Skip to content

Concert Systems Production Group Rises Like a Phoenix

From left, Cory Rodriguez, Randy Frierson, Candi Frierson, Adam Shay, Jonny Stachler, Mollie Ray and Eric Jordan

Concert Systems Production Group Rises Like a Phoenix

One morning in late August, 2005, Randy Frierson woke up with a bad feeling he couldn’t shake. There was a storm coming, but something felt especially wrong about this one. In addition to Concert Systems Production Group, he also had an RV business. So they loaded up as many family members and employees as possible. They headed out just as the devastating hurricane known as Katrina hit, and got as far as Pensacola where the bridge was washed out. So was, it turned out, most everything in their hometown of Gulfport, MS.

Read More »

The Chronicles of the Weekend Warrior, Part 1

The July 31 final show of this year’s James Taylor tour was a private event in Las Vegas that proved to be a harbinger of the days to come. I had agreed to work a series of one-off events in August with John Ondrasik and his band, Five For Fighting. John is an incredibly gifted writer and vocalist, and the band consisting of Jenn Oberle (bass), Steve Fekete (guitar), and Charlie Paxson (drums) perfectly complements John’s extraordinary songs. In addition, John is also an ardent Los Angeles Kings hockey fan, thus making the opportunity to work with him again that much more attractive.

Read More »
The large selection of training programs offered at tradeshows such as InfoComm has provided excellent opportunities for industry pros to stay current.

Education: A Job Unto Itself

If you were a young person thinking about a career in live-event audio, you’d have a lot to consider. First, like many other career choices in music and technology, the apprenticeship model, while still somewhat more viable for live audio than, say, becoming a lawyer, is nonetheless giving way to a more specifically academic path.

Read More »
Fig 1: Inset screw that holds the XLR connector in place.

The Care and Feeding of Microphones

For most engineers and sound companies, microphones represent a substantial investment, and they are a crucial set of tools for getting the job done. Yet they get abused, left out in the rain, dropped, carelessly tossed into cases, stored under poor conditions and largely ignored until something malfunctions. There aren’t a lot of things you can do once a microphone capsule gives up, but there is plenty you can do to prevent damage and ensure it performs up to spec over the long haul.

Read More »
An SPL meter app (such as this one from Studio Six Digital) is a valuable tool in evaluating volume levels in your sanctuary.

How Loud is LOUD?!

Before we get into this month’s topic, I should say that audio techs are a relatively new breed. Not long ago, your average church, synagogue or temple did not have a sound system. As a child I went to a Catholic church. The priest would enter the pulpit (a small tower on the left side of the church three or four feet above the platform/altar), climb half a dozen steps and deliver his sermon from this location.

Read More »
Illustration by Andy Au

Producers, Projects and Production Management

I just finished reading the book, Here, There and Everywhere, by famed Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick. Not only is this a great book for Beatles fans, but it also provides recording and live engineers a glimpse into the beginning of modern recording and production techniques. Emerick documents his career from his 1962 internship with the iconic EMI’s Abby Road Studios all the way through to the completion of the band’s 1969 Abby Road album and onward into his professional association and work with Paul McCartney, as well as a plethora of other well-known acts.

Read More »
Muse Receptor VIP

Muse Receptor VIP

Designed as an solution for using virtual instruments and/or effects in a live situation, the Receptor VIP from Muse Research is an dedicated hardware plug-in player in a rackmount chassis. The 2-in/2-out unit features a simple interface for loading/manipulating plug-ins and ships with ReValver HP guitar amp modeling, WaveArts MasterVerb 4 reverb and TrackPlug 4 channel strip processing, Camel Phat and Camel Space delay/filter effects and many more, with ample space for loading your own favorites.

Read More »
Link Dante DGlink Modular Stage Box System

Link Dante Modular Stage Box

Link’s DGlink Modular Stage Box System is said to be the first multi-protocol digital snake system to implement Dante, Audinate’s configuring, plug-and-play digital audio network that uses standard Internet Protocols. Dante is a scalable solution that works on both 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gigabit Ethernet and, coupled with Link’s unique hybrid approach, offers the end user a distribution system that will improve audio quality and simplify setup.

Read More »
Crest CLh 5000 and CLh 2500 Amplifiers

Crest CLh 5000 and CLh 2500 Amplifiers

The new CLh Series are ultra-high efficiency, servo-controlled, Class-D 2-channel amplifiers. The CLh 5000 produces 2,500 watts/channel continuous at 70.7 volts, while the CLh 2500 provides 1,250 watts at 70.7 volts — all from a 13-pound package. features include ACL™ (Active Clip Limiting) that automatically reduces gain at the onset of clipping; over-current and DC protection; remote turn-on; and a switchable low-cut filter.

Read More »
Antares Auto-Tune Live

Antares Auto-Tune Live

Designed for live performance, Auto-Tune Live is a real-time plug-in for correcting pitch errors, modifying the intonation of a performance or producing the familiar Auto-Tune vocal effect. Features include real-time MIDI control of performance parameters; MIDI control of target notes; “Humanize” realistic pitch correction; natural vibrato control for modifying of the depth of any vibrato present in the original performance; automatic formant correction; Throat Modeling technology; Antares’ Evo Voice Processing Technology; and more.

Read More »

Scam Alert: Production Companies Beware!

It has come to our attention here at FRONT of HOUSE that an East Coast (possibly New Jersey-based) individual claiming to be the “tour technical director” of a (well-respected and legitimate) production company working on a new touring Disney musical has been contacting sound rental and production companies in an attempt to procure gear under suspicious circumstances. Among the items “needed” by this individual included DiGiCo consoles, Meyer speakers, Shure and Sennheiser wireless rigs.

Read More »