US Metal Legends Reunite With Unique Outline + Midas Advantage

	"We are feeding the Newton with AES as well as MADI Co-Ax from the console for redundancy, in addition to analog feeds from the monitor console for an added layer of backup," says Hollinger.

One of the most eagerly-awaited returns in the world of heavy rock finally happened in December '22 as hugely influential American metallers Pantera played their first show in over two decades at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest, with the band's new lineup featuring original members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown plus new alumni Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde.

Since then the band have continued to tour across North America in addition to a number of spring dates and festivals in Europe plus a number of shows opening for Metallica, to great acclaim from their very loyal and international fanbase.

System engineer Alex Hollinger has been using an Outline Newton FPGA processor at the heart of his control setup -- he talks about how it is configured and also how its combination with the latest digital mixing console from Midas, the HD-96, offers a technical advantage that is presently unique in the world of live sound: "We are feeding the Newton with AES as well as MADI Co-Ax from the console for redundancy, in addition to analog feeds from the monitor console for an added layer of backup. We are also sending the Newton a MADI feed from a MADI-to-AVB converter to use a Meyer Galaxy processor as an immersive-system insert for when we can use a frontal system."

Hollinger continues, "From the beginning of Pantera's celebration tour they always held sonic quality above everything else and the FOH engineer Eddie Mapp chose the new Midas HD-96 to deliver a clear and defined picture of what Pantera is. When it came to picking a drive processor we didn't want to alter the signal in any way, allowing us to achieve as clear of a sonic picture as possible.

"It has been incredible to use the combination of a console with 64-bit processing along with the Newton that also runs at 64-bit internally to provide the utmost possible clarity, right now a unique combination in live sound as far as I'm aware. When using the Newton WFIR filters that are being processed in that way it's clear and defined, there are no odd harmonics generated, just the altered signal and nothing else. I do believe that 64-bit is the future because bit depth doesn't only give you more headroom, it also gives you truer audio definition and a clarity that is unmatched.

"For me as the system engineer the Newton has helped in my day to day workflow, being able to have so much flexibility at my fingertips with filters, backups, signal types and much more. We have used every format that the processor provides to feed different systems around the world while on tour, with the utmost reliability and stability in the audio chain. I also use the Smaart API overlay that the processor provides to be able to see what is happening live over what has already been done to the system to adjust throughout changing environments. The Newton also gives a lot of flexibility in ways and formats of measuring your audio system and sources to ensure you see the clearest picture of what is being provided to the audience."

Pantera Tour Personnel:
Eddie Mapp [FOH engineer]
Alex Hollinger [system engineer/crew chief]
Jerrell Evans [monitor engineer]
Lance Brozovich [monitor tech]
Devon Nutty [SL PA tech]
Abigail Dannewitz [SR PA tech]

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