Ortiz’s assistant, Allan Tiguila, handles most of the mixing duties at front-of-house. One challenge with the sound system using the old console was that he could never get the choir loud enough in the mix because of feedback and other issues, Tiguila says. “Once I was able to put the SSL bus compressor on them, man, that was a game-changer. I was really impressed with that. It was one of the first times that I thought the choir was a bit too loud! I’d never had that.”
Tiguila continues “For the second service, I’m using all the onboard stuff, mainly the de-esser, extra EQs and all the reverbs. Mainly what I use on Sunday is the plate ‘verbs and the standard vocal thickener that’s on there; that’s pretty nice.”
“That was one of the selling points” of the Live console, Ortiz says, “getting the SSL bus compressor and EQ sound that everybody knows and is familiar with. I think it really does help. It’s easier to get a good sound.”
Tallowood acquired the L350 from local AVL equipment provider, integrator and rental house LD Systems, which had installed the current sound system years earlier when the church first moved to its purpose-built campus. According to Matt Rhodes, sales engineer, LD Systems, Ortiz and his sound team confirmed their purchase decision at LD’s shop, where they took the production sound department’s SSL Live L500 for a test drive. “They were most impressed with the sonic quality,” Rhodes says, adding, “The SSL mic pre’s are still the best on the market. Period.”