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.
There’s nothing more important than groove in a solid tune, and groove is job number one for bassists – even when they’re going wild with virtuosic amazingness. That’s why the combo of bassist and drummer is called the rhythm section.
Live music performance has come a long way in the past thousand years, and modern performance has come even further in the past couple of decades. Amazing, innovative use of tech has let performers pull off fantastic feats – from aural experiences that just don’t exist in nature to epic, multi-part works presented by just one or two people.
Eons ago now, recording wasn’t done in homes or inexpensive offices. Especially mixing and mastering were left to finely tuned rooms with the highest quality acoustic treatment. But with the advent of digital recording technology, that started to change and now some of the best records are made in bedrooms.
Mixing in a live setting is a whole different animal than mixing in the studio. You’re dealing with crazy venue acoustics, random occurrences like drunken patrons or late band members, unpredictable power sources, time crunches, and usually – building your whole rig from scratch.
Gain staging is one of those concepts that many modern recordists don’t fully understand. This may be because it’s a little different in the digital world, but it’s still important. And of course, in live audio, everything is still analog. So, it’s a good idea to get a handle on gain staging.
Speed isn’t everything when mixing, but it is nice to get done with things and still have time for life and other work. Not to mention, if you’re busy or need to get a lot done, it’d be nice if every mix didn’t take three days. Here are some tried and true methods for speeding up mixes in the studio without sacrificing quality.
Upgrading your studio is one of the better ways to get new inspiration and energy, and of course it’s sometimes the only way to improve your music. But it’s not always about the biggest, most expensive purchase. Studio upgrades may include large and small purchases, but ultimately, they’re really about upgrading your music making. Here are few tips on making the most of your next studio upgrade.
Whether we’re talking about a guitar cabinet or a dedicated power amp in a large system, amplifiers are the backbone of any sound system. But amps are decently complex electronic devices. To function optimally, they need maintenance, and neglecting this can cause costly or annoying issues from bad sound all the way to complete failure. So, here are a few basic tips for keeping your amp in top shape.
As a live performer, whether solo, duo, or full band, your number one collaborator at the venue is the house sound engineer. Even if you have your own dedicated sound person, they’ll need to interface with the house engineer to get the job done right.
Whether you’re just getting a new act started or you’re looking to upgrade, there are more choices than ever when it comes to PA systems for your band. With so many options and so many different band scenarios, the choice is quite personal. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your band’s PA system.
