Karol G plays Coachella
USA - FOH engineer John Buitrago and monitor engineer Robin Barrera recently chose the Waves eMotion LV1 Live Mixer and Waves plugins for Colombian artist Karol G, winner of the 2018 Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, who performed at the main stage of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
“We did a very successful, solid and consistent U.S. tour, using the LV1 in 2021 with Karol G,” notes FOH John Buitrago. “Everyone was very happy with the mixer’s performance, so we continued using the LV1 throughout 2022 and for the Coachella show as well. There is no other console on the market which sounds bigger, punchier and more wide open than the eMotion LV1.
“I started my career as a recording and mixing sound engineer. In the studio, we all produce and mix with Waves plugins, including the artists I work for. So, when I’m mixing on a big PA, eMotion LV1 makes me feel like I’m in a big studio, with all my plugins right there in the mixer. The mixer’s own sound is crisp and powerful, and the added plugins make it continuous with the studio experience.”
Monitor engineer Robinson Barrera adds: “We chose eMotion LV1 because we always look for great sound plus consistency, and that is what LV1 gives us show after show. When choosing a console for touring, I always look for software stability, consistency, easy connectivity, and of course an intuitive workflow that makes me feel confident when mixing. Of course, the main objective is to find the best sound, and that is what the LV1 has. I think there are great benefits coming from this little giant.”
“At Coachella,” he continues, “setting up will always be a challenge. You only have 40 minutes for load-in and 20 minutes for load-out. At monitor, we were always ready in 20 minutes, which meant that the LV1 was our best resort to save time. Not to mention the great capacity of the Waves SoundGrid network, which is to assign an IP address to each device added to the network, creating a super stable connection for us, including the ability to communicate with other audio protocols.”
“I really love the crisp, crystal clear and punchy sound of this mixer,” Buitrago sums up. “Honestly, I used to mix FOH on numerous other consoles on the market and compared to the LV1 there is nothing I miss.” Barrera remarks: “The LV1’s sound is crystal clear and powerful, and no exception for a big and incredible festival like Coachella.”

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