There are many day-to-day challenges a regional audio company must contend with, but even Hyacinth Belcher couldn’t have imagined police officers storming her office, hands on guns, ready to draw. Co-owner of Dallas-based Onstage Systems with her brother Chris, she laughs about it now, though surely the “raid” got her adrenalin going.
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Greetings from Ancona, Italy, located on the beautiful coast of the Adriatic Sea! This latest installment of this column is the twelfth of these reviews describing my experiences with Waves plugins. This year seems to have gone by very rapidly.
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The live-sound mix console business is in play. The number of new desks is on the rise, and digital technology is leveling the landscape for deals. Consider the DiGiCo SD series consoles used at the world’s biggest televised audio party, the Grammy Awards, held Feb. 12 in Staples Center. The crew used a 256-input DiGiCo SD7 console at FOH and two 96-input DiGiCo SD10s at monitors, with a third 96-channel SD10 used for the production mix. These replaced Yamaha PM1D consoles, which had been used on the show for the last nine years.
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For the vast majority of engineers, lead vocal is the most important part of the mix. Unless you’re dealing with an instrumental group, ensuring that the lead vocal can heard at all times is paramount. Background vocals can be equally important, because the musical interplay between lead and background or harmony vocals often define a musical arrangement. Here are techniques you can use to keep vocals in the spotlight of your mix.
Read More »This month’s discussion is on small-format mixing consoles for houses of worship, both analog and digital.
There are probably a few different definitions for “small format” consoles. To me, any mixer that can fit into a rack would fall into the category.
That said, if your worship house mixer is not in a rack, don’t worry about it. We still have plenty to talk about.
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Here is an open letter to any and all clients that that require audio and production assistance. Please understand that I recognize you, as the client, are most likely spending a huge amount of money on your incredibly important event and also be aware that, as a bronco buster, this is not my first rodeo. After all, if you were going into the hospital for an operation would you tell the surgeon where to cut, or how to stitch? I think not. Therefore, what compels you to dictate to me how to do my job? You own an ipod? You did sound for a friend in college? Please…get over it.
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LONDON — After testing Martin Audio’s active Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) on a series of events, UK rental company RG Jones Sound Engineering Ltd has invested in the new system. The company’s 24 MLA top boxes and 12 MLX subs, with six dedicated amplifier and DSP channels per enclosure, will make their debut on a series of shows in April and May.
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Lectrosonics’ WM Watertight Transmitter, part of the company’s line of Digital Hybrid Wireless microphone systems offering compandor-free audio, promises to combine “cabled-microphone” audio performance with a new housing designed to withstand the harshest environments.
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LOS ANGELES — Angus Davidson and Rod Matheson, FOH and Monitor engineers, respectively, for Kimbra, are using Earthworks microphones to cover every instrument on stage as the New Zealand-born singer/songwriter brings her music to audiences around the world. The gear list includes SR40Vs (vocals), SR30s (guitar amps and audience mics) and, on drums, SR40s (overheads), 2 DP30s (snare, top and bottom), DP30s (toms), SR30 (high-hat) and SR30 with KickPad (kick drum).
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BRISBANE, Australia — Monitor engineer Jimmy Nicholson has been using the MIDAS PRO2C live audio system for Jessie J dates in Australia and Asia. This included an early afternoon slot at the Future Music Festival in Brisbane and a headline tour of small arenas in tandem with a Midas PRO6 at FOH.
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FRANKFURT, Germany — Peavey sponsored the Agora Stage’s performances by the Alex Skolnick Trio at Musikmesse 2012 here March 21-24. Peavey also supplied the audio system at the stage for the four-day event.
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Heil Sound upgraded their PR 35 handheld dynamic microphone with a new chassis, enhanced rear rejection (to -42dB), a new concealed two-position roll off switch (replacing the former thumb switch) and a new look, with three interchangeable colored trim collars that can be mixed and matched. The new PR 35 is priced the same as the current model and is available now.
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