Preface
Aaron Brody is an FOH engineer who has collaborated with renowned bands such as Kurt Vile and the Violators, Broken Social Scene, Waxahatchee, Alvvays, and Wild Nothing. During a recent tour with Kurt Vile, we communicated with Aaron via Instagram, and he provided us with excellent materials and pictures. Thank you very much!!
According to him, about 16 years ago, he interned at a highly respected independent record label in Toronto, Ontario. The company assigned him to tour with one of their signed artists. Initially, Aaron took on multiple roles—not only as a driver but also handling sales—before being assigned as a backstage technician. During one of the tours, by a twist of fate, he found himself behind the mixing console, tuning the sound for the artist under the watchful eyes of several top engineers. Though he knew nothing about mixing at the time, from that moment on, he became captivated. After that, he began absorbing as much knowledge about mixing as he could and joined any band willing to let him handle their sound. Today, through continuous learning and accumulated experience, he has become a skilled and ambitious touring FOH engineer.
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Throughout his career, Aaron has used countless audio products. During our conversation, he shared with us some high-quality and practical RND (Rupert Neve Designs) products.
Q:
When did you first become aware of the Rupert Neve brand, and what was the first RND product you purchased?
A:
I can’t remember exactly when I first heard of RND, but I think if you work in professional audio, it’s just a matter of time before you encounter RND. The first RND device I purchased was the MBP processor. After renting it countless times, I decided I needed to own one myself. I wanted to have it with me for every tour, whether long or short.
Q:
How do the RND devices you use help you complete your work, and what features do you like about them?
A:
Over the years, the MBP has always been my secret weapon. No matter where I am or what speaker system I’m working on, running my mix through the MBP brings a certain level of consistency. What I love most about it is its sense of mystery—I’ve been using it for five years, and I’m still constantly exploring and learning more about it. There’s an indescribable magic in that box; it offers incredible versatility and never fails to surprise me every time I use it.
I also own a Shelford Channel. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted unit, and I typically use it on the most critical input channels during live performances. I truly appreciate every individual function the Shelford provides—each one plays a part in making it such an incredible tool.
While I don’t currently own an RNDI, I use them whenever I get the chance. They have a rich, inclusive warmth that sets them apart from other DIs.- Product Showcase
Top to bottom: PORTICO II Master Buss Processor / SHELFORD CHANNEL / RNDI (Click the image to review)
Aaron shared some of his work quirks with us. The first thing he does when starting work is set an image of a graphic equalizer as his computer background. "I want to keep those numbers and the sounds they represent firmly in my mind. In my view, understanding graphics is the first step to becoming a great engineer. After all, sound can ultimately be visually represented through diagrams." Finally, Aaron also gave some advice to those interested in the live sound industry: "I recommend spending more time learning the basics and studying the fundamentals of mixing carefully. I believe that when entering a new environment, you should rely solely on your ears and focus on delivering a great performance with your heart. Start from the basics and don’t overcomplicate your mixes. When you’re ready... GO! Buy RND products!"