any tips/words of wisdom for someone starting out?
Don’t skip Audio 101, the basics and physics of audio will always hold true.
Describe your mixing setup now, compared to what it was in 1998.
For most artists I work with at FOH and monitor positions, I always concentrate on that star vocal as the highest priority and layer things from there — but let’s make that vocal larger than life!
What are three mixing techniques you regularly employ that you’ve learnt in the last 15 years?
Since day one I have been taught, and now preach and practice, gain structure with the least EQing I can get by with, but bend it if you need to! Also I’ve learnt that even though I like to build a gain structure that makes sense, sometimes you may have to veer from what makes sense depending on stage volume and your lead vocalist! I found this was particularly something to play with working for Stevie.
In the last 15 years, what are three pieces of gear or features that have come out and been game changers for you?
Of course most anyone is going to say that in the past 15 years digital consoles, digital processing, and wireless connectivity to all pieces is a major game changer in the industry. But don’t forget Audio 101.
How have your working methods changed over the last 15 years?
I would say my working methods have changed as I’ve gotten older. I still like to be involved in the system going in and the tuning of it. But there’s a lot of good systems and a lot of good system engineers out there, and when I’ve got a good one I let him do his job and I usually get good results. Have my mixing methods changed? From artist to artist and on different systems, yes, it changes, but I have always believed in listening to what the band is doing and to what you are doing! I don’t look at the little screen all that much, it lies sometimes!
RESPONSES