Seasoned musicians will recognize a potential gig nightmare before it happens. But not every nightmare is avoidable. We’ll discuss a few examples, preventative strategies and how to deal with gig nightmares.
Going wireless can be fun and liberating if you’ve ever found a cable to be very cumbersome and restraining. However, not every gig needs to go fully wireless. Let’s take a look at best practices and how to prepare for using wireless at your gig.
In a perfect world, we would all have a dedicated mix engineer and all the processing we could imagine to create a dream vocal mix. But more often than not, musicians are having to mix their own sound. This article will explore some tips on mixing vocals live.
We already know that “Just fix it in the mix” might be the worst phrase ever uttered in a recording studio. It’s crucial to get things right at each stage, rather than passing mistakes along the chain when they’re harder to handle. But even more than that, a great mix can be dictated early in the process of writing and production by arranging songs so that they basically mix themselves.
Dealing with feedback can be extremely frustrating and a never-ending task unless you know a few of the basic principles for live performances. This article will explore two different types of feedback and explore the solutions to help eliminate the problem.
The stereo format is pretty amazing. Because we have two ears and a whole host of processing power in our brains, two simple channels can do a lot to create a sense of immersive space and bring us into the music. In modern mixing, a lot of thought is put into space, including making mixes sound wider and deeper. So, let’s look at a few ways we can do just that.
Compression is one of the most important and misunderstood tools in an audio arsenal. In previous posts, we’ve talked about using compression on stage and compression tips specifically for bassists, but here we’ll introduce a slightly more esoteric tool – multiband compression.
Clarity is job one when mixing, especially in modern recording. Even when your goal is a wall of sound, you still need a certain clarity, or you can easily find yourself in a muddy mess. So, we thought we’d talk about some slightly more advanced EQ and compression techniques for that purpose. We chose to put these two together because the combination of EQ and compression is a huge part of how modern mixers achieve such pristine clarity.
Check out the Carvin Audio TRC Active Column Array Systems in action. TRC Powered Column Array Systems offer portability with high SPL levels that project up to 400’ with exceptional clarity. Unsurpassed high frequency and deep bass response will place the audience in the center of your performance. TRC Systems are scalable and are available in 2000W, 4000W, and 8000W models.
Possibly the biggest, most annoying challenge of playing live is having to handle your own sound. It can split your focus, double your workload, and compromise both sound quality and your performance. Nevertheless, it’s a necessity in many cases, and despite the challenge, it is doable. So, we’ll talk here about a few techniques for making it easier.
Compression is one of the most important tools in any producer or audio engineer’s playbook, but it’s often misunderstood. It’s often thought of as mysterious and hard to get, but in truth, it’s not that complicated. Here, we’ll start you off with a basic overview – compression 101, if you will. If you’re brand new, this should help you lay a solid foundation, and if you’re a salty old veteran, this review may clear a few things up or just remind you of the basics.
