In the recent issue of German guitar magazine Grand Guitars (www.grandgtrs.de) there is an interview with the Stones´ front-of-house mixing-engineer Dave Natale. Interesting read, I think. Among other things, he explains, why Keith´s guitar during „Sympathy...“ live came across more like the tool of a butcher or of a lumberjack, than of a surgeon´s knife (although he doesn´t use these terms). He provides some cool technical insight.

Unfortunately one cannot read the interview online. And I cannot post pictures. So either please find an issue of the magazine - or someone provide an e-mail address where one could send scans to. But only, if that is legal...

Cheers, fillmore

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Fillmore
Among other things, he explains, why Keith´s guitar during „Sympathy...“ live came across more like the tool of a butcher or of a lumberjack, than of a surgeon´s knife (although he doesn´t use these terms).

So what is his explanation? Stadium shows are not a novelty any more, and they didn't have the butcher sound problem in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s etc.

Natale speaks about the "gentle art of mixing the world´s greatest band - in mono 1.0". Without additional compression, reverb, delay, gates - all analog!!! He describes the live atmosphere as a "bigger than life" experience, with the loudness and the huge screens, unlike listening to a record at home. The singer´s voice guides through the song. When the voice stops some other element has to fill the slot.

"It (the show) is an exaggeration, that´s how I mix it on the console. It´s about highlighting elements. I don´t just make a solo a little louder, but quite a lot - about five centimeters on the channel strip (laughs)".

He says it is about keeping the result interesting and the energy constant. "It seems as if many people don´t mix any more. The compressor and the noisegate have taken over".

Natale has been mixing the Stones live since 2005. If he is on board at the 2018 shows: beware of the guitars .

I´m not a native speaker and Missus Google´s little shop of translations can only help to some extend, right...? I hope you enjoy it anyway...

Cheers, fillmore

He’s the one turning it up, but I can’t blame him for the terrible dry tone that comes out of Keith’s Junior and tweed rig!

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Fillmore
"It (the show) is an exaggeration, that´s how I mix it on the console. It´s about highlighting elements. I don´t just make a solo a little louder, but quite a lot - about five centimeters on the channel strip (laughs)".

Bad sound by design?