Understanding Impedance - Speaker specifications explained - Part 3
LearningThere's no way to get around impedance when looking at speaker specs. Its rating is important to avoid frying up your amp, but also because the small details of an impedance curve reveal a lot about …
Understanding Directivity - Speaker specifications explained - Part 2
LearningThe directivity of a speaker is an important characteristic when defining the size of the listening zone, and it determines how the frequencies will balance, depending on the position of the listener.
Understanding Frequency Response - Speaker specifications explained - Part 1
LearningThroughout the relatively short lifetime of PA systems, both manufacturers and users have thought about ways to evaluate the performance of a system as objectively as possible.
Classic Gear Spotlight: The Versatile and Durable Shure… - The Legendary SM57
LearningThe Shure SM57 arrived on the scene in 1965 and quickly became a fixture in the pro audio world. The versatile, solidly built, yet inexpensive dynamic mic is great for guitar cabinets, snare drums, h…
Helpful Advice for Before, During, and After the Show - 10 Tips for Successful Gigging
LearningAs a musician, you've probably experienced the near-euphoric feeling of playing a gig in which everything is going right: you’re playing well, the crowd is into it, and the sound is good. Conversely,…
You Can't Make Magic Without the Basics - Top 10 Things That Can Never Be Taught Often Enough In Audio
Learning10. Musicians feel most comfortable and play best when they hear what they need to hear on the stage. Of course, the experienced monitor guys and recording guys already know this. But it’s something…
Audience Mic Techniques to Enhance Recordings - Capturing The Energy Of Live Shows
LearningWhat makes a live recording sound live? The audience, of course. A live recording is all about the energy of the event, and that energy comes from the crowd, so some real thought has to be given as …
Setting Up the Lead Vocal Mic for The Red Hot Chili Pep… - Details, Details: Setting Up Snake Channel 24
LearningThe attention to detail that takes place in preparing a rock show can be mind boggling. For example, I listed out the factors we account for in setting up the lead vocal mic for the Red Hot Chili Pe…
In The Round On Current Tour - U2 360°: Redefining Stadium Sound
LearningGrand, colossal, gargantuan… Mammoth, immense, monumental… Promethean, towering, or just plain walloping huge - get out the thesaurus for more adjectives to adequately describe the size and scope of …
Meeting Multiple Needs for the Biggest Night in Music - Live Sound: 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
LearningIt wasn’t the promise of a performance by Lady Gaga that drew me in to watch the Grammys this year, but rather, some added motivation in having the opportunity to check out the live and broadcast sou…
Multi-Channel Micing for Live Sound - Capturing Guitar Amps in the Wild
LearningThere are almost as many ways to capture guitar amplifier sound with a microphone as there are for a piano. And as with piano (and kick and snare drum, for that matter) single-mic approaches can’t al…
Masters of their Craft - On Tour: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
LearningModern technology reveals traditional sounds for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 2010 tour.
7 Things You Should Never Do While Mixing - Live Sound Mixing
LearningTop 7 tips to learn and live by when you are behind the mixing console at a live show.
Fergie, Will.i.am, Taboo and Apl.de.ap are Off to See t… - The Black Eyed Peas: Live Sound on Tour
LearningAfter a few summer festivals, The Black Eyed Peas’ The Energy Never Dies tour began with September shows in Japan and October shows “down under.”
Line Array-Type Systems' Industry Dominance in Live Sou… - Zoned, Summed & Line Array Structures
LearningWhy are line arrays so popular? Are they a fad or here to stay? And what will be the “next big thing”?
