Rick Camp: Mastering the Mix with Sonnox Plug-ins
Rick Camp is a veteran sound engineer whose career has taken him across the globe, mixing for some of the biggest names in music including Madonna, Beyoncé, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Destiny's Child, Chris Brown, and Burt Bacharach. With a background in music and a deep understanding of live sound, Rick has developed a reputation for his expertise in FOH mixing and his innovative use of technology, particularly Sonnox plug-ins. Currently on tour with Jennifer Lopez, Rick took some time to discuss his journey into audio engineering and his go-to tools for achieving the perfect mix.
From Musician to Engineer
Rick's journey into the world of sound engineering began with his passion for music. "I played trumpet for about ten years back in the 70s," he recalls. His transition from musician to engineer happened in the 80s after attending Berklee College of Music. "I realized all the horn bands like Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, and Chicago had kind of gone away, so I made a change and went into engineering." He honed his skills working with local bands, and his talent led him to Los Angeles, where he mixed for notable groups like The Whispers and Earth Wind & Fire. By the mid-90s, Rick had cemented his place as a top-tier live sound engineer, mixing for legendary acts and eventually finding his niche at the FOH position.
Adopting Avid Consoles for Live Sound
Rick's experience with Avid consoles began serendipitously. "I got into Pro Tools back when Digidesign/Avid came out with the Mix Plus system, where you could record 64 tracks. I was always doing the live thing, and one day I got stuck on the Digidesign console at a one-off. To my surprise, they really had it together; the sound quality was great, it didn't crash." Impressed by the console's performance, Rick quickly became an advocate. His commitment to Avid consoles grew to the point where he and his wife invested in a 96-channel Venue board for rentals and personal use on his gigs.
Integrating Sonnox Plug-ins for Precision and Quality
Rick's introduction to Sonnox plug-ins dates back to 2000 when he first used them in the studio. "I’ve been using Sonnox plug-ins since 2000 now. In the studio, I used the Reverb, Dynamics, SuprEsser, and the Oxford EQ." Rick was particularly impressed with the accuracy of the Oxford EQ, which led him to a pivotal realization: why not use it to tune the PA systems in live settings? "That way, I could use it instead of the Dolby Lake EQ, which most sound companies use. It's just as accurate, and I could save it with my show files for later recall."
Using Sonnox on the Jennifer Lopez World Tour
On the current Jennifer Lopez tour, Rick relies heavily on Sonnox plug-ins, particularly the Oxford EQ, for tuning the main speaker systems. "On this current tour, I use it on the most important thing - to EQ the main speaker system. It's so accurate for tuning a PA that I can totally rely on it." Rick's approach to EQing doesn’t stop at the PA system; he also applies the Sonnox EQ to critical elements of the show, including Jennifer's vocals. "The settings will of course change every night, depending on the room and on her voice. I even shift it around on the fly for each song using the 'Drag handles option', depending on how she's on the mic and so on."
On this current tour, I use it on the most important thing - to EQ the main speaker system. It's so accurate for tuning a PA that I can totally rely on itRick Camp on the Oxford EQ
Rick's precision with Sonnox tools extends to other instruments as well. "In addition to the vocals, I use it on some of the drums and bass. Actually, I use the Sonnox EQ on anything that is critical to the show. It's the EQ - there's nothing else out there that is more accurate than this."
A Trusted Tool for World-Class Sound
Rick's expertise and innovative use of technology have earned him a stellar reputation in the industry. His commitment to quality and precision is evident in every mix, whether in the studio or on tour. With the Sonnox EQ at the heart of his setup, Rick continues to deliver exceptional sound quality night after night. "It's the EQ," he emphasizes, "and for me, there's nothing else out there that is more accurate than this."