Our own Will Doggett and Rich Belgie show us how they are able to control all video cues, through midi, from a laptop used on stage to run clicks/loops. Check it out!
Gearheads
In Search Of A New Audio Console – Part 1
March 29th, 2012 | Posted in Gearheads
Well, it’s been an interesting time of discovery. It seems that our current sanctuary audio console is starting to show it’s age (like me!). Our current mixer (a Soundcraft Series 5) has begun to exhibit more and more issues with pots, faders, intermittencies, etc..
Preparing for a music recording project
August 1st, 2011 | Posted in Gearheads
This month’s topic is one that is dear to me, as I have spent many years working in recording studios, both in the secular world and in church-studio environments. Times have changed, and so have the means and methods used to record music.
Audio Gear Review: Audient Zen console
May 16th, 2011 | Posted in Articles, Gearheads
We’ve been looking for a new studio console for a while. Our head engineer Michael Grosso wanted something analog with lots of routing options. Out of the consoles we found, most were either lacking enough routing options or channels, or they were just too expensive.
Analog or Digital?
August 4th, 2010 | Posted in Gearheads
Well campers, it’s time to change things up a bit. I’ve decided that the timing is right to deal with an audio topic that’s a bit more personal and more controversial. It’s hardly a new topic but the subject I’m referring to is the debate over the use of analog vs. digital mixing consoles. Which [...]
Ambient Effects in Mixing Live Audio
April 28th, 2010 | Posted in Gearheads
A few basics on the use of ambient effects in mixing live audio. For those new to mixing audio, I decided to address some basics on using and understanding the need for ambient effects. Though this is very basic for some, I think it is still a topic that needs a little explanation for the [...]
Microphone Design – a brief primer
February 12th, 2010 | Posted in Gearheads
To the average person, it would seem that all microphones are created equal – “you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” or “a mic is a mic.” But to anyone who is exposed to life in the pro audio world, it quickly becomes apparent that there are a multitude of different types, designs, shapes, sizes, [...]
Compressor/Limiter Mysteries Explored – Part 2
November 18th, 2009 | Posted in Gearheads
Well, as promised in my last tirade about the use of compressors in mixing live audio, I will attempt and describe the most common set of adjustments available on your average audio compressor/limiter. Though some compressor designers throw in a few more controls to make it even more interesting (i.e. “knee” adjustment, side-chain filters, etc.), [...]
Noise Gates – Part 2: What do all these knobs do?
August 6th, 2009 | Posted in Gearheads
In Noise Gates – Part 1 we discussed some of the various uses of the noise gate in live audio mixing. In this installment we’ll look a little closer at the various noise-gate controls and their respective functions. The most common parameters found on the typical noise gate are Threshold, Ratio (sometimes called Range), Attack, [...]
Noise Gates
August 6th, 2009 | Posted in Gearheads
What’s a noise gate…and how do I use it? In an earlier tech note that I called “Stage Mud”, I casually mentioned the use of noise gates to help in taming what I call stage mud. I’ve had many people ask me about what noise gates are used for and how to adjust them. So [...]