Beyond the Talk Box: Celebrating Bob Heil’s Impact

03/11/24 • 11 min

We delve into the legacy of Bob Heil, a titan in the pro audio industry whose influence reverberates through the echoes of rock and roll history. From his early days wielding the organ to revolutionizing live sound with his groundbreaking work alongside legends like The Who and Grateful Dead, Heil's journey is one of innovation, passion, and an indelible mark on music technology. We’re treated to an exclusive clip from a memorable interview, uncovering the story behind the iconic talk box and its role in Peter Frampton’s electrifying performances. Alongside reflections from our hosts and the fond recollections of interactions with Heil, this episode serves as a tribute to a man whose work amplified the soul of music.

Celebrating the Legacy of Bob Heil: A Look Back at the remarkable career of an audio industry pioneer, from his beginnings as an organ player to his revolutionary contributions to pro audio and live sound.
Exclusive Insights: Featuring a clip from a 2017 interview with Bob Heil at the NAMM show, shedding light on his history, innovations, and the creation of the iconic talk box.
The Birth of Rock and Roll Sound: How Bob Heil's innovative sound systems changed the game for artists like The Who and Grateful Dead, setting new standards for live music performances.
Remembering a Legend: Personal anecdotes and reflections on Bob Heil’s impact, his approach to sound engineering, and his legacy within the music and audio production communities.
Tribute to a Visionary: Acknowledging Heil's vast contributions, from his early work with organs and sound systems to his influence on modern podcasting and amateur radio.

A big shout out to our sponsors, Austrian Audio and Tri Booth. Both these companies are providers of QUALITY Audio Gear (we wouldn't partner with them unless they were), so please, if you're in the market for some new kit, do us a solid and check out their products, and be sure to tell em "Robbo, George, Robert, and AP sent you"... As a part of their generous support of our show, Tri Booth is offering $200 off a brand-new booth when you use the code TRIPAP200. So get onto their website now and secure your new booth...

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And if you're in the market for a new Mic or killer pair of headphones, check out Austrian Audio. They've got a great range of top-shelf gear..

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“When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.”

Hunter S Thompson

Summary In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, sponsored by Tribooth and Austrian Audio, the team pays homage to the late Bob Heil, a revered figure in the pro audio industry. Hosted by Robert Marshall, Andrew Peters, George "the tech" Wittam, and Darren Robertson, they reflect on Heil's influential career, from his beginnings playing the organ to revolutionizing the sound systems for rock and roll, particularly for the legendary rock opera "Quadrophenia."

Heil, also a dedicated ham radio operator and a friend of Joe Walsh, leaves behind a remarkable legacy. His prowess is exemplified by his creation of the PR 40 microphone, considered the gold standard in po...

Celebrating the Legacy of Bob Heil: A Look Back at the remarkable career of an audio industry pioneer, from his beginnings as an organ player to his revolutionary contributions to pro audio and live sound.
Exclusive Insights: Featuring a clip from a 2017 interview with Bob Heil at the NAMM show, shedding light on his history, innovations, and the creation of the iconic talk box.
The Birth of Rock and Roll Sound: How Bob Heil's innovative sound systems changed the game for artists like The Who and Grateful Dead, setting new standards for live music performances.
Remembering a Legend: Personal anecdotes and reflections on Bob Heil’s impact, his approach to sound engineering, and his legacy within the music and audio production communities.
Tribute to a Visionary: Acknowledging Heil's vast contributions, from his early work with organs and sound systems to his influence on modern podcasting and amateur radio.

https://tribooth.com/

And if you're in the market for a new Mic or killer pair of headphones, check out Austrian Audio. They've got a great range of top-shelf gear..

https://austrian.audio/

https://georgethe.tech/tpas

If you haven't filled out our survey on what you'd like to hear on the show, you can do it here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZWT5BTD

Join our Facebook page here:

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And the FB Group here:

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For everything else (including joining our mailing list for exclusive previews and other goodies), check out our website

https://www.theproaudiosuite.com/

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.”

Hunter S Thompson

Previous Episode

The Audio Evolution: How Source Nexus is Shaping the Future of Voiceover and Podcasting

In this week's episode of The Pro Audio Suite, we dive deep into the latest advancements in audio technology that are set to transform the voiceover and podcasting industries. Join us as we discuss the new features of Source Nexus, the differences between its free and paid versions, and how these innovations can significantly improve your recording workflow. Whether you're a seasoned voiceover artist, a budding podcaster, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with invaluable insights and tips to enhance your audio production game.

Key Highlights:

Exclusive Discount on TriBooth: Kickstart your episode with a special offer on TriBooth, using the code 'TRIPAP200' for a $200 discount.
Introducing Source Nexus: Discover the benefits of the latest Source Nexus release, a game-changer for podcasters and voiceover artists looking to streamline their recording and playback processes.
Free vs. Paid Versions: Learn about the major differences between Source Nexus's free and paid versions, including the unique features and capabilities of each.
Enhanced Connectivity and Quality: Understand how Source Nexus can revolutionize remote recording sessions, offering high-quality connections and simplifying the playback of recordings without the need for extensive technical knowledge.
Future Innovations: Get a sneak peek into what's next for Source Nexus, including new features designed to make voiceover booths resemble professional radio studios.
Navigating Internet Challenges: Gain insights into overcoming common internet connectivity issues that can impact your recording quality, especially for artists based in remote locations.
The Evolution of Voiceover Sessions: Reflect on how the voiceover industry has evolved over the years and the increasing demands on voice talent to also be audio engineers.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in the audio production industry, providing practical advice, expert opinions, and a look into the future of voiceover and podcasting technologies.

https://tribooth.com/

And if you're in the market for a new Mic or killer pair of headphones, check out Austrian Audio. They've got a great range of top-shelf gear..

https://austrian.audio/

https://georgethe.tech/tpas

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“When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.”

Hunter S Thompson

#ProAudioSuite
#SourceNexus
#AudioEngineering
#VoiceoverTips
#PodcastingLife
#AudioInnovation
#NexusRevolution
#SoundQuality
#RecordingStudio
#AudioProduction Summary In this episo...

Next Episode

Dialing In: The Smartphone Audition Debate

This week on the Pro Audio Suite, we've taken a deep dive into the evolving landscape of voiceover auditions, with a particular focus on a new directive from the MEAA suggesting auditions be conducted solely via phone. We debate the potential impacts, from audio quality to AI protections, and whether this levels the playing field or sets the stage for mediocrity.

Our journey didn't stop there; we ventured into discussions about the surprisingly good quality of smartphone mics, particularly the iPhone, and pondered if the consumer really notices or cares about audio fidelity. The conversation naturally flowed into the realms of audio tech history, reminiscing about anti-piracy measures in CDs and the quirky side of recording hacks.

Join us as we explore these topics and more, including:

The concept of the "mequalizer" in voiceovers.
Potential implications of recording auditions on smartphones for AI training.
A look back at anti-piracy efforts, from tape biases to digital watermarking.
The fun and frustration of navigating tech limitations with creative hacks.

https://tribooth.com/

And if you're in the market for a new Mic or killer pair of headphones, check out Austrian Audio. They've got a great range of top-shelf gear..

https://austrian.audio/

https://georgethe.tech/tpas

If you haven't filled out our survey on what you'd like to hear on the show, you can do it here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZWT5BTD

Join our Facebook page here:

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And the FB Group here:

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For everything else (including joining our mailing list for exclusive previews and other goodies), check out our website

https://www.theproaudiosuite.com/

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.”

Hunter S Thompson

And don't forget the code trip a P 200. That will get you $200 off your triboof. And of course, austrian audio making passion heard. An email came via our union here in Australia, the MEAA, talking about voiceover auditions. And they want talent to do auditions only on a phone. I can kind of see why they're thinking of that, but the issue I've got is that phones are not that bad. Speaker A: There's too many roadcasters in this conversation. : We got to move away from the default bank in China. Speaker A: So what is the reason, Andrew, did they say? Is it because they think that the crappy quality is going to, well, supposed crappy quality would be my opinion. Going to make people think twice about just using it? : That is correct. It's going to be MP3 from your telephone purposely made bad. : But is it really? Speaker A: I mean we've talked about this on the show before. I mean the iPhone in a micro. Sorry, the microphone in an iPhone is spectacularly good. So what's the point? : Or is it more that the consumer doesn't care anyways? : Meant to be an equalizer so everybody sounds equally mediocre. : The me equalizer is that the Joe. : Meek mediocre, the meequalizer will inherit the voiceover industry. : Or you were saying so that they...