Sound engineers Javier Klein and Guillermo Daverio have been supporting the growth and success of Las Pastillas del Abuelo for over 15 years, from the first concerts to the major festivals in Latin America.
We spoke with them about their beginnings, their training, and the experience of working with SHURE’s NEXADYNE cartridges, an innovation that, they say, has transformed their approach on stage.
Javier Klein, 48 years old and born in Buenos Aires, is the RF technician and monitor for Las Pastillas del Abuelo. And Guillermo Daverio, 43 years old, also born in Buenos Aires, works as the band’s FOH engineer.
Javier immersed himself in the world of sound in the early 2000s, at the height of the live rock scene. “I started recording live shows with Los Piojos in 2000. I did various jobs until I was called by Las Pastillas del Abuelo in 2007 to be their monitor,” he says. That call was the beginning of a collaboration that today has him as the band’s FOH engineer, a key role for the group’s live sound.
For his part, Guillermo Daverio had a different path, which began in 1996. “I started doing sound in bars and clubs around 1996. Then I met Las Pastillas del Abuelo while studying at the same music school. I started doing sound for them in 2007 and I continue to do so today,” shares Daverio, who has witnessed the band’s evolution and the sound challenges at each stage.
Throughout their careers, both engineers highlight experiences that marked their formation and refined their approach to sound. Javier Klein, for example, emphasizes the importance of shows in large stadiums and massive festivals. “All jobs shape you, but I highlight the biggest shows: the Ferro Stadium, the Movistar Arena, festivals like Cosquín Rock and Confluencia” he says, recalling the intensity and precision that these stages require.
For his part, Guillermo also highlights the impact of large events on his professional development. “The first big show I did was at the Ferro auxiliary field in 2010. Then we did the stadium in 2016 and 2024. We have also done 20 Luna Parks and 3 Movistar Arenas” he explains. With a list that includes iconic festivals like Vive Latino in Mexico, Cosquín Rock, Confluencia, and Rock al Parque in Colombia, Daverio mentions a special moment in his career: “At Rock al Parque I was lucky enough to operate for Las Pastillas del Abuelo and also to work with Julieta Venegas, closing the main stage” a milestone that highlights the scope and versatility of his work.
Both Klein and Daverio agree on the reliability and durability of SHURE products, a brand that has been a fundamental part of their professional careers.
“Clearly the first product was the SM57, in my rehearsal room in 1998” Javier recalls, “My experience with SHURE was always optimal. It is a reliable, robust product that works just by plugging it in. They are versatile products, you can use the same product for different situations and the response will always be what you expected” he adds.
Guillermo also has a long-standing relationship with the brand. “I have always used SHURE products. I think I have tried almost all of them and, for live performance, I am a big fan of the SM or Beta 58, 57 and SM81. I think they are the best relationship between audio and durability” he says.
Las Pastillas del Abuelo’s relationship with SHURE has evolved significantly over the years. “We have used SHURE products since 2010 with Las Pastillas del Abuelo, and we have added products in various uses since then. “Today it is our main brand on stage” the sound engineers affirm with certainty.”
For both, the choice of SHURE in their sound setups is clear and simple. “We asked for SHURE because it is the brand we work with, it is the brand we buy, and the one we prefer” they confess, highlighting the familiarity and reliability that they have built with the brand’s products throughout their career. The consistency and quality of SHURE have consolidated their preference, making it a natural choice in every project, from rehearsals to large live setups.
The incorporation of the new SHURE NEXADYNE capsules has marked a before and after in the sound configuration of Las Pastillas del Abuelo.
“It is a capsule that combines robustness, audio quality and power with a balanced curve. We were waiting for this product with many expectations and the truth is that it did not disappoint us. It quickly became our preferred vocal capsule, both for us and for our artists” asserts Klein.
Guillermo Daverio also praises the advantages of the capsules, emphasizing their sound improvements. “The NEXADYNE seems superior to me, it has everything of the 58 but adds much more.” “These are clear mid-bass sounds, cancellation of room resonances, and there is a noticeable improvement in the attack and clarity of the consonants,” he says.
In addition to the NEXADYNE capsules, for Las Pastillas del Abuelo’s shows they rely on a wide range of SHURE products to guarantee the quality and reliability of the sound at their concerts. “We use a wide variety of products from the brand. Since 2011 we have used PSM900 as our in-ears, along with SE425, 535 and 846 headphones,” says Javier Klein.
The use of wireless equipment is also crucial for the band, and SHURE takes the lead. “We use ULXD microphones for our guitars, bass and vocals,” they confirm. The connectivity and stability of these systems are key in complex setups, and to maintain the signal of these devices, they have PA421 and UA844 distributors and combiners, UA874 and UA860 antennas, ensuring impeccable performance at all times.
For the instruments, SHURE also offers options that meet the specific needs of the band. “For the drums we chose the combination of Beta52 and Beta91 for the bass drum” comment both sound engineers, while for the brass, they lean towards the Beta98HC for the sax and the SM57 for the trumpet and trombone, equipment that guarantees clarity and presence in the wind and percussion instruments.
Las Pastillas del Abuelo’s relationship with TEVELAM, SHURE’s distributor in Argentina, is essential to guarantee quality in each performance. Javier Klein highlights the excellent service they receive from the company: “TEVELAM provides us with excellent service both in product analysis and in purchasing and after-sales service, understanding our needs and times.”
This support is not only limited to the acquisition of equipment, but also includes complete support, ensuring that every technical aspect is covered before, during and after the shows. The personalized attention and the ability of TEVELAM to adapt to the specific demands of the band have been key to maintaining a high level of performance in each set-up.
The connection of Las Pastillas del Abuelo with SHURE has been greatly facilitated by the personalized attention of key figures such as Pablo Siboldi.
Javier argues: “Pablo is always attentive to our needs, he gives us personalized attention and understands the problems of the industry very well when it comes to offering us a product, he gives us all the facilities to be able to get the product.”
In addition, the support of TEVELAM has been crucial in training and technical assistance. “TEVELAM opened the training to other members of the staff. Our stage assistants have participated in RF and product training, which improves our overall quality of work,” explains Klein.
Over the years, Las Pastillas del Abuelo’s experience with SHURE representatives in Argentina has been remarkably positive. Kein says: “All the representatives we work with here and abroad have always treated us very well, listening to our needs and adapting to our reality.”
Regarding the quality of SHURE products, both sound engineers agree that the brand is synonymous with reliability and durability, especially on tours and live events. “Its quality, its robustness, its versatility create a combination that is difficult to find in other brands. We have had systems on the road for 15 years and they have only given us good results,” they say, highlighting the longevity of the equipment in the demanding conditions of a tour.
They also emphasize the reliability of SHURE products in extreme situations: “They are the most noble on the market, they deliver an audio that lasts almost unchanged over the years and with use. They are not affected by travel, climate changes, or knocks like other microphones. I have tried other brands that deliver audio from the start and it degrades easily with use. SHURE solves that like no other brand.”
Over the years, those responsible for the sound of Las Pastillas del Abuelo have noticed a significant evolution in the brand’s products, which has substantially improved their work at FOH. And without hesitation they mention the incorporation of the new capsule as a great improvement: “Nexadyne seems to us to be a substantial improvement in terms of audio capture, something that is essential in our work. The ADX5D is also a genius, being able to have all that power in something portable.”
And these innovations are not only highlighted by the evolution of technology but they reflect it by making an important difference in the shows. “I think Nexadyne gave us a bit of a solution to having a clear and powerful voice in any environment, both in medium-sized rooms and in stadiums,” they both say.
And although challenges are inevitable in a band of the magnitude of Las Pastillas del Abuelo, SHURE equipment plays a fundamental role in solving problems. emas. “With Nexadyne, we have always managed to have a clear and powerful voice, regardless of the conditions of the place” concludes Javier Klein, affirming his preference for the product.
“Doing the job responsibly, with total dedication,” this phrase from Javier Klein sums up the path that he and Guillermo Daverio have taken in the world of sound, a journey where dedication and professionalism merge with the right choice of tools to achieve success.
The work with Las Pastillas del Abuelo has been marked by their passion for offering the best sound experience, always backed by SHURE products, which provide them with the reliability and quality necessary to face any challenge.
And without a doubt, they will continue to sound with the same vocation that has driven them to this day.
