Michael: Why does one Prism rig sound beautiful and even and another sound gak nasty? Operator error?
Craig: Lots of reasons why one show sounds different to another. Mix engineer, system engineer set up, sucky poo band (a technical term), bad acoustics.
Michael: Have you used HLA sub?
Craig: I have not used the HLA sub itself but have used the same JBL driver in similar box constructions and porting. It is a good 18” sub.
miffe: Which one of the HLA sub drivers? DCD or the older Super Vented Gap?
Craig: Older Super Vented Gap.
Denny Strauser: Are the Bag End subs capable of doing large shows? (Indoor arenas & sheds)
Craig: Sure. Just remember that they are a sealed box and thus do not have the efficiency of a port. In larger arrays this becomes less of an issue, though. Ground loading helps greatly as well. The efficiency of a sealed box allows you to get a huge number of drivers in a given space. Lots of good approaches to subs.
Van Metschke: I was quite impressed with the Bag End sub you showed me in Dallas.
Craig: Hi Van! Call me tomorrow, I have an answer to your Yamaha question.
Charles: On a slightly different topic, do you find yourself installing more LCR (left-center-right) systems today than stereo systems? If so, why? Is it a specific client request or your suggestion?
Craig: We do a lot of LCR systems because many of our clients are large churches where both music (best supported by stereo) and speech (best supported by center cluster) are needed. I personally really like to mix on a true LCR system as it provides a lot more opportunity to “image” the sound and pull the lead vocal out of the mix.
yamama3000: Then the need for a LCR console or center off a matrice?
Craig: Mixing an LCR system with a LR console is a pain in the butt. I like what Midas has done with the proportional mix split approach to LCR. Allen & Heath does a similar thing on its LCR boards.
yamama3000: Vocal OUT of the mix? You mean IN, right??
Craig: Sorry – I mean the vocal jumps “out” at you.
lilbob: How do you deal with coverage issues with vocal only in a center cluster?
Craig: Each cluster must cover all of the room …or the signal from the center must be matrixed to the outer firing cabinets of the LR clusters. The latter is the more common.
yamama3000: How much mixing do you get to do these days?
Craig: I still mix on contract once in a while. Often mix the opening event of our projects. I’m a better designer than mixer though….
lilbob: Do you spec a broader coverage array in the center?
Craig: Yup, sometimes the center coverage is a little wider. It really depends on the seating configuration and how much of a thrust stage there is.
Scott R: Where do you like reverb (on the vocal) on a LCR? C, LR, or both?
Craig: For solo vocal I like to place it in the center and pan verb to LR. Depends on song though.