BRIDGETON, NJ – Alan “Alby” Miller, an analog sound engineer who founded Arsenal Sound, based here, in 1989, first made the leap to digital consoles in 1989. He’s since added to his arsenal of Allen & Heath’s T80, T112, R72 consoles with a recent investment in A&H’s Qu Series consoles.
More details from Allen & Heath (www.allen-heath.com) and American Music and Sound (www.americanmusicandsound.com):
Alan ‘Alby’ Miller was an analog sound engineer from his early beginnings as a singer, through his evolution as a front of house operator, to his founding of Arsenal Sound in 1989. That is, until five years ago when Miller made the leap to digital consoles, investing in Allen & Heath’s T80, T112, R72 consoles and an assortment of IDR mix racks. “The other digital consoles were too hard to operate for an analog guy – the Allen & Heath consoles were easy to comprehend”, says Miller. This ease of use led Miller and his Arsenal Sound team to add more Allen & Heath T112’s and the new Qu-24 consoles to service their corporate and smaller live sound clients. In typical, straightforward New Jersey parlance, Miller plainly states his reasons; “Look, the Allen & Heath boards do what they are supposed to do, not what they aren’t. We have never had a major issue with them.” Then Miller adds: “Five years and I’m still learning and surprised at what I can do with these boards.”
Being located on the East Coast of the United States gives a sound equipment provider ample opportunity to service the national touring acts that often begin their tours there. “We do get Front Of House Engineers that are skeptical at times when they first encounter the Allen & Heath consoles. But once they load their show and start-they are won over. We have yet to have a FOH Engineer for a national act turn them down.” Miller reports that one of the main compliments his Allen & Heath consoles get is that the workflow makes it so the sound person can literally ‘mix from the first note’ instead of halfway through the show like other consoles.
But all of the compliments aside, what sold Miller and his team on this line of consoles was the partnership Allen & Heath’s product development and service departments delivered. With the new Qu series as its ‘go to’ board for corporate events, Miller noticed and appreciated the feature/benefit set the new consoles provide. ‘Allen & Heath took all of our suggestions and put them in the console, states Miller,” adding “Plus, they just sound great and make us money because they don’t break.”
“We hear Nothing But Good Complaints”
When you are the lead technical person at a sound company, oftentimes you are also the recipient of any and all complaints. This is no different for one Junior Maldonado, whom Alby Miller refers to as his ‘Lead Tech Dude.”
One thing Muldonado, and all of Arsenal Sound’s sound persons understand is the audio experience for the audience expected by Miller.
‘When one set of ears can make thousands of people happy, I’ve done my job” says Muldonado. “ The factory guys at Allen & Heath offer amazing advice and go beyond the call- they understand what a FOH Engineer goes through-so they make sure everything is right.” he adds.
Looking back on his 25 plus years in the live sound business, Alby Miller shared a perspective that goes to the core of his Arsenal Sound values.
“I started out as a singer in a Rock Band and couldn’t find a good sound man, so I gave it a shot myself. My first gig paid 300 bucks and it felt right to make everyone on stage sound good. I also did studio work, which can be a challenge and a blessing- I use effects just enough to make the sound great-no more, no less.” he adds. When I pressed Miller to reveal the success of his business, he reverts to his straightforward, New Jersey delivery: “There is no excuse for bad audio when someone pays 50 bucks for a show.” Then softening up a bit he shared: “ Just looking out at an audience and seeing they are into the show and sound- you know you are doing your job and making people happy.”
