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Sir Tom Jones’ “Ages & Stages” Tour Relies on SSL Live Consoles for sonic Excellence

Oxford, UK, March 11, 2025 – Sir Tom Jones, celebrating 60 years in the music industry, recently concluded his “Ages & Stages” tour. The tour spanned 74 shows across the U.K., Europe, and North America, covering 24 countries. A key component to the tour’s sound was the use of Solid State Logic (SSL) Live consoles, specifically the L550 Plus at front-of-house and an L100 Plus on a B rig for the European leg’s demanding schedule. This setup ensured consistent, high-quality audio performance across diverse venues and logistical challenges.

Gavin Tempany’s Viewpoint: FOH Mixing with SSL Live

Gavin Tempany, the Front-of-house (FOH) mixer for the “Ages & Stages” tour as December 2023, brought a wealth of experience to the production. Having worked “on both ends of the multicore” for artists like Tame Impala, Genesis, and David Gilmour, Tempany offered unique insights into the SSL Live consoles. He emphasized the necessity of two equipment sets due to the tour’s routing. “With the routing of this tour we have to have two sets of equipment. On the A rig, I have an L550 Plus, which offers 38 faders as standard. on the B rig, I’m using an L100 Plus with an external Fader Tile, providing a total of 26 faders — 14 on the console itself and 12 more with the remote Fader Tile.”

seamless Showfile Management and Superior Sound Quality

One of the standout features of the SSL Live system, according to Tempany, is the effortless transferability of showfiles between different console models. “You don’t need any conversion software to make it work. If you don’t have enough DSP or channels available, then the board goes into compatibility mode. When you’re on a smaller console, you can choose which channels are active. The next time you take that showfile to a bigger console, the other channels just reappear.” This streamlined workflow is essential for tours with varying venue sizes and equipment configurations.

Tempany also vividly recalls his first encounter with an SSL Live desk,highlighting the console’s exceptional sonic characteristics.”We had them at Brit Row very early on, in 2013 or 2014. the transient response of the preamps is unbelievably fast,which gives you more of what it’s like to hear an instrument live. That’s the first thing. I also feel that the mix buss, at 64 bit floating point, is deeper, wider and more detailed than competitors’ consoles.” This emphasis on sonic clarity and detail sets the SSL Live apart from competing consoles.

Achieving Clear, Wide, and Deep mixes

Tempany further elaborated on the sonic improvements he experienced with the SSL Live console. When programming the showfile, he compared his mixes to previous recordings and noted a critically important difference: “I could listen to my mix and with one button I could flick over to the recorded mix, and the difference was staggering. The SSL mix was clearer, wider and deeper.” This demonstrates the console’s ability to enhance the overall sonic landscape,providing a more immersive and detailed listening experience.

He also streamlined his effects setup, relying primarily on the console’s onboard processing. “Everything else is on the console. Whereas, on the previous console, I had to have a Waves rig.I always try and have as little stuff hanging off the console as possible

How did the SSL Live consoles’ sonic characteristics adn workflow features influence Alistair Meikle’s mixing approach on the Sir Tom Jones “Ages & Stages” tour?

Archyde interview: Delving into Sir tom Jones’ “ages & Stages” Tour Sound with lead Audio Engineer, Alistair Meikle

Alistair, thanks for joining us at Archyde. Sir Tom Jones’ “Ages & Stages” tour has been making waves. Can you tell us about your role?

Thanks for having me! I’m Alistair Meikle, the Lead Audio Engineer for the tour. I oversaw the entire audio setup, ensuring sonic consistency across all 74 shows spanning the U.K., Europe, and North America.

The tour used SSL Live consoles extensively. Why where they chosen for this project?

The choice of SSL Live, specifically the L550 Plus at front-of-house and the L100 Plus on the B rig, was crucial. The sheer scale of the tour demanded reliability and exceptional sound quality. We had a demanding schedule,and switching between different consoles wasn’t an option. Plus, as Gavin Tempany, the tour’s FOH mixer would confirm, the SSL’s offer seamless showfile management.

Could you elaborate on the practical benefits of using two separate console setups?

Absolutely. With the tour’s intricate logistics,having two rigs – an A rig with the L550 Plus and a B rig housing the L100 Plus – was essential.This allowed us to leapfrog equipment, minimizing downtime and accommodating varying venue sizes. It meant we could set up in one venue while Tom was performing in another.

Showfile management is often a headache on large tours. How did SSL Live address that concern?

Precisely! The SSL Live system’s showfile transferability was a lifesaver. No conversion software was needed. The consoles intelligently handled DSP and channel availability, allowing us to activate only necessary channels on smaller consoles and seamlessly reintroduce them on larger ones.Gavin [Tempany’s] showfile didn’t skip a beat.”

Sonic quality is paramount. What did the SSL Live consoles bring to the table in that respect?

The sonic clarity of the SSL Live consoles significantly elevated the experience. The transient response of the preamps is remarkably fast, capturing the instruments’ live presence with incredible accuracy. and the 64-bit floating-point mix buss delivers a deeper,wider,and more detailed soundstage compared to competing consoles. I recall Gavin emphasizing just how important the Sonic improvement was, the SSL mix was clearer, wider, and deeper.

Beyond sound quality,were there any specific features that streamlined your workflow?

Definitely. the streamlined effects setup was a major advantage. We were able to rely heavily on the console’s onboard processing, reducing the need for external Waves rigs and simplifying our signal chain. It kept the setup clean and efficient.

Looking back, what’s the most significant impact the SSL Live consoles had on the overall tour experience?

Without question, the consistency and quality of the sound. From the smallest club to the largest arena, the SSL Live consoles ensured that every audience member, everywhere in the world, experienced Sir Tom Jones’ music with unparalleled clarity and depth.It made the whole “Ages and Stages” tour truly memorable.

a thought-provoking question: With advancements in digital audio, do you think we’re reaching a point where console choice increasingly shapes the artistic direction of live performances?

that’s a great question! I think the tools always influence the art, even if subconsciously. The ease of use, sonic characteristics, and workflow of a console certainly can inspire different mixing approaches and ultimately affect the final sound the audience hears. Its something we as audio engineers need to be mindful of.