I never thought I’d be reviewing a mic stand. But then again, Triad-Orbit’s Advanced Microphone Stand Systems aren’t ordinary mic stands. Actually, the real point here is whether I need another (or several) more mic stands. After all, I have a ton of them that I’ve bought over the years, ranging from cast base models to various folding versions.
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Sometimes, it’s all about the look. There are literally thousands of live performance vocal mics to choose from for stage applications, ranging from large side-address condensers to handheld dynamics to ultra-miniature headworn microphones. So is there really a place for a new live vocal mic that emulates the appearance of a classic 1920’s Western Electric double button carbon microphone? For the right artist, in the right setting, the answer would be absolutely.
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In a global economy, companies seem to come from out of nowhere. For me, Powersoft was that company. Little did I know that its new X-Series amplifiers are the result of 19 years of Class-D amplifier experience. In that time, there were nine previous models, several still in production, plus custom OEM versions, so there’s even a chance your system may have Powersoft modules under the hood.
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In this age of digital devices, I am often asked if I have ever considered returning to mixing on an analog console for my touring clients. My answer is always an unequivocal “No!” Since 2006, when I migrated away from analog to an exclusively digital mixing rig, I have confidently embraced the audio technology, the work surface and the software that comprise working in a digital environment. The positive contributions to the successful execution of my art so heavily outweigh any possible negatives that I have never felt any twinges of nostalgia for the massive consoles and outboard equipment racks that once inhabited my FOH mixing position. Digital mixing generates layers of repeatability, recall agility, snapshot complexity and plug-in diversity that, quite simply, are impossible in the analog world.
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You might have Pro Tools integrated into your FOH console, but you may not be the only one legally recording the show. In a twist on the Grateful Dead’s well-known encouragement of fans taping their live shows, modern rockers MGMT are inviting their own legions to do the same, but with a nod to the vicissitudes of contemporary music legalities. The band opened a “fan taping section” at their shows in Atlanta, Chicago and Brooklyn late last year, announcing it via their website but specifically asking that tapers first register in addition to purchasing tickets for their shows.
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It’s a sad fact of life that getting a great bass tone through a P.A. system starts with a great bassist playing a good instrument. On second thought maybe that’s a happy fact of life. Given that starting point (or something close to it) it’s your responsibility as an engineer not to screw it up. While you can’t polish the proverbial turd, there’s a lot you can do to make the most of what you’ve been given, and these days there are plenty of tools to help you in the process. Beware: we’re about to open up a can of worms!
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Not every house of worship has the luxury of selecting from multiple locations for its front of house speakers. Some of you have but one place to position or mount your speakers. However, it goes without saying that the placement of your speakers — their location and where they are aimed — is of monumental importance in how your system performs in your sanctuary.
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Recently, a winter storm in my neck of the woods coated the trees with a heavy layer of ice. I awoke early that day to the sound of tree branches breaking off due to the heavy weight of their frigid encasement. Shortly thereafter, I lost all electric to my home. I called the electric company and reported the outage and then went off to work, not realizing that the outage would affect about 600,000 customers or that I would be without power for approximately five days. Trees were down, branches were down, wires were down, and I was woefully unprepared. By the time I got to Home Depot, every generator was sold out; the generator companies I called were sold out as well. I was relegated to charging my cell phone in the car and feeding wood into my fireplace — which is designed more for decorative log burning than for home heating.
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FRANKFURT, Germany — On the eve of the 2014 Musikmesse/Prolight+Sound show, Midas has announced its new flagship PRO X touring console, which builds on the legacy of its PRO3, PRO6 and PRO9 digital mixers. Its powerful Neutron DSP engine is capable of up to 800 audio channels, which can be routed on a point-to-point basis, and that routing can be changed, even on individual automation scenes. MAP pricing is expected to be $41,999 when it ships in late 2014.
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FRANKFURT, Germany — At this week’s Musikmesse/Prolight+Sound show here, Soundcraft will unveil its Vi3000 digital live sound console. The new console offers a host of new features including the groundbreaking internal DSP Soundcraft SpiderCore, a new industrial design, 96 channels to mix, Dante compatibility and more.
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POINT LEPREAU, NB, Canada – As part of a facility-wide upgrade, the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station here installed a plant-wide public address system. The facility’s management turned to Backman Vidcom, which provided 250 Community RMG-200AT loudspeakers for the large outdoor spaces and four Community RSH-462s for voice pages across the large yard at the plant.
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