How Lawo technology produced the sound for SNL50
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert marked five decades of Saturday Night Live. Joel Singer, co-founder of M3, explains how Lawo consoles helped ensure pristine sound for this historic event
Radio City Music Hall in New York came alive in February 2025 as SNL50: The Homecoming Concert dazzled audiences. The star-studded lineup featured artists like the Backstreet Boys, Cher and Lady Gaga. Coordinating this event was a challenge perfectly suited to Music Mix Mobile (M3) and its extensive experience with high-profile multi-act events.
Joel Singer, co-founder of M3, and his team were responsible for ensuring high-quality sound for the event. “This was a massive production, not only in terms of the artist lineup but also from a technical perspective. We had to accommodate many sources and deliver an impeccable mix,” Singer explained.
M3 deployed its two mobile units, Phoenix and Eclipse, each equipped with a Lawo mc²56 console. These mixing systems easily handled the 448 mic preamps required for the production.
The show needed efficient signal distribution to enable easy access to every music input. Firehouse Productions, responsible for comms and infrastructure, provided additional splitters to help achieve this setup and integrate all signals seamlessly into the Lawo ecosystem.
The mixing workflow was carefully structured. Some comedy segments were particularly complex, intertwining music from the Phoenix truck and lead vocals from production. This arrangement required close collaboration between the audio and broadcast teams.
The entire production was delivered in High Dynamic Range (HDR) with 5.1 surround sound, ensuring an immersive audio-visual experience for viewers. “Lawo consoles don’t just sound great – they give us the control, reliability and scalability that we need in high-pressure live productions like this one,” says Singer.
This approach highlights how the need to embrace flexibility and collaboration in broadcasting.
Find out more about Lawo at lawo.com
