Canadian Music Trade - February / March 2020 | Page 46

Endorser Update
Robbie Robertson
Walk Off the Earth
Canadian indie pop outfit Walk Off the Earth is now officially endorsing Universal
Audio, calling the company’s suite of UAD plug-ins and recording hardware “essen-
tial” in their workflow.
“Having access to the Apollo Octo has relieved so much stress when working
on massive productions. Some of our productions reach over the 200-track count
– something that travel laptops with native plug-ins simply can’t handle,” the band
writes. “The Century Tube preamp is on 99 per cent of all incoming signals – it’s so
incredibly musical and versatile. The newest Neve 88RS is another go-to preamp and
channel strip, as well as the V-76 for a more obvious vibe. The Helios preamp paired
with the Zener Limiter is amazing for thickening drums on parallel compression
tracks and the new UAD Chambers is absolutely jaw-dropping for ambience.”
While making his latest album, Sinematic, Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Robbie Robertson
reached for what he refers to as his “black box”: a
Royaltone stompbox from BAE Audio.
“When I found the Royaltone, it seemed like
it was part of a family of organic sounds,” says
Robertson. “And most of these distortion pedals
I find pretty boring, really. I like a real distortion
where the speaker is crying out of the amplifier. For
me, the Royaltone was like ‘Whoa!’ This is part of a
sonic experience that fit right in, and not going to
an ordinary place.”
Joseph Alessi
Jonathan Moffett
Legendary drummer Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett is now using Earthworks
microphones. Moffett has been a drummer for Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince,
Janet Jackson, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, and many others, in addition
to receiving eleven RIAA Platinum recording awards.
Moffett first used Earthworks microphones last April while at Drumeo’s head-
quarters for his video lesson series. “When I first heard a playback at Drumeo, I said,
‘Oh my god; these mics sound so clean and so true,’” Moffett recalls. “They translate
the projection of the drums and still sound pretty warm. I was blown away with the
sound. It made me smile even more to know that I had some of these mics at home;
they were mine and this is now my sound.”
46 CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE
The S.E. Shires Company, a division of Eastman
Music Company, has formed a new partnership
with Joseph Alessi, the renowned soloist, peda-
gogue, and principal trombone of the New York
Philharmonic. S.E. Shires’ designers and craftsmen
will begin producing a line of products with Alessi.
“I am very pleased to announce that I will be
joining the Eastman Shires team. Why? Because
I have fallen in love with a great trombone,” says
Alessi. “After rigorous testing, I have found an
instrument that is easier to play and also fits the
sound concept in my mind. That sound has been
embodied in the Shires-Alessi signature horn.”