Avid VENUE | S6L On The Road With German Hip Hop Legends Die Fantastischen Vier

Avid announces the German hip hop band, Die Fantastischen Vier, also known as Fanta 4, have used the award-winning Avid VENUE | S6L system on their 2017 European tour. The band's veteran front of house engineer, Klaus Scharff, continues to utilize the processing capabilities of the latest Avid VENUE system to bring the electrifying shows to life.

With over 20 years of his career spent working with Fanta 4 both in the studio and on the road, Scharff has always been a veteran member of Avid's preeminent client and user community. He knows what the band wants when it comes to a live production and has always relied on Avid VENUE systems to mix Fanta 4's hip hop extravaganzas, the company says. In 2017, Scharff opted to take the VENUE | S6L out on the road -- powered by the same easy-to-use VENUE software as other Avid live sound systems, the new desk enabled him to quickly transition from the VENUE Profiles he's used on previous shows to the new system.

"I've used Avid VENUE systems for many years. I've become so used to the solid workflow they provide without fail, the numerous storage options, and the choice of plug-ins for example -- I would never be without," Scharff says. "My first impression of the VENUE | S6L desk is that it's so user-friendly; the transition was a breeze, and I simply transferred my old settings and headed straight out on tour."

The VENUE | S6L functions as a front-end to the Avid MediaCentral Platform. As one of the most comprehensive workflow solutions to create, distribute, and optimize media, VENUE | S6L provides seamless Pro Tools® recording and playback, and offers the most powerful and integrated live recording capabilities on the market, the company says.

Scharff is utilizing the S6L's integration with Pro Tools and VENUE's Virtual Soundcheck feature to fine-tune FOH mixes and during rehearsals. He explains, "Pro Tools and the synergy that Pro Tools offers both FOH and artists is second to none. Upon arriving at each venue, I set up the S6L and Pro Tools and record everything the band does in pre-production. We then review and fine-tune the mix to give the audience the best experience we can."

VENUE | S6L handles huge channel counts while ensuring maximum stability and the lowest-possible latency, the company says. Configured with 32 faders, Scharff has the power and flexibility to handle complex stage connections. The Stage 64 rack features a high-performance preamp design allowing Scharff to present even higher quality mixes with incredible presence. "I can access all the vital channels on the first layer of the surface and adjust the mix instantly when necessary -- it makes for a very smooth sound, and can almost inaudibly balance even large dynamic differences."

With a massive bus capacity, VENUE | S6L allows Scharff to easily handle a multitude of mixes with immediate one-touch access to any mix on the faders. "The guys perform with a five-piece band including drums, percussion, bass, keys, guitars, plus a DJ. For a standard show, the S6L is receiving 62 input channels -- ten of them alone taken up by the DJ setup at the start of the show. The traditional band setup occupies the remainder of the channels. The S6L opens doors to possibilities I would have never been able to master before.

"As part of the most trusted live mixing systems in the world, VENUE | S6L reinforces Avid's position at the forefront of live sound innovation," says Tom Cordiner, senior vice president at Avid. "With demand for VENUE | S6L growing worldwide since its launch, Avid is poised to help live sound professionals take on the most challenging performances and tours around the world."