 |
Urban Myths & Smokin’
Somebody has been feeding misinformation to our pal Roy. He wrote
in twice and I have taken the liberty of mixing and matching excerpts
from both his missives. Plus I have tagged on a heart-rending plea from
a soundman in a tragic fix.
Good Sir
YES, ROY!
I was hoping you grace us with your suggestions on mic'ing guitar
amps, placement and such.
WHEN YOU GO TO CONCERTS,
DO YOU EVER SEE THE TAPED “X” ON SOME POSER’S 4X12
CABINET? EITHER HIM OR HIS GUITAR TECH HAS PAINSTAKINGLY DETERMINED
THAT THIS IS THE SINGLE BEST-SOUNDING SPEAKER IN THE BOX.
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT AFTER COMBINING HIS INPUT WITH THE
115 DB CONNIPTION FIT THAT THE BASS PLAYER IS HAVING, AND THE DISTORTO-SPAZZ
ATTACK THAT THE OTHER GUITARIST IS EXPERIENCING ON HIS BRAND SPANKING
NEW SEVEN-STRING DIMEBAG/GUY FROM KORN/OFFICIAL SLIPKNOT AX FROM GUITAR
CENTER, PLUS THE WILD FLAILING OF THEIR DRUMMER THAT HAS THE CHROME
DOUBLE-KICK KIT WITH 14 CYMBALS, AND THE BESTIAL HOWLING OF THE PSEDUO-SATANIC
SINGER, THAT EVERY PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE WILL NOD THEIR HEADS KNOWINGLY
AND SAY:
“I’M SURE GLAD THEY DIDN’T MIC ONE
OF THOSE OTHER TWELVES!”
WHEW!
PERSONALLY, I PUT
THE MIC ON THE EDGE OF THE SPEAKER, ABOUT 2” OFF THE CAB. WHEN
IT IS A 4X12, I USE ONE OF THE UPPER SPEAKERS, UNLIKE MY COLLEAGUES
WHO SEEM TO REALLY LOVE THAT WAVE OF 150 HZ THAT ROLLS AROUND THE STAGE
ABOUT A FOOT OFF THE GROUND.
I ENCOURAGE PLAYERS WITH SMALLER
AMPS TO PUT THEM UP ON A CASE LID OR A CHAIR, TO GET IT OUT OF THAT
HELL-STREAM.
As well, is it true that compressors are only triggered by low freqencies?
NO, THAT IS AN URBAN
MYTH.
PERHAPS
YOU WERE MISLED BY THE TRUE FACT THAT IT TAKES MORE AMP POWER TO PUSH
SUBWOOFERS THAN HIGH-FREQUENCY SPEAKERS.
AN OLD SOUNDMAN TRICK
IS TO KNOCK DOWN 25 AND 31 ON YOUR GRAPHIC EQ AT FRONT OF HOUSE. THAT
WAY, THE AMP IS NOT STRUGGLING TO REPRODUCE THOSE FREQUENCIES, WHICH
ARE NOT IMPORTANT IN 99.99% OF TODAY’S POPULAR MUSIC.
OF
COURSE, THE CRYBABIES ON THE LIVE AUDIO BOARD WILL WHIMPER THAT BY DOING
SO YOU ARE TOTALLY WARPING YOUR PHASE RESPONSE.
DON’T LISTEN
TO THEM, ROY!
Also what are the pros and cons each of micing/DI'ing bass amps?
THE D.I. BRINGS THE SOUND TO YOU WITHOUT ANY OF THE
AMBIENT NOISE ONSTAGE BEING INCLUDED. IT CAN SEEM KIND OF DRY, THOUGH.
THE
MIC BRINGS YOU THE SOUND OF THE SPEAKERS (THE TONE OF WHICH THE PLAYER
ALLEGEDLY ENJOYS.) HOWEVER, IT CAN ALSO PICK UP A LOT OF THE CRAP NOISE
SWIRLING AROUND IN GENERAL.
GENERALLY I FIRST PUT UP THE D.I. LIKE THE WASHINGTON
MONUMENT AND THEN ADD SOME MIC AROUND THE EDGES FOR FATNESS.
And finally, the band my bar is hosting this weekend has a stand
up bass, and it sounds awesome!
Thanks –
Roy
PERHAPS YOU
ARE UNAWARE HOW SELDOM THAT IS THE CASE WITH UPRIGHT BASSES. OR MAYBE
YOU ARE, AND THAT IS WHY THE EXCLAMATION MARK.
EITHER WAY, I
SENSE THAT YOU DO NOT SHARE THE NEUROSIS OF OUR NEXT FRIEND HERE …
Hey old soundman
HEY, BUDDY
I've been doing FOH for 20 years. Local bands, wedding bands, every
dive or palace in the midwest.
I’VE
BEEN ALL OVER THE MIDWEST, BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE A PALACE THERE. LOTTA
DIVES, THOUGH.
I've had some dry spells where I've taken time off from the venues
and stayed in the shop.
YOU AND ME BOTH.
THE HEATER, THE MR. COFFEE, THE OLD TV, SOME RICKI LAKE, SOME “COPS”
…
When I'm not around mixers, and live sound, I can go a day or two
without smoking. Get me behind a fully wired ready to go rig, and I
can burn up 2 packs in a night.
OLD ROADIE, WHAT THE
HECK GETS INTO YOU?
I know it's bad for the equipment, I know it's bad for me ... but
I just can't help myself. Can you give me any insight as to why the
board makes me suck cigarettes?
Old roadie
I
HAVE SEEN MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES ENTER THE SAME ALTERED STATE YOU DESCRIBE.
BUT OLD ROADIE, IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT, HOW CAN I?
CHAINSMOKERS
REALLY HATE ME. I CAN HAVE ONE OR TWO NOW AND THEN, BUT NOT TURN INTO
THE ADDICTED DRAGON LIKE YOU DO.
I REALLY LIKE LITTLE CIGARS, YOU MIGHT TRY SOME. MACAROONS ARE GOOD,
I MEAN MACANUDOS! STAY AWAY FROM THOSE CHEAPO LIQOUR
STORE SPECIALS, OLD ROADIE. YOU NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE TO GET A
GOOD ONE.
DON’T
TRY THOSE PATCHES, THE GUM, OR THE PLASTIC CIGARETTES TO CHEW ON. THOSE
ARE JUST PRODUCTS OF THE CAPITALIST INSECT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF
YOUR SUFFERING.
HERE’S A SERIOUS SUGGESTION: TRY SOME YOGIC
BREATHING NEXT TIME YOU ARE HAVING A FIT.
IN THROUGH THE NOSE
AND THEN EXHALING OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH, TAKING THREE TIMES AS LONG
AS YOU DID WITH THE INHALE.
SEE IF THAT DOESN’T LIGHT
UP YOUR BRAIN AND TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE SMOKING.
AND, IT’S
FREE!
LUV –
- THE OLD SOUNDMAN
