ST. LOUIS, MO – Dave Sinko, sound engineer for progressive bluegrass band the Punch Brothers, has been mixing the five-member band using an APB-DynaSonics ProRack rack mount monitor board. "This mixer is perfect for us," said Sinko.
The band includes Chris Thile (mandolin and vocals), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Paul Kowert (string bass), Chris Eldridge (guitar), and Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Sinko has become known for an organic approach to sound recording and mixing, both in the studio and in live sound.
All of band members are using JH Audio JH13 ear buds fed from the Sennheiser G3 monitoring system. Controlling this is the APB ProRack, from which the players can hear a variety of mixes, cues, and feeds. The mixer is placed on stage, giving the band access to adjust their individual mixes.
Five of the ProRack's eight stereo outputs are used for the in-ear monitors, leaving the remaining outputs for a unique tuning set-up that Sinko designed. Via foot switches, the instrument in each mix can be muted while the performer tunes on stage.
"Sonically the APB is impressive, and it is one of the only rack mount mixers that can provide the capabilities for the stereo in-ear mixes that I need," Sinko noted. "And it is very reliable. We did a show in Central Park and during load-in the APB fell from the vehicle that was driving gear to the stage. It tumbled in its case end over end, but still worked perfectly."
The Punch Brothers began a run of shows with Paul Simon in November, and will then head off to Europe.
For more information, please visit www.apb-dynasonics.com.
