Andy Knightley from Krecording Audio Solutions is no stranger to recording live performances have been responsible for multiple hit live albums over the last 20 years. The latest addition to this list is Derek Ryan Live, which hit the top of the Irish iTunes country music chart, recorded using a BLACKBOX BBR64-MADI from JoeCo.
Since upgrading to the JoeCo unit, it has been the ease of transport and portable nature of the BBR64-MADI that has quickly made it an integral part of Knightly’s rig. “The size of the JoeCo means it’s so easily transportable,” explained Knightley. “When I’m doing fly shows I send the preamps freight, but I can carry the JoeCo on the flight with me. That not only saves space but also peace of mind given that the recorder is right beside me when I travel. I carry 64 channels in my record rack. Before I switched to JoeCo I used a desktop-based system which meant carrying not only the desktop but also an interface. The BBR64-MADI saves so much back ache given its size.
“We had to transport my equipment to the Eden Court Theatre, Inverness along with Derek’s equipment,” he recalled. “Luckily Derek tours very frequently so interfacing with his gear was very simple. My rack is not that big, so it was rolled on to Derek’s truck for the journey. Usually Derek would tour with one desk but for this show there was a dedicated monitor desk which meant splits could be brought in, so we all had control of our own gains. The recording itself went very smoothly. We recorded two shows in two days as well as extensive soundchecks given that this was a DVD as well as a live album.”
While the size of the multi-track recorder has provided a real advantage for Knightley, there are plenty more factors that stand out. “I use the Bluetooth option for controlling it via iPad. Having full and fast access to metering and PFL’s during a live show is invaluable for troubleshooting.
“Since I’ve been using the BLACKBOX it’s been solid as a rock,” he concludes. “I still carry a backup recorder to mirror the JoeCo but, I’ve never had to rely on it.”
