Interview with Metallica's FoH legend Big Mick Hughes • WorldWired Tour

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On the current WorldWired tour of Metallica "Big" Mick Hughes is once again the mastermind behind the live sound. For EventElevator he shares new technically insights and sound secrets regarding the outrageous heavy metal band.
• Technologically he still keeps up with the times and masters all challenges behind his audio desk. At the moment he is using a Midas XL8 digital console.
• The new Metallica WorldWired stage setup is different from classic stage sets. Moving, networked heavy video cubes are flown over the central stage. This is why Mick and his team had to come up with new solutions and positions for the line array and PA components.
• The FoH engineer uses a Meyer Sound LEO system. As a special feature, Big Mick uses the new VLFCs (Very Low Frequency Control) this time around. These › super subs ‹ for 13 Hz to 30 Hz are not intended for music, but support the special effects of the show for a more realistic feeling.
The new stage position in the center of the hall is also vulnerable to vibrations. This is why the subs had to move. But Big Mick is an expert in large venues. He can't be disturbed by anything and of course never loses his sense of humor in any situation.
Recorded at Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg.
► More informations and photos on our website EventElevator: tinyurl.com/y74qntmk
► Metallica: tinyurl.com/y7ldxzg8
► Get inspired by Meyer Sound: meyersound.com
► Boost your shows with MIDAS Consoles: www.musictri.be/brand/midas/home
► Get to know more about Big Mick in this EventElevator Video: • Interview with Big Mic...
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✔ Subscribe: ru-vid.com_c...
Interview by Thomas Wendt for EventElevator: www.ictw.de/
© EventElevator 2018

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21 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 225

@ronnieparfait 6 лет назад

Mick’s voice sounds awesome, his beard makes the ultimate pop filter.

@galihgori 2 года назад

Natural pop filter is the best.

@TIGERGUTS 6 лет назад

Big Mick is the 5th member. He is such a legend.

@WhichBass 6 лет назад

Always love Big Mick! Oldschool engineers are always the most interesting and charismatic.

@BrianEsselbrugge 6 лет назад

Yeah, sweet guy, but Metallica sounded terrible the last time I've seen them (Amsterdam, September 2017)

@bpabustan 6 лет назад

And most old school guys knows what it's all about because they lived it!

@codygranrud6212 6 лет назад

Which Bass... are you everywhere? Lol... I agree completely. Mick is a very interesting character.

@michaelangeloh.5383 6 лет назад

I'm impressed how his accent is still so pronounced after decades of working with Americans (probably).

@michaelangeloh.5383 6 лет назад

I have to agree they just don't sound good. And I'm not on any bandwagon or copying what others say, it's just harsh-sounding undefined noise. - I think it's partially to blame to the source, being their amplifiers and other electronics (their pickups, I think, make things worse than the good old standard EMGs they used to use). On top of that using solid state technology (with the excuse that it's easier, even though there are probably fat paychecks), which can work well, but they're not using it well. - And then the mix is just... problematic to say the least. - I'm afraid guys like Mick are just going deaf and they can't even judge the higher frequencies properly anymore. - Why else do MetallicA's guitars sound like they're going through Line 6 Spiders?

@tinman5322 5 лет назад

Finally we know what Santa does on the other 364 nights of the year!

@RikTRFC 6 лет назад

Big Mick came to a Performing Arts college where I worked last year and spoke to the Sound Engineers students for 4 hours! I understood about 10% but loved every minute of it!

@dreammix9430 2 года назад

I sure wish I could have been there I can't imagine how much I would have learned

@Aeronaut1975 6 лет назад

I could listen to him talk shop for hours.

@Seanalbertt 5 лет назад

Man for a guy that’s been doing it for years, he seems to welcome change with open arms. Most guys his age doing this seem to hold on to their Marshall JCM’s til the day they die, but he seems to take the thing that makes more sense now.

@SheaRecordmetal 3 года назад

That is pretty cool. I feel the same way about them like he said. “I wanted to hate them” , but so many big bands switch for ease of use and stability. I still kinda hate them 😁 but also understand there utility .

@SirStinkalot25 6 лет назад

I have no idea what this guy is talking about ..... yet I can't look away!

@Complicaadd0rock 4 года назад

haha I feel ya

@dreammix9430 2 года назад

Wow that was a freaking amazing interview! Thank you so much to everybody who put that together and to Big Mick!

@tsargoyle 6 лет назад

Great interview with an industry legend. Humble as they come too. I'd love to know how he's managed to keep his hearing intact over the years of doing stupidly loud shows!

@PattycakeStudios 4 года назад

What a down-to-Earth guy. Great wisdom, experience, and personality. Seems a joy to work with.

@Locoandchooch 6 лет назад

Big Mick, always great interviews, been with Metallica since RTL. \m/

@TomBombadil7 6 лет назад

Fantastic! Thanks for this.

@jen3800 5 лет назад

first time meeting the man, and not a fan of the band. i came here seeking insight from an engineer's perspective and I got more than enough. great guy. loads of experience and wisdom to impart. thanks !

@evankeal 5 лет назад

One of my favorite music related videos of all time. The whole MixHalo thing is blowing my mind. I can see a next evolution mixing in-ear with natural sound and even enhance it using all the data they capture in show set up and assign wifi receivers to specific sections of the venue.

@TaintedMango 6 лет назад

I had the immense privilege of meeting him and watching him do his magic from FoH last July at the Montreal show. Such a stand up guy!!

@peterhunt7591 Год назад

I had the pleasure as a young trainee sound engineer eating a dodgy takeaway with Mick in Buckley, North Wales whilst doing a gig with him with one of his young bands he was looking after whilst on break from Metallica's busy touring schedule. Absolute legend - wish I had spent more time with him as his knowledge was absolutely boundless. Great memory, great to see this video takes me back!

@ArtGuitarLTX Год назад

That "speaker-less ear bud setup" he mentioned is just wild... imagine that. Nothing will beat loud sound vibrations hitting your chest. But who knows what technology will bring. Really enjoyed this video. I've never heard of this guy but man does he have some great info on audio sound!

@Kleyver 4 года назад

Loved this video!!

@clausm2203 6 лет назад

Great interview with mick..:)

@metallicaman5150 5 лет назад

I actually met this guy in the airport security line a day after the Metallica show I went to. Guy was super nice! I enjoyed chatting with him.

@bernardbarnes9920 4 года назад

I could listen to mick forever, he a wizard and a mine of information!

@Groovesau8990 6 лет назад

sehr entspannt und sympathisch, der herr kollege

@spike007980 5 лет назад

I swear, i'd give this man a dinner and drinks and he'd keep the conversation going til the mere hours of 2am or something weird, and NO one would bored!

@greenfly1264 2 года назад

Know him from way back in Birmingham in the GBH days. Top man .

@SalParadise Год назад

great vid, great guy

@MrBonger88 3 года назад

What a cool guy. So much knowledge

@jullers78 3 года назад

Met him in Dublin in 96. Such a nice guy👍

@thegreenguy8837 4 года назад

I like his way of explaining things. I guess you could learn a lot from that guy.

@MrIrishBastardOfficial 4 года назад

Such a down to earth guy. Serious nerd stuff and I love it;-)))

@patrickquinn9405 4 года назад

Would love to read a book about this guy's life!

@markk9184 5 лет назад

Interesting as all hell!

@Jasonweckard 5 лет назад

Shouts to the dude just smoking a cig in the background.

@Heavygusto 6 лет назад

I'm from further north than him but I still love the way he says "explosions"

@Hexspa 6 лет назад

Saw them for the Load tour. Huge sound.

@whatyoumakeofit6635 5 лет назад

I went to a metallica show in chicago on the s&m tour. Hands down the best sounding show ive ever heared in any type of music

@christianmartinez1 6 лет назад

YES ANOTHER ONE

@tepetti Год назад

I’ve always wondered what Santa Claus does when it’s not Christmas

@NobesBLO13 Год назад

Love the guy taking a smoke break in the background

@jimmysmickles7598 6 лет назад

I love this man

@stusmithmmm Год назад

We knew Mick as "Zoomie" when we were kids growing up in West Brom. He had a Z1300 huge bike. He was always polite and friendly.

@gamjammer 4 года назад

20:31 "Gone are the days where you could just go and randomly crush people however you feel fit unless you're in South America or places off the beaten path......those are the only places where you're going to be able to put the stick to it." Fucking love this dude!

@posaunix 5 лет назад

Sadly the concept did not work out in Hamburg concerning the higher seats. But interesting to hear about all these thoughts.

@shardug 4 года назад

I remember several concerts we did that the stage volume was between 105 and 115db. Eventually went to ear bud system to save my hearing.

@RockmannMusic 6 лет назад

Interesting interview, thanks ! Btw, it's not only the Barclay Concert hall that is sheit in Hamburg. The whole City is just crap. Kind of pretty from the outside but through and through rotten from the inside

@junioalvescorrea9914 2 года назад

This man is one of the best's in your job.

@caidema 5 лет назад

Idk about the earbuds. The great part about a live show is physically feeling the bass rumble your body

@djjazzyjeff1232 3 года назад

10:36 LOL I thought when he said, "Ah, what's the other one called?" I thought he was referring to Kirk. Lmao. Like he was saying, "James and ... who's that other guy again?" lol

@andreasmansson4378 3 года назад

Haha! Me too!

@derekrushe Месяц назад

It always amazes me that even a show at this level that audio is sacrificed for the shiny shiny.

@matijatatomirovic3351 6 лет назад

Love him!

@seinfeld11123 3 года назад

20:57. Very interesting. I can see it going that way too. and it would be super awesome for multi stage festivals. so you don't get bands playing over each other etc. sounds very good. and as he said add some subs and it would be awesome

@DanielVegter 3 года назад

What an awesome guy

@queticomoe4495 6 лет назад

Mick IS Metallica's 5th member!

@CliffMcLarnon 4 года назад

Greatness!🤟

@hdaaap 6 лет назад

hes been there since 84

@ShadeHope1969 5 лет назад

sat on the board a couple times on the black album back in the day,they were using db sound out of chicago.I don`t remember the system but i do remember 118 decibels.loud n clear. Eddie Kercher was siiting at the board. old school guys know.Time tested

@TheFROG338 3 года назад

would like to contact mick, knew him back in the day... anyone know best way ?

@endlessgaming2603 3 года назад

I like listening to this guy.

@weareallbeingwatched4602 3 года назад

AES out of the modeller and straight into the mixer is a great idea.

@ShockwaveZero 11 месяцев назад

For the vibrating floor why not just add another layer of stage floor/ metal grate as buffer to eliminate vibration and keep the subs

@soundpro707 6 лет назад

People that say they can tell the difference (in a large venue setting) between a modeled guitar rig and the real thing are the same people that supposedly hear a difference with Monster Cable.

@keggers101 5 лет назад

Don't forget Big Mick has heard every Metallica gig for the last 30 odd years......he'll know if it sounds right

@TimmyP1955 5 лет назад

Monster does sound different - usually not as good as brand X.

@harryalvarez2003 5 лет назад

I always liked my Monster Rock cables. Solid for live shows and still using it. But I'm having problems when working at home recording. It's so difficult for me to tune the instruments and to get a good tone. Anybody?

@coreyt7463 5 лет назад

Monster cable is a complete joke!! I'm a live and studio sound engineer - and the guage of speaker cable used to track and mix and master any project is 14 guage. On a home stereo system have a look at A. the size of the wire INSIDE your speaker cabinet going from the jacks on the back to crossover and from the crossover to the speakers.....!! and B. Look inside your amp and notice the size of the internal wiring going to the speaker binding posts on the back of the amp....

@duroxkilo 2 года назад

@@coreyt7463 not only that, but the in/out impedance on the low voltage devices is in kilo ohms.. a 0.5 ohms 6tf monster cable plugged in a 20kohms load can't possible change anything compared to a 2ohms 6ft diy cable.

@Perrythedrummer 5 лет назад

I love how safety is effecting them too. I’m a Tradesmen and the safety programs are a complete runaway. Makes me laugh knowing the have sound police.

@rapragermusic 4 года назад

In the burning heat of Australia they have banned shorts and short sleeves on all work sites because idiots.

@IswanjanaHariAdi 5 лет назад

i am still curious about how to panning the speaker with that round (square) stage

@Seanalbertt 5 лет назад

Iswanjana Hari Adi pseudo stereo, so each 2 hangs of speakers are a stereo pair, but he doesn’t pan things hard left right because then he’d have most of the concert goers getting one side of the stereo image.

@andym7333 2 года назад

did he say he uses no compression on vocal track ??

@pappachook 6 лет назад

Super interesting though I didn't understand about half of it. 😁

@michaelangeloh.5383 6 лет назад

haha Messing with the frontman of the band through subs underneath the stage. XD - And that after decades of experience. - There will always be technical challenges.

@shockcityrocker 5 лет назад

I’d be so worried about playing an out of date venue that can’t handle the weight & 1 of those cubes falling on someone 😬

@ReverendHogwash 6 лет назад

If they lifted the floor, what long term damage do they do to the roof structure? Also, how well are those video monitors visible from more than 10-15 feet?

@michaelastockbauer672 6 лет назад

They are Even visible 50 feet away...

@cobaingrohlnovo 2 года назад

They lifted the floor of the stage that they set up not the actual floor of the building and those monitors are a good size if you see them in person so you can see them pretty far back

@tsr6220 2 года назад

legend

@2255223388 6 лет назад

HOW DO I INTERN FOR THIS GUY?!!!

@alaskaaudioguy35 5 лет назад

Why are their still subs on the floor on the coners far away from the stage

@conorm2524 4 года назад

For special effects/pyro explosions (like the start of One)

@ricardovasquezchavez9267 3 года назад

He's the real secret of Metallica success

@CatDieselPwr 3 года назад

Seems like a really cool guy. I could see him going all "Peter Grant" when sh*t goes sideways though :P

@paulbruce4630 3 года назад

Plus he keeps it at 96Db. Don't loke the band but he can mix. Nice guy.

@raulribeiro888 4 года назад

master

@mikepreamp6053 6 лет назад

hopefully we won't end up listening to concerts with earbuds...

@keluke5299 6 лет назад

mike preamp Yeah would definitly not like that... That gives really away the spirit of live concerts :-/

@Babs42 6 лет назад

Don't worry gov't is just trying to protect you ;).

@michaelangeloh.5383 6 лет назад

Actually, even though I'm all for big sounding live shows and shit, I've imagined people having personal hearing-systems much like the artists have in-ear monitors. The reason why is because concerts (at least ones like these) just fuck your hearing. There's no debate there. I've rarely enjoyed concerts sound-wise, even though I've been to plenty, I've actually stopped going to them because sound is overblown for the human hearing, the lows drown everything out, even though the mids and highs are still there to ear-rape you. There's no definition and it's more tiresome than energizing.) - Perhaps it's an arena-equivalent of being stuck into a small room with a band (like they did when starting out), but good and enjoyable?... No. - So, I think the answer is either... first of all, just managing loudness and equalizing more properly without literally damaging humans permanently (which is a health-concern), if not people will probably have some sort of personalized in-ear-systems to just wirelessly connect to. Even though it might "take away" from something. - Then they could still blast the P.A. for the feel, as even artists who use in-ears have live speakers to "feel" the sound (and who knows some leakage if it's loud enough), but to get a better and safer sound it might go that way. I foresee a lot more technological interactivity in the future of concerts anyway. (Edit: I hadn't watched yet, but it seems they're already well on their way of what I've been thinking for over a decade. Not quite what I meant, but similar. Wow, they're basically talking about the same thing... They hacked my mind! XD)

@Nghilifa 5 лет назад

God damn it Michael, THAT´s EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!! Seriously!! Just before I came to the personalized in-ear part of your post, that´s EXACTLY what crossed my mind! Scary shit I tell ya! It´d be a great idea though, people could choose to get custom ear-molds, or just use standard ones, tune their radio-pack to whatever frequency required to receive the mix, and then listen to the show. Then perhaps, the radio-pack could communicate with your phone or something, via bluetooth, so that you could adjust the mix (highs/mids/lows) , or even adjust what mix you´re listening to (since each member of the band has an individual mix that they are listening to) .

@babayaga1767 5 лет назад

why not? we already watch them through our phones. (sarcasm)

@michaelmorrissey765 5 лет назад

At the last Metallica concert in Minneapolis none of us in our section could hear Kirk or James guitars. 90% of what would could hear was Roberts bass and Lars’ double bass drums. The other 10% was drowned out vocals. My wife and I left our seats, went maybe four sections over and stood in the isle, perfect sound. Felt bad for the fans that didn’t move. I love heavy bass, but not to the exclusion of all else.

@posaunix 5 лет назад

this is, how large concerts sound most of the time... cause some people want to feel bass vibrations... better you have too less bass in the way of mixing, but still understand the music. but the sound-crews won't hear me...

@SheaRecordmetal 3 года назад

That’s crazy. I was on the floor for that show and it was one of the best sounding shows i’ve ever been too. And i’ve been to a lot. Closed stadium too🤘🏼 I guess being in the seats that far away would have an effect on the sound. I never really thought of that. I won’t go to a show if i have to sit down. So i always hear em from the floor.

@jd0879 Год назад

@@SheaRecordmetalThe floor will always have a better sound because that’s where the mixing board is. If you’re at the mixing board that’s where the sound will be at its optimal level

@JEKAZOL 2 года назад

That made fuck all sense.

@wado1942 5 лет назад

They eliminated 1/2 a truckload by not having amps. Does that really make a difference when you have 6-7 other truckloads?

@FrankTheTankA1 5 лет назад

could be 30-60 minutes cut out fairly easily depending on how they stack things. Not a whole lot but gives extra time.

@conorm2524 4 года назад

@@FrankTheTankA1 It's more about money. Production managers constantly trying to save save save.

@Khammett1962 3 года назад

That half truck load could be millions used in a tour. Definitely makes a difference.

@cajunfid 2 года назад

Its not even so much the truckload. It's also the reliability factor when you consider what they replaced all of the tube/valve amps with. Tube amps in this sort of touring environment basically need their own full time tech to keep them in top working condition because of how hard they're usually driven and need components replaced/repaired.

@Wizardley 2 года назад

I like this guy, ..........Bill Graham was always trying to keep the volume reasonable to no avail usually.....Quality over volume I say

@Nooneofconsequence47 5 лет назад

100 dba?! Dang man. That's quiet.

@FrankTheTankA1 5 лет назад

Eh, not really. I mean, I'd say most rock/metal go from 100-110. When I saw Megadeth they were sitting around 100 as well. One of the best sound concerts as well.

@ZadieBear 4 года назад

Not really. Saw PCD with The Black Eyed Peas back in 2006. The venue had a max of 90....they engineers would push that, then back it down.

@EmanueleCorreani Год назад

Clearly is not Lars Ulrich playing drums in the background

@MrMotherfuck123 5 лет назад

How he would look gettin a Haircut and shave ?

@VegasYouTuberSteve Год назад

A mega-watt? That's a million watts..😮

@cdnpunk2270 5 лет назад

The fuck, was this thing filmed with a vhs video camera?

@michellefoster1020 4 года назад

It’s called the silent disco or the silent event

@robschannel4512 3 года назад

A mega watt, is pushing some serious power.

@markbortnovsky9134 3 года назад

Is Mick using a Midas Prox console? I can't tell.

@CatDieselPwr 3 года назад

XL8, they kinda zoom in on it where he says it's like an XL4 but digital.

@andymahasongkham9423 2 года назад

XL8 and maybe XL10

@cooperjamesphotography15 5 лет назад

I almost understood that..

@babayaga1767 5 лет назад

my guitar player plays fractal, i play bass through bass flyrig. back into ears. we sound incredible out front.

@robschannel4512 3 года назад

Yes Tin man, its good to know Santa has a regular job, if you call that regular.

@KranksterOnMaui 4 года назад

He really likes the Fractal.........

@FlankinspanK Год назад

of course his name is Mick

@buddahcrib 2 года назад

I honestly thought he was forgetting Kirk's name all of a sudden ;)) "Gosh what's the name of the other one?" 10:40

@axelstiller8952 3 года назад

I love his accent

@OliverHeuschele 6 лет назад

Fractal for guitar sound??? I thought James and Kirk are using Kemper at live situation!?!

@BeardedDanishViking 6 лет назад

Nope, Fractal.

@Dimiguitar 6 лет назад

They've been using fractal for quite a while now, not a word about kemper.

@michaelastockbauer672 6 лет назад

Metallica Never ever used Kemper!

@gregfalc 6 лет назад

It's been pretty well documented in their gear rundowns that they've been using Fractals for years now. Never ever used Kemper as far as I know.

@TheMaJuTaJu 6 лет назад

Na wo ist Wanda schon wieder hin? 😀

@EventElevator 6 лет назад

Nächste Woche... Vielleicht...

@chiptrippyfox6106 4 года назад

Dude walks into shot just long enough to put a bong down and was like "Oh shit" 8:47

@rawwbnoles4787 3 года назад

That was a two-way radio.

@chiptrippyfox6106 3 года назад

@@rawwbnoles4787 Well darn, I guess you're right.. Would have been funnier if it were a bong due to his hasty appearance to get out of the shot haha

@protoolsfanatic7276 5 лет назад

fractal? really? im a old fashioned amp guy..nothing beats the real amp sound but i suppose a solid state guitar sim is much easier to mess with with how much they tour.

@SuperPsychoterror 6 лет назад

I've been to so many small venue shows where the show is just ruined by bad sound people. I just saw Puddle of Mudd a few days ago and all the opening acts sounded amazing and then Puddle takes the stage and some genius decides to punch up the bass and guitars. I was 10 feet from the stage and it was hurting my ears THROUGH EAR PLUGS!! Lol we moved away from the stage and there was a mass exodus for the door. Felt bad for the band because those sound guys fucked it up.

@coreyt7463 5 лет назад

You are an idiot. The SPL that's required to deliver a clean 98dB at 80 - 120 feet from the speaker array (to the majority of seats) is higher than 138dB one meter from the array. If they mixed so it sounded a clean 98Db at 10 feet it would be down to the SPL of a fluffy chipmunk fart (65Db) in the majority of the seating area... (hiccups would be louder than the band)