FoH for Tom Jones, Will Young, Robert Plant, Il Divo and Bryan Adams – Matteo Cifelli
This episode of Backstage with Gig Performer features seasoned sound engineer and producer Matteo Cifelli to discuss his professional approach to live sound, his career journey, and his reliance on Gig Performer for high-quality live production.
Career Background and Philosophy:
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Early Days: Matteo began his career in Milan at 16 (4:38 - 5:26), learning foundational skills in high-pressure studio environments and developing essential social communication skills alongside technical expertise (11:06 - 12:02).
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Studio vs. Touring: Matteo highlights that while both fields demand excellence, studio work can be more all-consuming, whereas touring offers a different pace. He emphasizes his holistic approach, stating that he mixes every live show like he is mixing a record (13:57 - 14:48, 20:16 - 20:20).
Using Gig Performer in Live Sound:
- Tool Integration: Matteo uses Gig Performer to host studio-quality VST plugins, which allows him to maintain a consistent, high-end sound that standard digital mixing consoles might not achieve on their own (18:29 - 19:56).
- Stability and Workflow: He values Gig Performer for its stability and low latency. He typically keeps his configuration simple—running between 3 to 7 plugins on a single page without complex automation—to avoid technical issues during high-stakes shows (21:30 - 23:31, 38:41 - 39:46).
- Mastering the Bus: Matteo discusses processing his stereo bus using tools like Masterdesk (Plugin Alliance), F6 (Waves), and smart:EQ live (sonible). He cautions that while tools like smart:EQ are powerful, they must be used carefully to avoid flattening the mix too much (27:43 - 31:33).
Best Practices and Technical Tips:
- Soundcheck Strategy: Matteo explains that for many touring artists, he relies on virtual soundchecks using previous session data, noting that soundchecks are often more for the artists’ comfort than for the engineers (40:32 - 43:08).
- Digital vs. Analog: He is a strong proponent of remaining entirely digital in a digital environment, avoiding analog inserts to prevent unnecessary conversions, phase shifts, and latency issues (43:30 - 45:34).
- Tool Selection: His advice for new users is to focus on understanding what they actually need and selecting tools based on audio quality rather than just graphic interfaces. He frequently performs AB comparisons to ensure he is getting the best results (48:00 - 50:00, 54:42 - 55:40).