A system engineer’s goal is to keep the P.A. system as consistent as possible. However, what happens when the stage volume exceeds the P.A. close to the stage? Sam Boone, who has been designing and deploying large format, low-variance systems for installs and touring productions, discusses this and other essential topics.
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How loud are your IEMs, really? Steve Savanyu checks out Sensaphonics’ dB Check Pro in-ear sound level analyzer, described as a “speedometer for your ears” — and something that could help put the brakes on hearing loss.
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In his “On the Digital Edge” column in the September 2024 issue of FRONT of HOUSE magazine, Steve La Cerra takes a look at some out-of-the-ordinary microphones that are useful in a wide variety of sound reinforcement applications.
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These days, as many church installs approach (or surpass) rock ‘n’ roll rigs, it’s tempting to push LF SPLs to the limit. But how do you determine what’s appropriate? John McJunkin examines the bottom line in his “Sound Sanctuary” column in the Sept. 2024 edition of FRONT of HOUSE magazine.
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As Baker Lee notes in his Sept. 2024 “FOH-at-Large” column, when it comes to audio gear, it’s easy to fall behind. One day you wake up and the cutting-edge technology that was your mainstay has been dulled by the latest, greatest and sharpest state-of-the-art equipment.
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Cody Spencer, who won the 2024 Tony Award for Sound Design of a Musical for ‘The Outsiders,’ shared with Bryan Reesman the nuances of the L-Acoustics L-ISA system used for the production as well as speaker placement tweaks and the challenge of tracking actor movements without trackers (because they had a tendency to be ripping their shirts off and fighting in the mud).
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We’ve all been there. Show up to mix a festival date and that console you were promised is a no-show, replaced by something you haven’t used — or maybe never heard of. With his “On the Digital Edge” column in the August issue of FRONT of HOUSE magazine, Steve La Cerra shares survival tips to get you through the set.
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Even for paying gigs, “it’s hard to get good help,” and in a typical church setting, dealing with unpaid volunteers and novice techs is no picnic. Eventually, they can be trained, but keeping them motivated is an ongoing issue. In FRONT of HOUSE’s August 2024 issue, John McJunkin offers advice and inspiration.
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Unexpected twists may be fun at a kid’s party, but last-minute discoveries like “the freight elevator’s been out for a week,” can test the mettle of even the most seasoned production pros. Baker Lee looks at this all-too-common situation with his FOH-at-Large column in the August 2024 issue.
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The Rolling Stones’ “Hackney Diamonds” tour, which wrapped up this month, celebrated 62 years of rock history. Along with that impressive record for longevity, the Stones have also maintained an amazing degree of consistency, reflected by both the audio crew (many have been with the band for decades), but also the components in the P.A. rig and the 40-input 1993-era Yamaha PM4000 analog console at FOH, which still sound great.
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In the June and July issues of FRONT of HOUSE magazine, On the Digital Edge columnist Steve La Cerra serves up a tech-y twofer. In June, La Cerra focused on how filters and key inputs can be used to enhance the function of a noise gate. In July, he follows up with a discussion of sidechain processing, proving once again that an investment in audio knowledge can pay off with significant enhancements in audio quality that you can achieve with no extra charge for additional gear.
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Creating a workable monitoring environment can be tough, even with a basic rock band, but things can get way more complicated when you’re dealing with 90 voices. In FRONT of HOUSE’s July 2024 issue, Sound Sanctuary columnist John McJunkin offers some practical solutions.
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