DVD-Software.info

[KGT]

I would post this on music.makers.band but they no longer seem to
define bands as live performing groups with live audio issues. They
seem more about playing each others new Hip Hop MP3 s etc.
I thought in my 30 yrs I'd seen most everything strange a local
Musician can do, this caught me by surprise. I play keys, mostly
piano/organ, in Blues/Rock so I'm usually struggling to be heard even
with my 400W JBL EON G2. Last nite's audition in a basement practice
room ~15X18 6.5ceilings I started the first tune and "Boom- Boom" the
economy JBL 15+1 on a stick next to my head was pumping copious kick!
To make it worse the drummer had poor meter and kept speeding up. I
couldn't hear the bassist 8 ft away or myself just some guitar and
BAM BAM! After the first song, some Stevie Ray beat to death tune, I
asked why the kick was mic'd & so loud. Drummer said "I tune it so dead
you can't hear it without PA help!" He did turn it down to just
marginal ear bleed level to his credit.
These guys were my age (old as dirt) and quite experienced so they had
no excuse. Why do some bands still insist on rehearsing at near stage
levels? I've learned and become accustomed to very moderate levels with
minimal gear that doesn't have to replicate every last note and Watt
and box from the live rig.

Kevin T

[Skeeter]

Hi Kevin,

Get away from these clowns. What kind of "audition" is this? Run one
of those cheap JBL mains right next to the drummer's head so you can
turn the sound down and he can hear himself. It sounds like a bunch of
middle aged "wanna be's" that don't really perform as a business. It
sounds like they are getting their jollies by blowing each others heads
off in a buddie's basement rather than perparing for a perfomance.

You are absolutely correct in that a rehearsal or practice should be
run at the lowest levels possible to be able to hear everything that
may need help from rearranging, or playing technique. Turning up the
levels in a rehearsal just masks any deficiencies by "steamrolling"
everything with a wall of sound. Great for a rush, but that's about
it.

If a performer or group can sound great at a low volume, it will always
sound fantastic when it is time to "turn it up." If these mature,
experienced performers will not wise up and grow up, get the hell out
of there.

All the best to you,
Skeeter.

[Tim Scott]

"Skeeter" <harpmeister@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:1131554846.906216.114520@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

[Skeeter]

Hi Tim,

Fair comment and good advice. From the description of the "audition"
that Kevin provided, I doubt very much that there will be a FOH
engineer present at an engagement with this group. Maybe I'm wrong, it
wouldn't be the first time. The scene described just has the feeling
of a group of poorly prepared guys playing for beer money at the local
pub. I hope that my premonitions regarding this are wrong.

Cheers,
Skeeter

[Phildo]

"Tim Scott" <timscott18@nospamplease.spamarrest.com> wrote in message
news:3tf2dbFsj9iiU1@individual.net...

[KGT]

Skeeter

You nailed it and thats my life. Playing weekends for $50-$100 in pubs
is about the only thrill I get at this late stage of life. I have a
good corporate audio job at Motorola but not much time/energy after
that. So weekend warrior is the best I can do. And yes very few gigs
around here come with (or can afford) a soundman so my sound skills
come in handy.

Kevin Tracy

[Tim Scott]

"Phildo" <Phil@phildo.net> wrote in message
news:3tf476Fsbq7bU1@individual.net...

[Geoff@work]

"Tim Scott" <timscott18@nospamplease.spamarrest.com> wrote in message

[Rob Beech]

"KGT" <kgtracy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1131545733.229362.159190@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

[Skeeter]

Hi Kevin,

Sorry if I may have seemed a bit condescending in my description of
your situation. No offence intended. Playing for weekend thrills and
a bit of beer money can still be fun. But you seriously have to get
these guys under control if you want to have fun. Playing with people
who don't have the desire to get the music done right can be a painful
experience.

Have a meeting with them. Put a beer in everyone's hand and have a few
munchies to keep them with you for 15 minutes. Explain how much more
fun performing will be if everyone plays it as a team, and that
rehearsals need to be used to work out any issues and polish the act.
Practicing at low SPL is essential to understanding exactly how well
everyone is performing. If they won't agree to commit to a little
sanity, get looking for another group.

Best of luck Kevin,
Skeeter.

[Ron Capik]

KGT wrote:

[Ron Cole]

Hi Kevin

I've been there as well, now the group I'm with now is a way more sensible
when it comes to levels, and to take it a step further, we rehearse 100%
under headphones, using a Behringer 8 channel headphone amp. The drums are
mic'ed, and we run the board in a stereo mode , the headphone mix is a total
combination of all instruments and singers, so to get a good sound we play
to the mix, and to be honest we've gotten a whole lot better for it.
Harmonies , guitar solo's , you name it , they've all improved. So if you
where to walk by the rehearsal location all you'd hear are the drums and the
odd singer, this also allows us to practice without the neighbors
complaining .... best move I've made , so easy on my ears !!

Hope this helps.


"KGT" <kgtracy@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1131545733.229362.159190@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

[John O]

[KGT]

Thank everyone

Good ideas some more practical & affordable than others. Good news, I
solved the audition bands problem. I told them its too far (and it was)
to drive weekly. I did tell the guitarist ( My friend who begged me to
audition) the truth about "BAM BAM" and my minimalist approch. We're
still friends and they're still looking for keys :)

Thanks
Kevin T