140 Channels on Tour: Audio Monitoring Under Pressure

Key Takeaways

• Touring with nearly 140 audio channels per show, a major production needed a way to monitor everything without disrupting the mix
• WAVETOOL 4 unified wired and wireless monitoring so FOH, RF, and stage techs could all work from the same view
• Global Instant Replay lets engineers rewind up to 30 minutes across all channels to diagnose subtle issues under pressure
• Scaling up to 160+ monitored channels removed the need to leave sources out as the show grew
• The team gained faster troubleshooting, lower stress, and greater confidence during live performances

Customer Profile

On a live tour with a full classical orchestra, there is no margin for uncertainty. Every microphone matters. Every moment counts. And when something goes wrong, there is no time to guess.

For Alexandre Dugas, System Engineer and Crew Chief at Solotech, touring with a major artist, that reality plays out across nearly 140 audio channels every night. The production combines close to 100 wired microphones covering a full orchestra with 30 to 40 wireless head-worn microphones for singers moving constantly across the stage.

“In our show, we’ve got close to 100 wired mics on stage, and another 30 to 40 wireless mics depending on the night. Some musicians even have multiple mics. They’re moving instruments around, moving themselves around, so you really need to keep an eye on everything, ideally all at the same time.”

That level of complexity demands more than just seeing the meters. It demands more clarity.

Why Audio Monitoring on Tour Is Challenging 

Before WAVETOOL, monitoring at this scale came with tradeoffs. When something sounded wrong, identifying the source often meant pulling focus away from the mix or relying on luck.

“The big challenge was finding a way to see all those channels and quickly identify which one had the problem. And you have to do it without interfering with the person behind the desk. You want them focused on mixing the show.”

With a classical orchestra, the stakes are even higher. Quiet passages leave no room for error.

“There are very, very soft moments. If one mic goes crackling at the wrong moment, it doesn’t look good. Those tiny, intermittent problems are the hardest to troubleshoot.”

They needed a better way to listen.

WAVETOOL 4 was built for moments like this, giving audio teams a single monitoring platform designed to reveal what is happening across both wired and wireless sources.

WAVETOOL 4: One Platform for Wired and Wireless Monitoring

With WAVETOOL 4, the entire audio team operates from a single, shared monitoring environment that brings wired and wireless sources into a single view.

“The big advantage for me at front of house is that I can keep an eye on everything, wireless and wired, without looking at multiple programs. It gives us an overview of everything at once, which is really useful.”

Each role on the team works from the same platform, with the flexibility to focus on their specific responsibilities:

• Stage techs monitor wired microphones and perform mic checks independently
• Wireless techs track RF coverage, battery status, and audio
• Front of house maintains full visibility without disrupting the mix

“The biggest benefit is that we do not have to interfere with the sound engineer who is mixing. The rest of the team can find problems quickly while he stays focused on the music.”

How Does Global Instant Replay Help Troubleshoot Faster 

When something goes wrong during a performance, speed matters. Context matters more.

“If I hear a mic cracking during the show, the first thing I do is look at WAVETOOL. If it’s subtle, I grab Global Instant Replay, go back, and look across all channels at the same time.”

With Global Instant Replay, engineers can rewind all channels together and review up to 30 minutes of history without interrupting live monitoring.

“What’s different from anything on a mixing desk is seeing history on every channel simultaneously, including wireless reception. That waveform history tells you so much more than meters ever could.”

For Dugas, this system-wide view removes pressure when time is limited.

“Before, if you had 30 seconds to find a problem across 140 channels, that caused stress. Global Instant Replay gives you peace of mind. If it was two minutes ago or even longer, you can still go back and find it.”

How WAVETOOL 4 Scales as Channel Counts Grow

Modern touring productions demand scale. With support for up to 192 channels, WAVETOOL 4 allows the team to monitor every source without compromise.

“With WAVETOOL 3, we had to leave out some channels, but with WAVETOOL 4 we now use up to 160 channels. That’s a meaningful step up for us.”

Mic Check Without Guesswork

WAVETOOL has also transformed how the team prepares for the show. Instead of requiring one person on stage and another at the console, stage techs can complete mic checks independently, listening directly and confidently.

“The mic check function changed how we do line checks. We are saving time, but more importantly, we are more confident in the result. When you know how a mic is supposed to sound, that’s better than someone else listening from across the room.”

Prepared for the Moments That Matter Most

After nearly eight years of using WAVETOOL, Alexandre Dugas is clear about where it delivers the most value.

“WAVETOOL is a tool for when things go unexpectedly. It's a recording software, a wireless monitoring software, and a mic monitoring solution all in one. It is the quickest way to troubleshoot.”

In an environment where luck is not a strategy, WAVETOOL 4 gives engineers something better: certainty.

“To catch a problem the moment it arrives, you need to be very lucky. If you want to skip the part of being lucky, you can just have WAVETOOL.”

Stay in Control with WAVETOOL 4

When productions scale and the pressure is high, confidence comes from knowing exactly what is happening across every channel. WAVETOOL 4 gives you the ability to listen directly, rewind with context, and stay aligned without disrupting the mix.

Explore WAVETOOL 4 and start a 30-day free trial today at www.shure.com/wavetool