NORTH POLE — Ok, by now you’ve figured out that all those letters you sent to Santa over the years were probably left unread by old St. Nick. Meanwhile, you’ve probably had your fill of all the slippers, bathrobes, neckties and even Leatherman (the multi-tool, not the guy at that S&M bar where you did some gigs) and Mini Maglites you’ll ever need. With that in mind, here are some essential — and highly useful — items any sound reinforcement pro could use. All you need to do is tear out this page, use the Sharpie on your lanyard to circle what you want and leave this lying around where the right person can find it. So in no particular order, here are the FRONT of HOUSE selections for the well-accessorized sound pro — whether yourself on someone on your crew.
THE GAFFGUN
Invented by a couple Seattle guys who hated to tape down cables, the GaffGun ($249/direct) allows a person to securely dress wires about as fast as you can walk. The unit accommodates rolls of 1/2/3-inch tape and cables of several sizes, using patent-pending CoreLok™ technology to insure the tape is always centered over the cable(s). It includes an extension handle, so your back isn’t destroyed by the time you get to the end of the cable run across a gymnasium or airport runway. GaffGun is slated to start shipping this month — right on time for Santa.
www.gaffgun.com
ANNA-LISA MADI ANALYZER
Winner of the cute name dept. is ANNA-LISA, a compact, handheld MADI analyzer/signal generator with optical and BNC MADI I/O’s for easy, instant analysis of any MADI input. The unit reveals sampling rate, AES10 spec conformity, signal amplitude, jitter and an “eye pattern” indicating signal level and jitter combined. It can also generate test signals as MADI streams, with presets storing settings for signal sources (white/pink noise, sine waves and routing of incoming channels). More detailed data such as protocol/user bit checks, is accessible on an external app via USB and Bluetooth.
www.directout.eu
MIDDLE ATLANTIC USB LIGHT
There are a million uses for this, from providing 24 lumens of brightness onto the keyboard of the laptop running your show to looped behind a console or rack to clearly see connections. The LT-GN-PL gooseneck work light plugs into any standard USB port or into the included 120 VAC power supply to provide illumination right where you need it. Street is about $30.
www.middleatlantic.com
GRANELLI AUDIO LABS G5790 MIC
Miking a snare is pretty easy: at least 90% of users simply grab a Shure SM57 and get the sound they need. Unfortunately, placing a snare mic can be tricky in a crowded drum kit, where the best pickup position is often compromised due to the mic body or cable contacting the hi-hat. Granelli Audio Labs’ must-have, brilliant solution modifies new genuine Shure SM57 mics with a 90-degree bend in the body resulting in a custom mic that simplifies placement on snares, percussion or guitar cabs. Price is $149/each or $419 for a three-pack.
www.granelliaudiolabs.com
EQUATOR AUDIO D5 STUDIO MONITORS
Studio monitors for live? At one time or another, we’ve all been stuck in some rotten mix position or backstage closet where hearing anything resembling the stage sounds is nearly impossible. Offering flat response, the mini-sized (less than 10-inch tall) D5 biamplified coaxials are just the ticket in those situations, or where you want to tweak a virtual sound check without having to use headphones or blast the entire venue. Price is $399/pair; a carry case is optional.
www.equatoraudio.com
AUDIX CABGRABBER
I’m one of those people who hates mic stands. Clip-on mics on drums, horns and percussion, internal kick mics and performer headsets all contribute to a clean stage look — and less bulk to schlep to/from the gig. I’ve been using Audix CabGrabbers for years — these clamp onto the sides of guitar or speaker cabinets, offer precision mic positioning, a secure grip and are built for years of abuse. A standard model ($49/street) handles amps eight to 14 inches deep; a $59 XL version goes onto extra-deep (14 to 21 inch) cabinets.
www.audixusa.com
BLUE MO-FI HEADPHONES
Someone shoulda thought of this years ago — Mo-Fi from Blue Microphones are audiophile-grade headphones with a built-in 240-milliwatt amp that’s ideal in FOH and monitor situations where clean, loud playback (with effective earcup isolation) are a must. Rechargeable batteries offer 12 to 14 hours play time. Add in a couple XLR and 1/4-inch stereo breakout adapters and these would also come in handy for checking audio integrity at any analog point in the signal chain. Or just plug into your mobile device and tune out the tour bus din while on the road. MSRP is $349.
www.mofiheadphones.com
TRIPP LITE NETWORK CABLE TESTER
Not exactly sexy, but with the growing importance of all the Ethernet and RJ-45 communications, it might be handy to check your Cat-5e and Cat-6 cabling for faults when something goes amiss. Tripp Lite’s N044-000-R Multi-Functional Network Cable Tester is an inexpensive unit with RJ-45, RJ-11 (6P6C) and BNC coaxial connections for checking cables for mis-wires and short- or open-circuits. The two-piece unit has a send and receive side that can be used side by side or with one on the stage end one at FOH. It’s about $30 at Staples or Walmart.
www.tripplite.com
WHIRLWIND ISOXL ISO TRANSFORMER
We try to do everything right, but every once in a while we encounter a pesky system buzz and with the show coming up, we don’t always have time to make everything perfect. The issue frequently arises when the stage and FOH are supplied from different AC sources with differing ground potentials. In such cases, Whirlwind’s ISOXL can be just the ticket. Built into an in-line XLR in/out tube, an internal line-level transformer isolates the audio line for a “save the show” quick fix. Price is $39/street.
FOH T-SHIRT
Say it loud, say it proud! Offered in always-fashionable basic black, the shirt front tells who you are, while the back is emblazoned with answers to 10 of the stupid questions you’re bombarded with at shows. These range from “no, I can’t get anything signed for you” to “yes, I know what all these knobs and buttons do” and eight more tired old queries you’ve heard 1,000 times. This audio fashionista must is priced at only $20 — or $25 in “husky” sizes.
www.plsnbookshelf.com/t-shirts.html
