If it sounds wrong on deck, it will probably sound wrong out front (for a variety of reasons).
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
If you don’t get monitor-world to do what the musicians need it to do, then you may find it hard to get FOH to do what the audience needs it to do.
A great price on something that doesn’t work for you is not a good deal.
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
The wrong gear at the right price is still the wrong gear.
Clever trickery is great, as long as the basics are already covered.
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
There was once a discussion on a live-sound forum. It was all about a certain tech’s difficulties in getting a huge, thunderous kick drum tone at a particular show. Many strategies were proposed, using all kinds of complicated kick micing solutions and post-processing.
It wasn’t until a good way through that a “grizzled vet” of live-audio asked a pointed and important question:
“How did the lead vocal sound?”
Good sound mostly “does you.”
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
The recipe for a great live-sound mix:
1 gallon: A great band on stage.
1 cup: An audio tech not getting in the way of the great band.
Everything else is negotiable, or even expendable.
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
Compared to everything else, turning sound into electricity and back again is pretty difficult.
The weakest points in your signal chain have been, and will continue to be, the input and output transducers.
(Thanks to Art Moore for the photo.)
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
Everything that happens at load-in is the foundation for how load-out will go. The reverse is also true.
Consider the implications of this carefully.
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
The guy with the most toys…
…has the longest load-in.
And load-out, but one thing at a time, okay?
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
Please don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say.
An audio-human’s job is to do everything in their power to make your show an excellent experience.
There is a point, however, where a lack of preparation on your part does not, and can not constitute an emergency for the audio tech.
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
Unreliable people and unreliable gear are worse than no people and no gear.
A Small Venue Survivalist Saturday Suggestion
The opinions expressed are mine only. These opinions do not necessarily reflect anybody else’s opinions. I do not own, operate, manage, or represent any band, venue, or company that I talk about, unless explicitly noted.
This device [a mixing console] is very important to live-sound reinforcement.
It is quite powerful, and a critical part of the signal chain.
This device is not actually where the most important work of live-sound engineering occurs.
The stage, on the other hand…