When he’s not flying commercial aircraft, Joe Ellis hosts US TV show The Aviators and performs with his band as ‘Joe.e’. In addition, he mixes FOH sound for a number of bands and events.

Like many musicians and live sound engineers, Ellis had to make the transition from analogue to digital mixing. The artists and bands he worked with wanted it, and he wanted the increased flexibility, onboard effects and other benefits offered by a digital console.

Recently, Ellis found another reason to take his sound system into the digital domain…

‘Every summer the city of Wausau, Wisconsin does a series of weekly outdoor concerts called Concerts on the Square,’ he explains. ‘I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the front of house mixer for the series – however, that meant I had to buy an entirely new sound system as I’d been used to doing small to mid-sized clubs.’

Ellis took the opportunity to move to a digital console – choosing a Soundcraft Si Expression 3 from among the many possible options. He had experience of Soundcraft Si Compact models and liked their audio quality and ease of mixing, and thought the Si Expression 3 would be a logical move.

‘What sold me on the Soundcraft Si Expression 3 was the sound quality,’ Ellis says. ‘I was used to using very high-quality analogue consoles and was not willing to compromise on audio performance. The sound I can get from the Si Expression 3 is as good, if not better, than anything I’ve used before, and its functionality and ability to do everything I need are perfect for me.’

In addition to the Concerts on the Square shows, Ellis uses the Si Expression 3 for everything from club dates with his band, to mixing local rock bands and a nine-piece wedding band.

Summer is a busy time of year for Ellis, and getting even busier with his new desk – and not just through work at Concerts on the Square. Ellis also works with a production company and the Si Expression 3 means more business. ‘They appreciate the fact that I have a console that they know will sound great in any situation, and that plays well with their other gear,’ he reports.

More: www.joeellismusic.com
More: www.soundcraft.com