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Friday, January 13, 2012
Old Soundman
01/13/12 10:40 AM,
Dear Old Soundman: Recently I’ve been doing many more concerts where concert grand pianos are being played (and in some cases two at the same time) by very talented musicians. My question is directed at providing the very best sound reinforcement possible in an outdoor environment for these pianos. I’ve tried a number of combinations, and last year did several shows using two Shure SM81 condensers. I placed each a few inches over the strings, essentially horizontal (aiming down the…
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Thursday, January 05, 2012
Old Soundman
01/05/12 02:45 PM,
Dear Old Soundman: Studio engineers verses front-of-house engineers - can they be one and the same? Studio guys don’t want to let us get a shot at their jobs, because we would wipe the floor with them! Unfortunately, we would also wipe the floor with their clients! Do I really want to spend three months listening to some rock star (who tries to pretend he’s a man of the people) reveal how completely dependent he is on the click track,…
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Old Soundman
12/13/11 11:08 AM,
There’s so much hating going on nowadays! We even see it among over-the-hill yuppie sound guys who have heard songs by a certain band played too many times to check sound systems nationwide. But I’m not going to pile on the crowd of haters! Not even when I receive notes like this one from Tim. No! The OSM is on the love trip! Dear OSM: When you’re preparing for a rock gig at your club, what tunes do you like…
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Old Soundman
11/22/11 08:49 AM,
Somebody has been feeding misinformation to our pal Roy here. He wrote in twice and I have taken the liberty of mixing and matching excerpts from both his missives. Good Sir - Yes, Roy! I was hoping you would 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 4 x 12 cabinet? Either he or his guitar tech has painstakingly determined that…
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Old Soundman
09/16/11 02:14 PM,
3 Comments
Hey OSM Hey Dan! Yoko Onos. You know what I mean, I’m sure everyone who has sat behind a sound board knows what I mean. The know-it-all girl friends of the prima-donna lead singers. Oh, yes. And really, they can be the girlfriend of any band member. Her guy is always not loud enough in the mix. But a word of caution, Dan. Please do not libel Yoko Ono. I know that it is tempting to blame her for the…
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Monday, September 05, 2011
Old Soundman
09/05/11 11:37 AM,
Here’s one of those situations that make you wonder about your career choice or where you are in your life path. Pay close attention, our buddy Brian is showing us how to keep the disgustedness in check and not resort to a brick through the front window of this fine establishment… Dear OSM: O.K., try this one out… Hit me with it, Bri! Let me have it! You just found out the band you regularly mix for has a gig…
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Monday, August 22, 2011
PSW Staff
08/22/11 06:21 PM,
0 Comments
Greetings, Old Soundman, from the Great North Woods - And greetings to you from my secret location. Dick Cheney’s got nothing on me! I’m not all that old, only been riding the faders for a few years now. Ride ‘em, soundman! Yee-ha!! Hey, did you ever hear of the X Bar X Boys? The calluses are just about right on my fingers and in my ears. What a bizarre viewpoint you have. I don’t really like to think about calluses.…
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Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Old Soundman
08/09/11 04:03 PM,
3 Comments
Dear Old Soundman: I’ve been asked to be the “sound dude” (or “concert operations manager” as I prefer to call it)... That’s kind of funny, but also kind of silly. Don’t get me wrong, when I was a young pup like you, titles meant a lot to me too. ...for a local band, since once upon a time I was a “roadie” for the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Randy Travis, Sammy Kershaw and others. Hey, what’s Randy Travis really…
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Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Old Soundman
08/02/11 05:11 PM,
1 Comment
Hello Old Soundman: Greetings from the shore, where the clams and oysters are fresh but the local celebrity DJ’s gear is not. Then throw it out like you would do with bad seafood! But I guess that would get you in trouble. You probably want to keep your job – it sounds pretty swinging by the ocean. I normally don’t have a problem with visiting DJs when I put them on stage to spin tunes. I set my channel EQ…
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
PSW Staff
07/20/11 04:51 PM,
1 Comment
Dear Old Soundman, I occassionally run sound for a band that tends to play at local hole-in-the-wall venues. O.K., we feel sorry for you, now move on! The “stage” for the band is always in one of two places: a nice boomy corner, or better yet, right in front of a brick or paneled wall. One of many problems I run into (including the lead guitarist who insists he hears better with his knees)… I know that guy! And I…
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