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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 09 Dec 05 - 08:23 AM "Almost anyone has heard it, as it develops into incoherent distortion." Jimi Hendrix, et. al. man! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST Date: 12 Dec 05 - 09:57 PM |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Jim Martin Date: 27 Dec 05 - 10:07 PM |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Kenneth Ingham Date: 31 Oct 10 - 09:26 AM One, Two, One, Two ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Richard Bridge Date: 31 Oct 10 - 09:49 AM Old mother Hubbard had a rough cut punt, Not a punt cut rough, but a rough cut punt. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 01 Nov 10 - 02:16 AM I've always thought a 'player' SHOULD know something about sound engineering, and in doing so, it helps you to be better equipped in picking A GOOD engineer, to work with, as much as possible...preferably the same one! You have to be able to respect his abilities, and his knowledge. He, in turn should learn or know, that there is different personalities in his 'players' who pick the instruments they play...and allow for it, to be free to mix the best mix, and NOT give into, the demands of the individual band members! Once you have him, then just as Max said, earlier, consider him as one of you! To tell you the truth, 'playing' a good board, takes as much sensitivity, to the music, as a 'player' does, in playing it!!! As an experienced composer, writer, musician, recording artist, and sound engineer...through a few years, and having worked with some 'A' musicians, you, as a player, or engineer MUST keep in mind, it is the SONG...not the individual's chops, that you're looking to lift up. there is always time to give individual players, their turn..but it is the SONG, that must come through!! A few notes, that I use, to set levels: On the 'high end' I want to HEAR the drummers stick HIT the cymbal, followed by the sizzle. On bass, the bass roll-off should NOT mush up the warm mid tones. Yes, you can actually HEAR the fingers, and expression in the bass...it's in the mids! Vocals: I find in EQ-ing, I lower the mids of the instruments(bringing the bass up from the bottom, then lowering the mids, after capturing the 'warms' just above the bottom, so the voice comes through with clear presence. As far as the vocals, remember this, the human voice is the only instrument on the planet that can pronounce words...PRONOUNCE THEM CLEARLY!!...DISTINCTLY...and NEVER hide behind 'style'. Hold only vowels, and 'bite off' consonants. In large auditoriums or concert halls, when you do your sound check, and its all perfect, raise the 'high end' a tad, because when the seats fill up, you lose highs a bit, because the surface area has changed, from an empty auditorium!...(and it will sound sorta 'muffled'). Sound engineers unspoken rule, is 'separation and placement'!!!..everybody crystal clear! Vocalists: Tend to throw attitudes sometimes, this is because, being as their egos propel them, they often know LESS about music than their support musicians!...so to compensate, they may be 'exacting' with some attitude...so be sensitive to that, in order to get a good mix! ....and for God's sakes, vocalists, sing with believable EXPRESSION! Become the character to who your song is real, rather than USING the song to make YOU real! On performing: IF you are 'self conscious' YOU WILL make mistakes! Be the voice of God, singing THROUGH your humanity, (God Conscious), and you will even blow yourself away!!...with NO mistakes! Lastly, for this post, music is an expression...not a competitive sport! With all that in mind, and an open trust and respect for your engineer, you should be able to achieve a great delivery of every nano-second of the piece....trust me on that one!!! Once again, as Max said, your engineer is one of you. A good one can 'play' his board, just like a 'player' plays his ax! Regards! GfS |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 01 Nov 10 - 03:02 AM For anyone on Facebook, There is Group called "Don't Piss Off The Sound Guy" A plethora of very funny stories down the years, and hundreds of sometimes very scary photos. Particularly like the T shirt that says WE'RE NOT HAPPY TIL, YOU'RE NOT HAPPY! Well worth a visit. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ray Date: 01 Nov 10 - 06:16 AM Having been both a musician and a sound man over the last several decades, I am aware what musicians tend to think about sound men but what tends not to come through is what sound men think about some musicians. Musicians need to remember that the sound they are hearing on stage an be totally different from that front of house and they are in the worst position to criticise the sound man for it. As for drummers (we all know about drummers!) the main problem I've come across is being unable to turn them down acoustically. If they insist on hitting the things too hard in order to get "the right sound" you can usually turn up the back-line to compensate but then you start to loose the vocals. Put this in a stage show with an un-miced chorus and you have a problem. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Leadfingers Date: 01 Nov 10 - 06:36 AM Try doing sound for an elderly musician with a hearing problem - What YOU can hear coming out is NOT what he can hear coming out ! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Phil B Date: 01 Nov 10 - 07:09 AM Q. Whats't the difference between God and the rest of humankind? A. God doesn't think he's a sound engineer. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,FloraG Date: 01 Nov 10 - 08:06 AM I found the best sound engineer in all the festivals Ive been to this year at Wadebridge. Not only could I hear the voices and all the instruments - he played good folk music during the interval. Anyone else found any good ones? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Jack Campin Date: 02 Nov 10 - 05:38 AM I NEVER want to hear the sound engineer playing his CD collection during the interval, no matter what it is. I've paid to hear the acts advertised and not be distracted from what they're doing. Don't any performers make it a condition of appearing that no piped music should be played at their gigs? If not maybe they ought to. If there are two comparable events I have to choose between, I'll always pick the one with no piped music (which means the one that isn't at Edinburgh Folk Club). |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: C-flat Date: 02 Nov 10 - 06:03 AM Thing that always surprises me is when an artist starts ranting at the sound-man during sound-check. I've acted as support to one-time "names", often in the twilight of their careers, who, presumably out of frustration at their reduced status, vent themselves at those around them. I always likened it to insulting the waiter before you've had your meal. Not advisable. On one particular occassion the sound engineer was having such a bad time at the hands of the head-liner, who wouldn't allow me to soundcheck until he was satisfied, (which wasn't goping to happen in this lifetime), that he pulled me aside and told me not to worry. "I guarantee you'll sound great" and "Fuck him", gesturing to the stage. I thoroughly enjoyed the on-stage experience of quality monitoring and being in the hands of the sound guys. It's impossible to tell what's being projected when you're on stage, so you have to trust those at the desk and let them do their work. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: mandotim Date: 02 Nov 10 - 07:03 AM Jack, how can you be distracted from what the artist is doing in the interval? Is it important for you to concentrate on them having a quick beer, going for a pee and selling a few CDs? Tim (joking, honest!) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Dave Roberts Date: 02 Nov 10 - 07:32 AM Two words spring to mind. Graham Bradshaw. If you want excellent sound, that's all you need to know. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 02 Nov 10 - 10:52 AM Graham Bradshaw....Yes, agreed. Good ears, and a really nice bloke too. Also agree with C-Flat. What bands with egos don't understand, is that if I get grief during a sound check ("Oi. You at the back...GET IT RIGHT!") then, they're not going to have the happiest of gigs. To all artists out there, You all either play (or sing) one instrument....I, on the other hand, play the whole band. Don't forget it! Another plug for the Facebook group. Don't Piss Off The Sound Guy. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,FloraG Date: 03 Nov 10 - 04:21 AM Jack - we always play music at intervals. ( We've recently upgraded our equipement from a tape desk to a CD player). Barn dance intervalls tend to be longer than concert ones, and people like to hear a bit of background while tucking into supper and buying raffle tickets. However, we've found that tune sets are best as people are not concentrating on words. At wadebridge festival the young man played Poozies Cds - so we could enjoy the music before the concert started and while buying pasties at the interval ( excellent pasties). The Barge pub in Gillingham ( our local folk music pub ) plays a good selection of music at the interval - often including local artists. It gives us time to tune up and say hi to all our friends in the audience. Long live good interval music. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST, Fido Date: 03 Nov 10 - 04:43 AM Tune up? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Jack Campin Date: 03 Nov 10 - 07:16 PM You don't have to put up with canned interval music at jazz or classical concerts. Why should folk be so different? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: mandotim Date: 04 Nov 10 - 03:44 AM Why shouldn't folk be different? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Dave A Date: 19 Jan 11 - 08:02 AM FloraG- Rob Ellmore is another folk sound engineer worth a mention. He's always done us proud! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Michael Date: 19 Jan 11 - 09:12 AM Those of you who have been to Stainsby Festival will know that they have brilliant PA driven by John Ramsay from EFX. Mike |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,FloraG. Date: 19 Jan 11 - 02:08 PM Played at the Barge, Gillingham again this week. What a joy to be able to turn up to a pub and know that the PA is already there so we just need to transport our instruments. The attentive sound man coped with me playing a quiet and my second loudest instrument - neither with DI. The pub itself also has a large collection of folk instruments - but I've not been brave enough to turn up without instruments and just work my way round the room. Can anybody else recommend venues that are as obliging. FloraG. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: josepp Date: 19 Jan 11 - 05:05 PM Having been a soundman I have learned that a soundman is a peon to be abused by every musician who isn't happy with the mix. It is a thankless job. You try to get the bastards miked up right and they insist on doing some damn fool thing that will totally hose the sound and you cannot talk them out of it. I once did sound for a jazz society whose union musicians did not feel they owed me a soundcheck beforehand and yet expected the sound to be perfect. When you tell them a soundcheck ensures that it will be, it's not in their contract. Then there's the dipshit who has to fuck with the volume on his amp instead of having me turn it up in the monitors. Now he's drowning everyone out and I have to dial him down but that's not as bad as the guy who turns his amp down and now I can't bring it up high enough from the board for people to hear it. And the phrase, "If you need anything up or down, tell me and I will do it from the monitors--DON'T do it from your amps!" That translates to musicians' ears as: "powpueoqietqlnvn.zkxgnworiut23097243khwvpoiiyqertjnbgoihher" Then there's the guys who fuck up their set and blame you--the soundman--YOU caused it. "I couldn't hear myself!" So you ask, "How can I know that if you don't say anything?" which translates to them as, "Please give me more of your uncalled-for abuse. I just can't get enough." Then there's dickwads in the crowd who come up and tell you how they want the sound mixed or they flat out abuse you. "That sounds like SHIT!" I just say, "Oh, I'm sorry! Would you like to take over the board, I love to learn from a real professional." Then they tell everyone what a smartass you are and won't listen to reason. One time at an old-timers Dixieland jazz show, a guy comes up and says, "I can't hear the piano!" He was fucking 90! No exaggeration--he was 90 years old. I'm supposed to blow everybody out of their chairs to bring up the piano just for him. What can you do? You can't turn it up or it drown everything out. The mix is fine but he standing there expecting you to turn it up. So I turn up the volume of a knob on a channel I'm not using. Then I smile and shrug. Now, most musicians have some degree of civility but, man, I got to tell you that there are some REAL fucking assholes out there. ASSHOLES! Then when their show's over--they're out of there while you have to pack up your board, your snake, your mikes and stands, your speakers and monitors, every cord and cable. Do they help? FUCK NO! I think before you ever do a live set, you should be required to spend a year doing sound for other bands first. THEN you will know what it feels like when musicians expect you to shit miracles out of every goddamn orifice. Then you will know how thankless it is to be a soundman. Quite frankly, I'll never do it again. I was getting paid $300 a pop and I still won't ever do it again. It was THAT bad. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Don Firth Date: 19 Jan 11 - 06:27 PM Ye gawds! I've sung in places from coffeehouses that would seat, at most, thirty-five people and didn't need a PA system to places only slightly smaller than the vehicle assembly building at Cape Canaveral, including a bunch of outdoor venues. I'm behind the mic and I can't really hear what it's like out front, so I've always just trusted the sound engineer and concentrated on what I'm supposed to be doing. Been at it for over fifty years and never had a problem. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 20 Jan 11 - 02:43 AM josepp...I feel your pain! I really do.... One small thing...Where do you get $300 a gig??? (It's never happened to me...The rest of it has!) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,FloraG Date: 20 Jan 11 - 05:24 AM Josepp I'm sorry to hear what a poor time you have had. I can't believe it was from folk musicians as most of them I know would not act like that. However, I believe there is a different requirement for folk music than pop etc in that with folk music you want to hear the words of any song. I think that if you get a rigg from people who are used to doing pop they may not realise this. I also think that with ticket costs rising people expect a better quality of sound. We attended 2 festivals this year where we were critical of the sound mix in the main tents. I'm not sure that either of them had any feedback system for customers to say what they thought. FloraG |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ray Date: 20 Jan 11 - 05:25 AM Mentioning no names, I used to do the occasional job for a sound hire company when the owner was away doing some "really" big bands - the sort that usually play in 80K seater stadiums. The last time I saw him he said he'd given it up and was concentrating on political conventions because he didn't get the shit from so called musicians. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band" Date: 20 Jan 11 - 05:48 AM Ralphie, I heard you on "Late Junction", BBC Radio 3, last night. Super, duper, Top Man!. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 20 Jan 11 - 08:15 AM Hi John...Really??? Doing What?! Nobody told me. I assumed they thought me demised! Looking forward to the royalty cheque for 5p coming soon! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band" Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:15 AM Ralphie, It was "Yrsno" from the cd, "Eloise". |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:40 AM Thanks John... And thanks to Fiona Talkington for remembering an old bloke! It's probably quite sad for all readers, but, after 33 Years of working for BBC Radio, I feel pathetically humbled to hear myself on the Radio....Very strange.! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band" Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:53 AM Ralphie, If "Yrsno" is anything to go by then you are probably on a deserved roll. We were featured on a Verity Sharp programme for which we were most grateful. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 20 Jan 11 - 12:44 PM John.....Tommorow....World Domination!!! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST Date: 21 Jan 11 - 08:24 AM Take a 2,000 seater auditorium - take two well known bands and start sound checking each in turn - first up is to get a rough general mix and send the auxs to the stage monitor mixing desk/operator....at this point you then need to fine tune all the different parameters necessary for a sound to satisfy the band as well as expected bums on seats - its at this particular moment that I received a sharp tap on the shoulder from a female who was telling me to sit down as she couldn't see the band - incredulous as it sounds she had entered the venue with her husband and seated themselves right behind me on a closed sound check period - I had great pleasure in having security eject them - another time - an old guy came up and asked "Why was it so loud" - again, it was sound check time - I told him it was so everybody could hear it !!! - he went merrily on his way quite happy with my flippant answer.....what on earth is security playing at when people can walk in willy nilly on closed venues at sound check time ???? anyone else got similar stories. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Bernard Date: 21 Jan 11 - 10:39 AM A funny story I recall from the days when we used to do the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales... I was on the sound desk in the Main Pavilion for a brass band concert (!)... the director and another bigwig came into the sound control room during the performance complaining very vociferously about my poor sound balancing skills... Apparently it was far too loud in the auditorium, and I had to do something about it at once! Well...! I politely pointed at the sound desk, and showed them that all the faders were down! I explained that, as it was a brass band and didn't need any help, I was merely using a microphone for announcements, and no microphones were open during the performance. If he wanted the band turning down, he must speak to the conductor, as there was nothing I could do! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST Date: 21 Jan 11 - 12:15 PM I wonder what it is about our social make-up that makes it acceptable to tell a sound engineer they are doing a bad job? We don't complain to a performer (mid song) if they are not very good. In fact we tend to feel supportive of them, and afterwards tell them they were very good and they should keep performing. Most of us generally don't complain in restaurants if the food is bad. How many times have I said "yes everything is fine" to the waiter when really I'm thinking otherwise?! As a nation we are not known for our ability to complain.... except when it comes to sound engineers! I wonder what it is about the make-up of sound engineers that doesn't like to receive said criticism? Ego dented? Hard work undermined? Stressed? When was the last time someone told you that you were no good at your job? The problem of bad sound can arise from two sources: a) the sound engineer (there are lots of bad sound engineers) b) circumstances outside the sound engineers control (turn down the brass band at once!) If you are experiencing bad sound at a concert, its going to be one of the above. They are both very common. The thing to do before complaining is to try to work out if it is the sound mans fault or not - and then try to make your complaint without disdain! The sound engineer will have been working really hard all day long to get to the point whereby you see him actually mixing the band, and there may well be many underlying factors that are contributing to the bad sound which you may not necessarily be aware of. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 21 Jan 11 - 12:33 PM Told this story before...but still apposite. Ceilidh at Festival...Doing FOH sound. Drunk Morris dancer complains that he can't hear the Melodeon.. Point out to Drunk Morris dancer, that the tune is being played in Bb, on a Saxophone and the Melodeon player is at the bar, buying a beer and having a fag...(not needed on this tune) Drunk Morris dancer isn't satisfied, and demands "More Melodeon"... (resist temptation of punching Drunk Morris dancer....but only just) He fell over half an hour later anyway..! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Don Firth Date: 21 Jan 11 - 01:31 PM A few decades back, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy did a concert in Seattle. My wife and I went with a couple of friends. It was held in an auditorium at the University of Washington that seated maybe five-hundred people. Like an amphitheater, not a bad seat in the house. And in actuality, a PA system was unnecessary. Good acoustics and the place was not that big. But—the PA system was turned up so loud that it verged on the painful! At first, I thought that somebody had goofed and that it would be turned down, but no! After about the third song, we were thinking seriously about leaving. And several people did get up and leave. But we stuck it out. My ears rang for about three days afterward. Good concert, I think. I don't remember much about it except how bloody loud it was. I don't know what the sound folks were thinking, jamming the needles against the pegs like that. Bloody non compos mentis! Or, for that matter, Makem and Clancy for allowing it. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ray Date: 21 Jan 11 - 03:41 PM A band I sometimes play with, but not on this occasion, were playing a miners gala in Rotherham. During a break a neighbour came in to complain about the noise their drummer was making. They showed him the stage to demonstrate that they didn't actually have a drummer and went outside and, yes, you could distinctly hear a drummer. Turns out that Bruce Springsteen and his band were playing ..... 5 miles down the road. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Bernard Date: 21 Jan 11 - 04:57 PM What about this one, then... Some years ago I was doing sound at a local theatre (Davenport, Stockport) for Maynard Ferguson and the band he was touring with at the time. Late 1980s, as I recall. We were using a pair of Bose 802s for his foldback, and the Bose 1800 amplifier I was driving them with was clipping - but he wanted it louder...! He finally accepted that, as it was clipping, it wasn't going any louder... but I had complaints from the audience that he was far too loud. Nothing I could do, because he wasn't going through the main PA, and he wouldn't allow the foldback to be turned down! There was only his trumpet going through the foldback - he didn't want the band as well!! He did explain that he'd got so used to playing big venues with loads of power that he couldn't manage without the monitors. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Skivee Date: 21 Jan 11 - 06:39 PM 8:24 Guest, I had much the same response when we were doing a New Years Eve show in a gym in Annapolis. The doorwatcher was told to not let in anybody during the sound check. He thought we were being needlessly cruel to the folks standing out in the cold, so we were amazed to see him letting people in anyway. When our SE started exploring the acoustic properties of the room to find problem frequencies, he got some pretty harsh feedback. Several folks dramatically clamped hands over their ears and started shouting about the noise. I stopped that sound check, and told them that they were in early without our permission, that we knew it was painfully loud, that we needed this work done to insure the best sound during the actual concert, that our SE was doing his job, and that they could leave if they found it too much to bear; because the sound would not be lowered until we were satisfied with that aspect of the sound check. We replaced the doorman. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: John P Date: 21 Jan 11 - 08:01 PM The first thing I do when I show up to play at a venue is make friends with the PA person. I've seen musicians offer abuse to the sound engineer and I've always thought it was the dumbest thing to do just before someone has your sound in his hands. An old friend played in a rock band and usually used their own PA. He also did harmony vocals with a harmony machine. One show they had a singer-songwriter as an opening act who heaped abuse on them about the PA system. Lots of mean-spirited, foul abuse. Just before he started his first song, my friend pitch-shifted his vocal mike up by a quarter step. Instant karma! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: Skivee Date: 21 Jan 11 - 08:50 PM BTW, for those who might not know him, Seamus Kennedy is a highly experienced (old) performer who knows how to use a microphone. If he wants to vary his vocal dynamics, he doesn't need that to be done by the sound engineer. Neither does the SE need to adjust what Seamus is doing. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ray Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:56 AM ....oops! Ah the old harmoniser in the fold-back trick and the Davenport theatre - nostalgia isn't what it used to be! Do you remember the idiot they employed as a stage manager Bernard? A mate of mine said he wanted to throw him off the loading bay and another friend, who used to work part time as a follow spot operator, assured me someone already had. Whilst we are into anecdotes, I once had a roadie testing a radio mic - 1,2 - 1,2 - 24, 13 , 65, 49....... Suddenly the back door burst open and a stranger came in asking if we were using a radio mic. Turned out that he was a bingo caller over the road and it was breaking through on his system. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 23 Jan 11 - 12:46 AM I just fixed the sound on Ubuntu which has been playing up for months - it was distorted and crackly. I removed the 'Simultaneous Output to Audio Analog Stereo' output and reverted to just 'Internal Audio Analog Stereo' output. Whee! Yesterday i couldn't even spell 'Zound Inginar' - Now I are one! I'll get me hat ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 23 Jan 11 - 12:57 AM "I'm supposed to blow everybody out of their chairs to bring up the piano just for him. What can you do? You can't turn it up or it drown everything out. The mix is fine but he standing there expecting you to turn it up. So I turn up the volume of a knob on a channel I'm not using. Then I smile and shrug." My brother once worked in a Big name hotel as a night porter. One night he had a rather strange lady check in - all sorts of requests. Room Service - kitchen closed - slapped a couple of pieces of bread etc together. TV not working - well Adelaide TV closed at midnight in those days. Curtains too short - tugged them 'Now they're longer ma'am'" - she was happy. Went on till the police turned up asking if anyone had seen the escapee from the funny farm down the road ... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST Date: 23 Jan 11 - 11:21 AM Open air concert - no nasty acoustics or reflections to worry about - the world is your oyster - you can do almost anything with the sound and output levels - The manager of the venue informs us that there would be 6 enviornmental Officers spaced around the venue to ensure that the overall sound level would be monitored and the output must not go above 84dB with a top limit of 87dB (A weighted) all the sound level meters would be collated and recorded to a central lap-top pc. At the interval the Manager threatened me with dismissal as the levels had exceeded the stated maximum which had reached 104dB and they were in danger of losing their venue licence - the Assitant audio engineer explained to the irate Manager that there was no volume control to take down the level of the audience clapping/screaming/whstling with sheer excitement at the bands performance - this increased level was thankfully recorded on the lap top at the end of each song - my grateful thanks to a decent audio assistant.......what next I ask !!!!. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 23 Jan 11 - 11:33 AM Another gripe. Band member (instrument immaterial) "Can I borrow some Gaffa tape?" Me..."When do I get it back?" Band Member "Do you have 5 batteries for my various (unnecessary) foot pedals" Me..."Yes" Band Member "Can I have them?" Me..."No" Finally, Could drummers please not rehearse their seminal 15 minute solo, whilst I'm attaching microphones to their kit. A punch in the face often offends. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: Sound Engineers From: GUEST,Ray Date: 23 Jan 11 - 12:36 PM .......then was the time that a large morris side (run by a very well known and, I am told respected, British folk musician) insisted on rehearsing in the hall whilst we were trying to carry out sound checks. |
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