Robert Venable is a Grammy-nominated, 4x Emmy and Dove Award-winning producer, recording engineer, and sound mixer. He currently mixes for The Kelly Clarkson Show on NBC and has worked on records for platinum and Grammy-winning artists including Kelly Clarkson, MuteMath, and Twenty One Pilots. Robert has been a long-time member of the Alclair family. We asked him how he uses IEMs across his work.
How Robert Uses IEMs Across His Work
I use IEMs in many facets of my job. They’re great for blocking out the noise and helping me really focus on what I’m doing and hone in on frequencies that I’m trying to carve or boost. On the plane, I can edit or even mix, without the rumble of the engines or a pesky neighbor interfering with the sound I’m working on. In the studio, it’s just another way to hear the music and see how the mix sits. Also, when working in rooms or studios I’m unfamiliar with, I can use IEMs I’m familiar with to check my mixes.
Robert Venable
That last point is one of the most underrated advantages of a quality studio IEM, the familiar reference. When you are in an unfamiliar room with unknown acoustics, your IEMs are the constant. They do not change when the room does.
Mixing Bonnaroo for Hulu — With Alclair Electros
I just mixed one of the Bonnaroo stages for the Hulu broadcast, but my mix spot was right behind the stage and the mix trailer served as a giant subwoofer due to its proximity to the subs. So I popped in my Alclair Electros and was able to mix the way I was comfortable, without wondering what was hitting the Hulu broadcast.
Robert Venable
That is the Electro doing exactly what it was built to do, providing a clean, honest reference when the environment around you is anything but.
Why Robert Uses the Electro
I have a couple different pairs of Alclair IEMs, but I LOVE my Alclair Electrostatic IEMs. I feel like the top end on them really works well with what I need to hear when mixing. The frequency response I’d great, not too hyped or boosted, and there’s plenty of headroom so I’m not worried about distortion or any kind of breakup if I push the volume a little.
Robert Venable
The Electro’s dual electrostatic tweeter gives it detail resolution at the top end that balanced armature drivers alone cannot match. For engineers who need to hear whether a reverb tail is decaying correctly or whether a hi-hat is sitting at the right level, that extra resolution is the difference between a good mix and a great one.
Learn more about the Alclair Electro electrostatic monitor.
What Robert Would Tell Someone Deciding
For anyone in the market for IEMs, I’ll tell you this: there are tons of companies making them, and a lot of them sound great, but the REAL difference is the customer service. Alclair goes above and beyond to make sure you have what you need, when you need it. They’ve met me IN PERSON to get me a cable before I left town, because it would be quicker than overnighting it. The people are great, the product is great, and they’re there when you need them. That’s the difference.
Robert Venable
That is the Alclair promise. Product that performs, people that show up.
Find out more about Robert Venable at robertvenable.com.
