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Live Sound Bootcamp, Season 2, Episode 1: Optimizing The Kick Drum Input
Take a deep dive into drum sizes, heads, tuning, mics, EQ, dynamics and more in an entire episode dedicated to the biggest drum.
August 30, 2021
Take a deep dive into drum sizes, heads, tuning, mics, EQ, dynamics and more in an entire episode dedicated to the biggest drum.
Some of the options and tools available to mix engineers to get the most out of a system that’s “too small for the gig.”
Talking with the noted mix engineer about perspective, what to pay attention to, the path that has led him to mixing some of the biggest acts in the world, and more.
What can I do to make live mixes feel “louder” without actually just turning them up? And what about streaming mixes?
What happens when you simply don’t have enough hands to make the changes from song-to-song quickly enough?
Steps that can be taken in advance to avoid feedback in the first place as well as common scenarios where practitioners should focus their efforts to efficiently clean up the situation.
A look at the causes of feedback, the most likely sources, how to tell where it’s coming from, tools to combat it and more.
When to use a fader versus when to compress? When to boost versus cut on an EQ? Is there an order to follow?
Ryan O John is a musician turned engineer, turned product designer, turned podcast host. He was playing instruments by 5 years old, with his first shows at age 12, recording his own albums by 13, and touring by 16 — he leans heavily toward the geeky side of sound. From small local clubs to international stadiums, metal to pop, Ryan’s career in live sound mixing has covered a lot of ground traveling the world with a ton of artists including Jessie J, Andy Grammer, Tove Lo, Banks, Liam Payne, Capital Cities and many more. Beyond just touring with pop and rock acts, he also designs audio consoles and software, mix records, and race cars.
Brendan Dreaper picked up the drums in middle school, live music became an important part of his life. With a number of diversions under his belt, which included studying economics and working as a professional glassblower, he returned to music and found his footing behind the mixing console. Working from bar gigs to local festivals and eventually to touring with Magic! and Snoh Aalegra, Brendan has had the pleasure of making live music happen. Outside of geeking out about live sound on a podcast, he likes to play drums with the band vverevvolf, produce music and get real nerdy about anything Lord of the Rings related.
The third member of the trio, Joe Santarpia, is a live sound and recording/mixing engineer of 15 years, Tour Manager, Musician and Producer. His touring resume includes Mac Demarco, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Connan Mockasin, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Inner Circle and others. Joe was a former staff engineer at Circle House Studios in Miami, FL and Faultline Studios (RIP) in San Francisco. during his free time he is an electronics hobbyist and recreational ice hockey player.