As a sound engineer, I try real hard to make the sound system as invisible as I can. But there's something real magical when you sing sans microphones in a space that enhances the sound. I lived in a 100 year old adobe house in Tucson. The living room had the most wonderful acoustics for singing. I visited the house for a Christmas party before I lived there. Singing in that room convinced me to live there. I don't know why some sound people ruin performances with over amplification. I've worked with Altan and can't imagine anyone doing that to them. A lot of sound people come from the rock 'n' roll world where everything has to be louder then the drums and if the bass don't thump there isn't a mix. Those people shouldn't be allowed to do acoustic acts! End of rant.