IN CONVERSATION WITH
BRAD DIVENS, CEO - FIXINTOGETMIXIN
INC. & FOH ENGINEER - ENRIQUE IGLESIAS
Tell us about "fixintogetmixin" and the idea behind it
The class was born out of my passion for music and
mixing. It’s about my journey in music and how I started
as a musician and ended up being a FOH Engineer. Then
it evolves into what is important to me as an engineer, the
techniques I developed along the way, my approach to mixing
and how I put it all together. I wanted to be able to give
something back to the audio world and share my experience
and knowledge.
What according to you does it take to get the perfect
final audio mix?
It’s all about doing your homework. Listen to the artists
music and become a part of it. Make sure that the source
sounds good before you start to turn the knobs. Taking a
minimalist approach and realizing that it’s not about having
all the latest gear as much as it is knowing how to use what
you have. Once you’ve mastered the art of mixing then you
can start to incorporate the toys that you would like to use.
What are some important qualities one must possess to
be a successful engineer such as you?
I think you need to be genuine in your approach and always
think of the artist and the audience first. I think that being
a musician before I was an engineer has helped me to
understand and relate to the artist on a musical level. Always
treat those around you like you want to be treated. It’s a
very small world that we work in. Finally, I think it’s very
important that you are able to adapt to any situation that
you are in whether it is good or bad and be able to deliver the
show every night!
Tell us how you use the JBL VTX A12 Line Array Series.
What do you like the most about it
stereo image and the smoothness of the top end are stunning.
It’s a pleasure to mix on and I actually feel like i’m in the
music and not just out in front of it. It’s like having a big pair
of studio monitors in the air.
How do you incorporate JBL 705P Near Field Monitors
and Soundcraft Vi 3000 Mixing Consoles to craft your
signature mix?
I feel that when I spend time on the VI3000 with my live tracks
that I’m able to do everything that is needed to create the
best mix possible. Being able to use the 705’s and 708’s as a
reference gives me a true sense of the music and the mix. I
know that when I’ve got the mix dialed in with the VI and the
near fields it will translate perfectly to the VTX A12.
You work with a varied range of renowned artists. How
do you manage to cater to a specific sound of each of
them ensuring that you do not sound the same?
First off each artist is going to sound different due to the
nature of their music. It’s not my job to make them sound like
I think they should sound. It’s my intention to make them
sound the best that they can. When I’ve accomplished that,
I’m satisfied and so is the artist and the audience.
Tell us about your India trip and the workshop
My trip to India has been amazing. The Harman Pro India
team went way above and beyond my expectations to create
the absolute perfect environment to hold my class in. It was
classy, professional and very well organized. I feel that the
workshop came across exactly as I had hoped it would. That
everyone would enjoy themselves and take away something
from their learning experience.
I love the clarity and detail that it brings out in my mix. The
The
Score Magazine
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