From fxdlray@abbitt.org Fri Oct 23 22:58:35 2009
Subject:Re: Ventilator question/Stereo to be or not to be..


> Good you chimed in. I could have added that at a pro concert in an
> indoor arena, a stereo set up is sought and it caters to those who paid
> the most for the best seats and also depends on the act and their
> material. Good sound men and pro equipment are needed to achieve that.
> And with today's technology it includes many tricks, software etc.

I always run "stereo" mains. (Most of the time it is really dual
mono--both channels have the same info but the capability is there to
alter it if/when necessary) Usually the subs are dual mono too, but due to
the non-directional nature of the frequencies involved they pretty much
remain mono.

> Last pro concert I attended where the sound was balanced, FOH in
> relation to stage volume and for a stereo field, was for Toto. Lukather
> uses stereo effects as part of his Bob Bradshaw complicated setup, 3
> cabs- one dry, two for left and right and of course all three are
> mic'd. The sound "men" tamed the 20k seater domed arena (at least from
> where I was sitting, center of stage maybe 9 rows back) and in talking
> to the head FOH guy, he was still concerned he didn't do a good enough
> job. Yet the mix was full, well balanced, wide, stage volume did not
> mar the mains, and you could still talk to the person next to you.

The best FOH guys (like the best musicians) are never satisfied. The sad
part is that if you do a good job, nobody ever says anything. But if the
sound is bad regardless of whether it's your fault or not.......

> Depending on a particular instrument's role in a piece of music, will
> dictate how much of the mix that instrument occupies.

Of course this is easy when a band travels with their own sound engineer.
Where it gets more difficult (even ugly) is when they are at the mercy of
somebody who isn't familiar with their music (or even their type of music)
or worse yet doesn't like that type of music and mixes with the attitude
that "this is shit so why even try". (I attended an event where a Santana
"tribute" band played. During the first set there was absolutely NO organ
[and there was very obviously a Bill Beer Chop being played on stage]
During the break I suggested to one of the band members that they get
somebody out in the audience to listen--they did and suddenly the required
organ parts appeared. Now I just can't imagine anybody not noticing that,
but the guy at FOH either didn't know or didn't care.)

It's a challenge. You can't always mix your favorite kind of music, but
(at least in my mind) it is your duty to make the band sound the best that
they can whether you like them or not. Otherwise you should get the hell
out of the business. But it still comes down to trying to get the sound we
hear in our head same as it is with a musician. Challenging, yes. But it
is also rewarding.

-ray