Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1543098
Spring 2026 – LOCAL695.COM 37 Whit Norris CAS I got the call from our Audio Supervisor, Skip Kent, to provide Pro Tools playback for this legendary event. This would be the second time I was involved with the RRHOF Induction Ceremony. I handled playback in 2022, the last time the ceremony was held in Los Angeles. We had twelve live performances, some with Pro Tools and some without. The first performance alone was the Sly and the Family Stone Tribute (Stevie Wonder, Maxwell, Jennifer Hudson, Leon Thomas, Questlove, Flea, Beck, Omar's house band). Now, I won't be able to break down every single performance, but this one was particularly interesting due to the characters and situation involved. I often get asked, "Why does 'x' artist even use Pro Tools?" Well, let's clear up some misunderstandings. Using playback does not mean that the band or artist is not playing or performing. First of all, there is a huge spectrum of reasons to use playback. For some artists, it's just a simple click and count for their IEM's. For most, it's used to add musical elements that need reinforcement and are not cleanly captured on a loud stage, such as string orchestras and choirs. And yes, there are "some" acts that are 100% "in the box" (I'm happy to report that we didn't have any of those on this show). However, by far the most important reason to use Pro Tools playback is so that the show looks good. Ebiut Cervantes Jennifer Hudson