Jan 1, 2013 9:00 AM, Photos and Text By Steve Jennings

Clockwork Angels Tour 2012

Neil Peart

Photo: Steve Jennings

“Neil’s acoustic kit has seven different sample pads,” monitor engineer Brent Carpenter says. “He also utilizes an entire Roland V-Drum kit; we call it the Back Kit. The ones that are strictly used for samples go to a Roland 5080 sample playback/synthesizer system, the ones that are associated with the Back Kit go to a Roland TD-30 drum module and then MIDI out to the Roland 5080 system as well. This gives them the choice of using the stock installed sounds in the TD-30 or to use something more customized through the 5080”

Alex Lifeson

Photo: Steve Jennings

Guitarist Alex Lifeson uses the new Lerxst amps from Mojotone. “It is basically a copy of the old 2553 Marshall Silver Jubilee heads that haven’t been made for quite some time,” says guitar tech Scott Appleton. “We are also using a Mesa Boogie MK5 and a Hughes and Kettner Coreblade. No mics, as there are no speaker cabinets. We use a Palmer PDI-03 Speaker Simulator to run each of them direct.

“Our rack consists of the Fractal Audio AxeFX II for effects on the Lerxst and Mk5, as well as Apple’s MainStage program running Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5, UAD and Apple plug-ins,” Appleton continues. “We also have a Dunlop rackmout Crybaby Wah, a Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher, two RJM Music Amp Gizmos, an RJM Music Effect Gizmo, two Apple MacBook Pros, two UA Apollo Quads and a backup AxeFX II. We are also using a third AxeFX II for the piezo electronics. Last, we are using Audio Technica 5300 Series wireless and two RJM IS-8 Input Selectors.”

“Alex’s foot pedal gear are an Axxess Electronics FX-1, a Tech 21 Midi Moose, an Ernie Ball volume pedal and a Dunlop Crybaby controller pedal.”

Geddy Lee

Photo: Steve Jennings

Geddy Lee’s Bass Tech is John “Skully” McIntosh. He maintains four Shure UR4-d wireless systems; his rack consists of SansAmp, Avalon U-5, and Palmer PDI-5 Direct and Palmer PDI-05 as a cabinet simulator after an Orange AD200B MKIII Bass Head (no cabinet).

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