Published Article; Performing Songwriter Magazine (readership of 130,000 +)
by LisaBeth Weber
LIVE SOUND – DAVID HEWITT.
Can someone who has recorded the Rolling Stones in an 80,000-seat stadium offer advice to a singer/songwriter preparing to record a live CD in an intimate setting? Yes, when you're talking about the renowned and versatile David Hewitt, who helped engineer Jackson Browne's legendary album, Running on Empty. "We recorded tracks on the tour bus, in different hotels, backstage, doing all kinds of crazy stuff. They were actually composing in the hotel rooms….part of the concept was being on the road."
Hewitt's philosophy is, "Leave it live." Even under the most challenging circumstances, he appreciates the beauty of a truly emotional and raw performance. The humble Hewitt describes "The Concert for New York" (held after September 11th) with immense emotion. "The sheer power of what was behind the concert affected every performance", he recalls. "Going live to air is always an emotionally charged time….but particularly when David Bowie came out solo onstage, and did the simplest remake of Simon & Garfunkel's tune, 'America'. I get wound up just thinking about the performance that man turned in. It was just electrifying."
Hewitt's engineering expertise is both technical and aesthetic. "What hooked me on making a career out of live music is the live music. It’s much more REAL when it’s live. Never mind the studio tricks, editing, and post-production. You’re getting what the artist delivers onstage. That Bowie performance.…you can’t get that in a studio….the feel of that kind of emotion going out to 18,000 people. The live aspect has always appealed to me for that immediacy. It's really disappointing when you record a wonderful performance….and some go back and replace every note. It may sound 'perfect' - but you lose the 'feel' of that performance."
In preparing to record live, Hewitt's advice to the performer is…. "Practice. That’s what live is about. Prepare in advance. Know what you’re getting into. Be in touch with the venue and sound people - anybody that stands between you and the recording".
For Hewitt, a key element of recording acoustic acts live is getting the sound of what's in the ambience – capturing what it sounds like to be there. Early on, everything was acoustic and this was accomplished with a few mics. "To me that’s still the base of it", says Hewitt. "It’s directly related to how much amplification there is. If there is none, your techniques are very different than if you're amplifying the vocal substantially. It affects mic choices and how ambient the recording gets."
Of course it helps to have good equipment. Hewitt's mobile "Silver Studio" sports a 48-channel NEVE VRM console with STUDER 900 series submixers. For pre-amps, Hewitt likes MILLENNIA'S HV-3A. "They're very clean and neutral and good for remote pre-amps onstage." For vocals, Hewitt likes NEUMANN'S KMS 140 microphone. "Neil Young used it last time out. It's been very popular." It was especially impressive after three days of use through solid wind and rain during Young's, Live at Red Rocks. "Condensers are really susceptible to moisture; we held our breath the whole time." The Audio Technica 4054 was also a pleasant surprise. "STING liked it for background vocals", while John Lennon occasionally preferred "an old beat [Shure] 57".
Regarding analog vs. digital, Hewitt still loves the smoother, silkier sound of analog and has a matched pair of STUDER A 820 2 inch 24 tracks that he keeps in mint condition. "Some clients prefer to record analog so they aren't locked into a sampling rate, but then transfer to a high-resolution digital system, like a 96K or 192K." Hewitt likes the symbiotic appeal; taking advantage of modern advances without sacrificing the heart and soul of older pieces. The ultimate example of this is a digitally re-mixed DVD of Frank Zappa's infamous 1978 Halloween show, which Hewitt recorded using AMPEX 1200 2 inch 24 tracks.
During most shows, Hewitt "rockets around" between the truck and the stage, making sure everything runs smoothly. A self-proclaimed "gearhead", Hewitt is used to shifting gears quickly, an essential trait for his field. He originally became interested in engineering following a stint in the airforce and some time building racecars. After interning at Philadelphia's Regent Sound, his "big break" happened around 1970 when he met producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, The Who) at the legendary Record Plant. An assistant then, Jack invited Hewitt for a tour of the New York studio. He was hired and eventually became chief engineer for their remote truck. Hewitt sits composed and distinguished in his white cropped beard while discussing those early years, regarding folks like Frank Zappa with great esteem. "Zappa was totally unconventional in his approach to the live stuff. He was an outstanding influence on anybody who worked with him. If he let you work with him, you were pretty special to begin with."
David's thoughts for the artist preparing to record live? "Let’s say you’re a musician that has honed your art; you’re very comfortable with your performances and you want to record. Seek out people who are comfortable with their art, the art of recording; someone with experience and who resonates with you as an artist.” He advises, "Do it. Find opportunities to play and record. There are all those threads out there. Find the ones you want to follow and go after them."
Grammy winning engineer David Hewitt founded Remote Recording Services, Inc. in 1979. Housed in a 65 foot tractor-trailer, the "Silver Studio" specializes in live remote recording and is known throughout the world. Hewitt's credits include Frank Zappa, Bob Dylan, Nanci Griffith, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, U2, BB King, Luciano Pavarotti, James Taylor, Ray Charles, and more. He has recorded the Oscars, Woodstock ‘94, Live Aid, Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park and has worked with engineers/producers Ed Cherney, Phil Ramone, Bob Clearmountain, Elliot Scheiner, and Jim Rooney. Two of David's favorite projects were Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps and Bonnie Raitt's Road Tested. On January 18th 2003, The Silver Studio will be present for the Rolling Stones HBO special.