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Microphone Innovations: The Problem, the Process and the Prototype

Fig. 1: The prototype mic used on Steve Gadds kick drum

Microphone Innovations: The Problem, the Process and the Prototype

Since I made the choice to migrate from analog consoles to a digital platform, something that’s become increasingly clear to me is the requirement to be even more selective and judicious in my microphone choices. I believe it’s reasonable to conclude that the process of digital conversion after the mic preamp is maximized when the processor engine is provided with the highest possible degree of useful detail from the transducer. In the last six years, I have been adding more and more precision high-end condenser, ribbon and dynamic microphones to the James Taylor show’s input list.

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Andrew Gearhart photo by Reverend Che

Saint Monitor

Where do monitor engineers go when they retire? That’s easy: they go to heaven. After dealing with all of the crazed artists and onstage insanity that comes along with creating multiple mixes for performers with widely varying needs, they deserve it. Yours truly does not fall into either category (monitor engineer or heaven), but that doesn’t mean that we can’t dig out tips and techniques to help you in your quest to create a better stage experience for the artists with whom you work.

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On toms and snares, a cardioid dynamic (such as this Sennheiser e904) — placed slightly above and near the edge of the drum head — offers good tone with little bleed or feedback problems.

Microphone Techniques for Houses of Worship

Probably the most overlooked issue in house of worship audio is the placement of the all-important microphone. This issue is mostly confined to instrument microphones and choir mics. With regards to speaking and individual singing mic placement, the issue here is usually the end user. However, we will discuss this later. For now, let’s turn our attention to instrument miking techniques. There are a few different ways to mic almost every instrument. So I am going to tell you my tried and true methods, whether it be drums, guitars, bass, brass, etc.

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Illustration by Andy Au

The Language Tool: The Other Side of the Spoken Word

Call me archaic, but I actually find the English language to be a great way to express one’s thoughts — regardless of intent or purpose. From relaying simple instructions in concise terms to loquaciously waxing poetic, English — when used properly — is capable of conveying thoughts and feelings with nuance and elegance. This does not mean that we need to roll our “R’s” nor speak in Shakespearean English, but as intelligent people, we must find a middle ground between “Wherefore art thou?” and “Where you at?”

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2012 Parnelli Awards

2012 Parnelli Award Nominations Now Open!

LAS VEGAS — If you ever wondered who picks out the names that appear on the Parnelli Awards ballot every year, just take a look in the mirror. Yes, YOU! All FRONT of HOUSE readers once again have the opportunity — but only through the end of August — to choose most of the individuals and companies to be honored Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Mirage Resort in Las Vegas. Nominations are now being accepted for all  2012 Parnelli Awards categories at www.parnelliawards.com/nominate.

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KV2 Audio ESM26 Monitor

KV2 Audio ESM26 Monitor

New from KV2 Audio is the compact-sized (15×13.4-inch, WxH) ESM26, a pro stage monitor, with a twin 6-inch woofer/horn configuration that can deliver 126 dB SPLs from this 33-pound box. Sensitivity is 98 dB/1W. The onboard crossover has a unique analog delay line circuit that offers component time alignment and phase correction without the need for external processors and bi-amping.

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Cincinnati Pops Concert Cancelled Before Stage Collapse, No One Hurt

FOREST PARK, OH — Organizers for the 23rd annual Concert on the Green, scheduled to take place here 7:30 on July 27, cancelled the event due to bad weather. A storm swept through, ripping the modest stage structure down. No one was hurt. The stage for the event, which was to host the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra led by conductor John Morris Russell, was set up outdoors on the grounds of one of the event’s sponsors, Union Central Life Insurance.

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Powersoft gear is aboard the 3,780-passenger Costa Fascinosa

Italian Cruise Ship Launches with Powersoft Aboard

GENOA, Italy — The 3,780-passenger Costa Fascinosa, launched in May by Costa Cruises, features an onboard audio system that includes Powersoft gear. The amplifier gear list includes M14D (two channels, driving 700W on 4 ohms), M50Q HDSP+ETH (four channels, each generating 1,250W on 4 ohms), and Duecanali 3904 and Ottocanali 1204 (eight channels, 150W on 4 ohms or 125W on 70V using BatFormers, the optional plug-in output transformers).

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Norwest Productions supports Barry Humphries tour with variety of audio gear

Norwest Productions Provides Audio Support for Barry Humphries Tour

MELBOURNE, Australia — Norwest Productions is supporting the latest — and perhaps final — tour of Barry Humphries, a.k.a. Sir Les Patterson, a.k.a. Dame Edna, a.k.a. Sandy Stone, with gear from L-Acoustics, Martin Audio, Lab.gruppen and DPA. Humphries’ farewell tour, Eat, Pray, Laugh, is an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular. Norwest Productions is providing the audio, and the FOH operator for the show is one of their longtime employees, Aaron Mason.

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