Drum sound is one of the most prevailing and all-consuming topics in live sound. Whenever I attend webinars, lectures or seminars given by engineers, or even during my teaching experience, most people want to know how to get a great sounding drum. This is partly because a drum kit is in most cases the most complex instrument on stage we have to tackle, partly because having a great sounding drum translates into a great sounding show. The beat element in music is so primal and so rooted in our bodies that we tend to intently focus on it as listeners, which means that sound engineers across the globe spend hours and hours of their time getting the drum sound just right. That being said, drummers can make our jobs much easier if they know what can help us get there.
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It seems like something you don’t really need to thing about. You have a microphone on a stand and a mic cable - just connect the two together and you are done, right? Well, yes, but you should take a moment to take care of how the mic cable actually wraps around the mic stand. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, I made a short video about it.
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Freelance 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.
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One 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 MoreA great big thanks to everyone who followed and supported me on my journey this year. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year. I hope you get to mix bigger and better shows. All the best!
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I 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?
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I 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.
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I 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.
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I 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?
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If 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.
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In 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.
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What 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.
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Everyone 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.
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In 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?
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Using 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.
Read MoreIf DJing is something you want to pursue long term, you should also be aware of what is going on after your mix leaves the DJ mixer. Having a grasp on the technical side of your passion can influence the way you prepare your tracks and how you approach your setup, so I hope these tips will help you take the next step in getting to your sound.
Read MoreFrom my own experience, and that of fellow engineers, this perfect world is about as common as a unicorn dancing on a pot of gold underneath a rainbow. In the real world we have the exact opposite - wrong or no information and everything needs to happen 5 minutes ago. Mixing in such an environment, where you are forced to react rather than prepare, is what I call “guerrilla mixing”. And chances are you are fighting the same petty warfare as well ...
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