In Episode 318, audio engineering veterans Robert Scovill and Geoff McKinnon of EAW join the hosts to . discuss the evolution of adaptive sound systems, the unique aspects of EAW loudspeakers like Anya, and the real-world applications of adaptive technology in live sound. The conversation also touches on the challenges and misconceptions surrounding adaptive audio and the importance of technology training and education in the industry.

McKinnon is the senior director of engineering at EAW. With 10 patents spanning acoustics and system design, he has been a primary driver behind the company’s ADAPTive line and the new NTX and NT series. Leading the engineering team out of EAW’s new headquarters in Franklin, MA, he’s at the forefront of the use of DSP and physical design to solve some of the hardest problems in pro audio—basically making sure the signal is “perfect” before it leaves the box.

Scovill, who serves as senior live sound market specialist for EAW, is a 45-plus year veteran of professional concert sound and recording and has mixed over 4000 live events of every scale imaginable over the course of his storied career. His engineering and production talents have been enlisted by a “Who’s Who” of music Hall of Fame acts including Kenny Chesney, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Matchbox Twenty, Jackson Browne, Rush, Def Leppard, Foreigner, Prince and numerous others.

Scovill’s body of live sound and recording work has garnered numerous industry accolades, including six TEC Awards, three PLSN Parnelli Awards, and multiple nominations for the CMA touring award, winning his first in 2022. He’s also been a multi-year nominee for Mobile Production’s “Top Dog” Award along with being an inaugural nominee for the Pensado Award for live sound excellence. In 2018 Robert was awarded the Lindenman Award for excellence in audio presentations at the Norwegian Sound Symposium. Since 2019, he’s served as a first call FOH mixer for television events such as THON, The Latin Grammy’s POTY, The MTV Video Music Awards and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions, in which he received his first Emmy nomination in 2023.

Episode Links:
The ADAPTive Advantage: How It Works, Why It Wins Webinar
Robert Scovill Talks ADAPTive Driver Density
EAW Adaptive Series Systems
Episode 318 Transcript

NOTE: Mike Green, the artist who performs “Break Free” that opens every episode, has some new music hitting the market starting today, available on all streaming platforms as well as DSPs that support spatial audio. And, Mikegreenmusic.com will direct folks to pre-order the vinyl release, or allow them to purchase singles individually.

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!

Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

In Episode 317, Sean and Andy go back to the mailbox for more listener questions, picking up where they left off in Episode 309. This time, the focus is on the business side of freelancing — rates, non-competes/NDAs, W2 vs 1099 work, unions, taxes… Plus some thoughts on choosing which compromises to make when time is short on a load-in, and much more! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
Episode 309 – Listener Q&A, Part 1
Episode 317 Transcript

NOTE: Mike Green, the artist who performs “Break Free” that opens every episode, has some new music hitting the market starting today, available on all streaming platforms as well as DSPs that support spatial audio. And, Mikegreenmusic.com will direct folks to pre-order the vinyl release, or allow them to purchase singles individually.

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!

Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:

1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”

2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

In Episode 316, it’s time for a post-NAMM recap of all the cool people, places, and things Sean and Andy got to catch up with and check out at the 2026 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center. Loudspeakers big and small, useful gadgets, new mixers, earplugs, new IEM models… there was something for everybody this year, and we’re here to tell you all about it! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
TT+ AUDIO GTX 7C
Dark Matter Audio Labs DMA7 BA 7
Violet Audio dMix 128
Yamaha RIVAGE PM V7
Adamson USB Milan Bridge
Neumann Virtual Immersive Studio (VIS)
d&b audiotechnik U Series
De-Feedback
Yamaha MGX Series
Meyer Sound TIGRA & LFC-1800
Adamson MS 8.2
D’Addario IR Mic Mute
Dark Matter Audio Labs Hearing Projection
Episode 316 Transcript

NOTE: Mike Green, the artist who performs “Break Free” that opens every episode, has some new music hitting the market starting today, available on all streaming platforms as well as DSPs that support spatial audio. And, Mikegreenmusic.com will direct folks to pre-order the vinyl release, or allow them to purchase singles individually.

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!

Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:

1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”

2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a