FAF — Broad Street Stage
A Little Parnelli Magic
There’s a well-known old Irish saying: “When you are right, no one remembers; when you are wrong, no one forgets.” It’s often quoted and usually… Read More »A Little Parnelli Magic
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Drake World Tour
Drake is one of the few artists who successfully bridged the gap from acting to becoming a major musical artist. Born Aubrey Drake Graham, this Toronto native originally achieved critical acclaim in the role of Jimmy Brooks, a student on the popular Degrassi: The Next Generation TV series, with his poignant portrayal of a promising high school athlete whose career was cut short when the character became paraplegic after being shot by a fellow student.
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Digital Snakes
Once upon a time, digital snakes were regarded as “why would I need that to just replace a cable?” But with the proliferation of digital mixers and simple interfacing via fiber or Cat-5 cabling, the idea started catching on. This was helped by their ability to reduce the FOH footprint with the ease of doing signal “splits” and the convenience of locating preamps in remote-controllable stageboxes; while replacing hundreds of pounds of copper with a lightweight reel — or two, for redundancy.
To download a PDF of the Dec. 2013 FRONT of HOUSE Buyers Guide, CLICK HERE
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Atmosphere, Temperature and Other Audio Variables
After several months spent discussing various aspects of electricity for professional audio applications, it’s time to turn in new directions. For those sick of the National Electrical Code, take heart, this month we look at the effects the atmosphere has on live sound production. Just as electricity is integral to audio, so too is air, the fluid medium that we live in, breathe in, and rely on to carry sound waves to the audience. In this article we will investigate some of the influences that air has on the sound that travels through it, and also how atmospheric or weather conditions can influence the experience of “combat audio.” First we discuss a little about air as a fluid, and then move on to practical ramifications for gigging.
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CEDAR Audio DNS 8 Live
CEDAR Audio is no stranger to noise reduction systems. The company pretty much wrote the book on state-of-the-art hardware- and software-based solutions for all types type of unwanted audio artifacts, ranging from pops and crackling on vintage 78 records to wind, rain and nearly every other type of sound that could creep onto an audio channel. In fact, CEDAR received an Academy Award for its original DNS (Dialogue Noise Supressor) system.
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My Top-10 Plug-In List
Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have taken an in-depth look at many individual TDM plug-ins that I’ve employed while mixing various artists on the Avid VENUE platform. Different artists and productions may present a variety of audio challenges for which unique software solutions are required. However, this month’s column will be devoted to listing the Top-10 “must have” plug-ins I find myself using on every setup. Some have been in my virtual effects rack since I was first introduced to the VENUE platform in 2006. Others are more recent additions, but are no less valuable in the creation of an optimal live audio product.
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Nashville’s Renewed War Memorial Auditorium
Think of a venerable live-music venue in downtown Nashville, one with a tremendous history going back to the 1920s and where the Grand Ole Opry once took up an extended residence. Slam-dunk question? Not so fast — turns out there’s two good answers to that question now. Sure, there’s the Ryman Auditorium, most closely associated with the Opry and a venue that’s reinvented itself as a locus for well-curated shows and burnished by an association with the upswing of the Americana genre, all of which helped it win Pollstar’s Theatre of the Year award in 2010 and 2011. But there’s another venue that matches the Ryman in terms of history and is trying to do the same in becoming a destination for music.
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The Road Dawg’s Top-10 Holiday Gift Ideas
Instructions:
Leave this issue of FOH open to this page. Place it on a coffee table, nightstand, desk, (bathroom!) or other place your significant other can easily find it. This opening paragraph is printed with disappearing ink. After you read these instructions, rub them with a stage towel and they will disappear — leaving only the remainder of the page. Happy Holidays!
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Monitors, Monitors, Monitors
It is very common to see the use of in-ear monitors in many houses of worship today. That said, I still want to have floor wedges on my stage when I am mixing, in-ears or not. I don’t think I am so old school that I need to have floor monitors in my mix. I just believe that wedges provide a different way for the band to hear the mix and interact with each other. I am a fan of traditional floor monitors, but not to the exclusion of in-ear monitors. This month’s installment of Sound Sanctuary is not floor wedges versus in-ears. If anything, I want to celebrate floor monitors and the joys of mixing with these speakers.
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