Justin Timberlake’s Tour Secrets: Simple Tech, Big Sound

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Justin Timberlake‘s Forget Tomorrow World Tour, promoting his latest album *Everything I Thought It Was*, has been captivating audiences since April 2024. The tour, which spans multiple continents and includes a second U.S. leg, relies on a surprisingly low-tech secret to ensure Timberlake’s vocals shine: the Shure SM58 microphone.

Timberlake’s tour, inspired by the extended runs of Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour and Harry Styles‘ Love On Tour, showcases his six-album catalog, blending hits from his early career with tracks from his newest release. Despite the high-tech staging, including a flying video box sub-stage, the key to his consistent sound lies in a microphone that has been a staple for performers for nearly six decades.

“I’m there just to make the sound come to life,” said Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, the tour’s audio engineer from Montreal-based Solotech. “I don’t put myself on the mix; I just want to make what you have sound great live in any environment. I always start simple and then add only as needed.”

The Shure SM58, a dynamic microphone with a uniform cardioid polar pattern, was chosen during rehearsals when Timberlake borrowed his choreographer’s mic to address the crew. “He sounded like when I talk to him in person, so I said, ‘Well, that’s the mic,'” Hardy-Martin recalled. “That makes it more personal for the fans, because even though you’re in an arena with 20,000 people, you feel like you’re talking to him one-on-one.”

Supplementing the SM58 is a streamlined setup of EQ and effects, including the Waves F6 for Timberlake’s wide vocal range, which spans from falsetto on “Cry Me a River” to low register on “No Angels.” A Waves PSE prevents feedback, especially crucial when Timberlake is flown above the audience, and plug-ins like Manny Marroquin Distortion and Enigma Modulation add subtle enhancements.

Hardy-Martin’s final touch is the Waves L3 Multimaximizer plug-in on the master bus, which tightens and clarifies the overall mix. “Put it on that last output, and depending how hard you hit it, it brings everything in tighter, a little louder, a little more in your face and clearer,” he explained.

The success of the mix is evident in the crowd’s reaction. “I’m always looking in the back corner,” Hardy-Martin said. “If that person standing against the wall is dancing, I know it sounds and feels good.”

Timberlake’s tour continues through July, with upcoming stops at major venues across the U.S. and Europe. Fans can find more information and purchase tickets on the official tour website.