One of the most important qualities of a great sound engineer is not only trying to prevent the issues from happening, but also how quickly and efficiently they can resolve problems. Although most of them usually have a simple solution, the main factor of success is how quickly one can pinpoint the exact piece of gear or the exact situation that is causing the headache. Learning to be a troubleshooting ninja takes time and experience, but can also be acquired more swiftly when keeping in mind some of the following points.
Read MoreThe only live mixing events I have been allowed to do in the past 6 months have been mixing school performances at the Music and Ballet Conservatory in Ljubljana, working with the students and teachers from their jazz department. It gave me an insight into how a person that does not have a lot of stage experience can be overwhelmed with the stress of being on stage and how we as sound engineers can help them.
Read MoreIn Slovenia, where I live, we had a brief moment of resuming work after almost six months back in September and I was able to get a few shows in before new restrictions were enforced. Those first shows were very revealing in terms of what seems to be working when getting behind the console after a long time - at least for me - and I thought I would share them with you.
Read MoreSession templates are a great tool for a modern sound engineer. They allow you to be efficient and fast, while on the other hand the process of their creation also provides an always needed opportunity to reflect on your own workflow and come up with ways of making it even better.
Read MoreIn the Sound Advice video series I try to bridge the gap between act members and sound engineers. In this article we talk about all the things guitar players should know about live sound. Let's work together to bring the best possible version of your rig's ultimate sound you are working so hard on to the audience. You can be a Fender or a Gibson fan, a Marshall or a Vox user, or fall into every little niche on the spectrum of how much effort you put into your guitar sound, the information in this video is universal to all electric guitar players. Here is what I talk about:
1. Matching Your Preset Levels
2. Considering the Entire Sound Path
3. Managing Your Stage Volume
4. Solving Monitoring Issues
5. The Use of Reverb and Delay
Are you still using graphic EQs for shaping your audio? Check out my latest video on how the GEQ actually affects your signal - you might change your mind.
Read MoreFreelance audio engineering life usually comes in waves in terms of the quantity of work. There are days where it seems like everyone and their mother is calling to mix their show, but you can also experience periods of time where you are not working gigs and you might have some time on your hands. During those times, however, there are still things you can do to stay in top mixing shape for your next show. Here are a few suggestions that work well for me.
Read MoreOne of the most common questions I get during the private lessons in my Guerrilla Mixing course is “which is the best console” or “which console should I buy”. Those conversations revealed that the term “best console” actually means different things to different people. I thought I might discuss the factors that determine why I would prefer to work with a particular console.
Read MoreI am a patient guy, but enough is enough. Someone has to speak out about the things that lessen the joy when doing shows. What is your pet peeve?
Read MoreI don’t know if there is a more divisive topic in the mixing-monitors-from-FOH world than whether one should mix monitors pre- or post-EQ. I have stumbled upon numerous discussions on forums and social media with engineers frantically arguing their side as the only valid approach. So I thought it would be wise to deconstruct this discussion and provide arguments for both sides and also a workaround to this ongoing battle.
Read MoreI truly believe that drawing comparisons with seemingly unrelated passions in our life can make us perform better and maybe sometimes even provide surprising and fresh solutions to complex situations.
Read MoreI wrote several articles on specific elements of getting ready for a show, but I never wrote about the entire procedure from the booking call to the event itself. In this article I will break down my process for a specific show I did a short while ago for a legendary singer/songwriter from Slovenia.
Read MoreI got asked a seemingly simple question recently: are sound engineers universal in their knowledge or are they specialized for specific sound applications and music genres? Can you call any professional sound engineer to do whatever type of an event?
Read MoreIf you are a singer, wanting to know more about the sound engineering process or if you are a sound engineer that wants to be more effective in their communication with vocalists, you came to the right place.
Read MoreIn a world of crazy channel counts with consoles that allow you to process more channels than ever possible, simplifying your setup is still a route that you should consider. By judiciously scrutinizing over your input list, you might realize that you can reduce the number of inputs on your console, the number of microphones and microphone stands on stage, and also the set-up time required for the act to get ready for the show.
Read MoreWhat will make you stand out as a great monitoring engineer is the speed at which you can perform the tasks of making all of those requests come true. To help me achieve that, here are five things that I always do when setting up my digital console for monitor mixing.
Read MoreEveryone wants to get ahead in their line of work. It’s how we have been raised, it’s what life coaches, motivators, influencers, social and mass media are telling us - if you are not bettering your career and making new opportunities for yourself, then you are not even stagnating, you are being left behind. So we all keep pushing for the next big tour, the next bigger band, larger production, better gear. However, the funny thing in the live audio business is that although being proactive when finding work is desirable, sticking out when you are actually doing your job might be counter productive.
Read MoreIn one of my previous articles I was discussing the question of whether or not anyone could learn sound engineering skills. But the feedback I got raised another musing: WHY would anyone want to become a live audio engineer?
Read MoreUsing reverb or any other effect in your mix will always be a matter of personal preference and taste. I just wanted to point out that even severe limitations can be quite “freeing” in the sense of reducing the number of choices we have to make and really utilising the tools we have to support the performance and enhance the message.
Read MoreEverything you do can be utterly satisfying, if it excites, intrigues and fuels you. That one thing for me is audio. The entire field, from music creation and production, studio work, live sound mixing to just enjoying a great piece of music is something that fills me with joy and energy. But as with everything in life, it can never be just fun and games - there are always a few situations or moments that can slightly spoil your mood and get under your skin. Nothing drastic or severe, just more of a nuisance that rubs you the wrong way. Welcome to my current list.
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