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Photo by Kevin M. Mitchell

Mixing Norah Jones

FOH Engineer Gordon Reddy’s “Less is More” Mix

With Norah Jones, it’s all about the piano. Specifically, that Yamaha C6S grand piano. FOH engineer Gordon Reddy first works to figure out what is going to wrap back around the stage from the P.A. and how much of that can he keep from going into the piano. “Without a doubt, that is the largest challenge I have,” he says, admitting that if Jones went with a MIDI controller with sampled grand sounds, it would be easier for him.

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FOH July 2017 Buyers Guide

Handheld Condenser Microphones

There’s no denying that dynamic microphones have been the standard in vocal performance mics for decades. However, if you’re looking for extended bandwidth and fast transient response in a handheld, a condenser mic can be the perfect choice. So this month, we’ll look at some current condenser microphones designed for live performance. All models listed require phantom powering. No frequency response data is given; a “flat” response is rarely desirable and many models include LF or upper mid presence boosts to add character or intelligibility. Weight can be a factor, when certain vocalists use a handheld mic over extended periods. And street pricing is provided for your convenience.

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U2 2017 'Joshua Tree' tour photo by Steven Jennings

U2 2017 ‘Joshua Tree’ Tour

The band re-creates their 30-year-old Joshua Tree album on the road.

No U2 tour is “typical” — the band has been upping the ante on each and every outing for decades. But revisiting a specific point in their past — the 30 year-old Joshua Tree album — was something even the band and crew weren’t sure about it.

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Illustration by Andy Au

Crazy?

Have the Gods gone crazy? Is there something in the air we breathe or the water we drink — or is it just entropy? Recently we lost Chris Cornell to suicide; 22 people were killed when a bomb was set off at an Ariana Grande concert and, before that, in 2015, suicide bombers killed 89 people while they were attending a show at the Bataclan Concert Hall in Paris. In New York City, a crazed motorist jumps the curb in Times Square and drives along the sidewalk, attempting to kill and maim as many people as possible. Three more so-called terrorists attempted the same maneuver on the London Bridge and then jumped from their van and attempted to stab as many people as possible, killing eight.

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George Petersen, Editor of FOH Magazine

Microphonics!

In traditional audio terminology, “microphonics” typically refers to sounds that can emanate from vacuum tubes that are subjected to vibrations — say, from a guitar amp speaker — and can induce feedback (not the good kind) into a system. But this month, I wanted to rant a bit about microphones and figured “microphonics” seemed appropriate, especially as our “Buyer’s Guide” on page 34 spotlights high-end handheld condenser models.

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Countryman’s ISOMAX headset is available in omni, cardioid and hypercardioid patterns in light beige or black colors.

Headsets vs. Lavaliers

It is an age-old question for a house of worship audio engineer or technical director: Headsets or Lavaliers? As with most things in audio, the answer is, “It depends.” It depends of what you’re using the mic for, how discreet it needs to be, the personal preference of the pastor or performer, the gain before feedback and monitoring requirements, your current inventory and other factors.

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Note: With some “free” time between tours, David continues to retell his unending quest for the ultimate acoustic guitar tone. If you missed the first two parts, they can be found online at fohonline.com. Enjoy! —Ed.

Off-Time Projects, Part 3

Last month, I discussed first deconstructing and then re-imagining the input channel settings for one our touring acoustic guitars. That article focused on using the various tools available within the DiGiCo SD5 mixing system. I re-auditioned and modified the onboard settings for channel delay, tube emulation, parametric equalization and dynamic equalization and the Waves V-Comp compressor plug-in.

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The Orlando show drew record crowds.

Product Hits from InfoComm 2017

InfoComm (infocomm.com), North America’s largest audiovisual trade show, welcomed more than 40,000 visitors for the first time in its history at the 2017 event, held in Orlando, FL from June 14-16. By the time the doors closed for the week, InfoComm 2017 had logged 44,077 registered attendees from 50 states and 117 countries.

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The cast uses Sennheiser wireless mics when the show breaks out in song. Photo by Joan Marcus

Bringing ‘The Bodyguard’ to U.S. Audiences

In order to bring the music of iconic hits to audiences around the country for the U.S. touring production of the musical, The Bodyguard, sound designer Richard Brooker created a dynamic and powerful audio system that was provided by Masque Sound, a leading theatrical sound reinforcement, installation and design company.

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