#1768769 - 06/19/07 06:21 PM
HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
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Zombierocker
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Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 1
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I am the sould tech for a local band in my town and I am having a major problem. Right now we only are playing at small clubs and private parties, which means we are only running microphones through the sound board. This is a big problem because that means that the band controls the instrument volume. They make the guitars and bass so loud that the songs are just noise and you can't hear the singer at all. It's so bad that the bass can play the drums, it just too loud. I have told them to keep the sound down, I have made signs which I raise to tell them while they are on stage that they are too loud, even people after the show have told them to turn it down, they don't listen. They don't understand that I can only bring up the microphones so loud before there is feedback, its a really old board.
The bad thing is that the leader of the band's father is there for all the shows and when I tell them to turn the amps down he tells them not to listen to me!
I could really use some help on this, I am desperate.
Also, if this is in the wrong area please forgive me. I am a bit frazzled.
_________________________
Time is fleeting....
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#1769531 - 06/21/07 09:56 AM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: Zombierocker]
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paully
Platinum Member
Registered: 05/25/04
Posts: 1028
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Simple. They obviously don't need or respect you. Unless you really need the money, quit. Bad sound is a reflection on you as much as it is on them. You don't need that.
Best, Paul
_________________________
WUDAYAKNOW.. For the first time in my life, I'm wrong again!!
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#1769720 - 06/21/07 04:14 PM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: paully]
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NUTT
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/13/03
Posts: 2278
Loc: Houston
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Ummm... how old are the guys in the band, like 14 or 15?
They need to learn a few things. One of them is that if they don't listen to the soundman, they will end up looking for a new soundman.
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#1801965 - 08/28/07 11:32 PM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: NUTT]
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paris
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Registered: 08/06/07
Posts: 21
Loc: Kamloops B.C.
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its too easy and convenient for the guys in the band to blame the sound guy when a gig goes bad, but obviously they are too hyped over their own sound level to get past what the audience hears. I agree with Paul and Nutt , unless you realy need this job , find another band to work with, on more than one occasion I have threatened to remove the volume pots off of the amps and replace them with fixed resisters. then I was lucky to work with some real pros and that was never an issue for them , I even had one well known lead player play through an old fender princeton practice amp and we miked it off through the front end and the sound was Crystal clear and yould swear he was using a stack the difference was these guys were playing for the audience not them selves.
Paris
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#1808187 - 09/10/07 07:35 PM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: paris]
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Paul K
Gold Member
Registered: 05/16/06
Posts: 895
Loc: Ithaca, NY
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Turn the bass and guitar amps around so they face the players like monitors do, and also point away from one another. Tilt their amps back so they shine right in their faces. If you can't do that, try getting their amps up off the floor and closer to their ears.
If you can't do either, then you don't have the magical ability to make chicken soup out of chicken feathers. Feedback would be happening even if you had a more expensive board; it ain't your fault. Get some ear plugs, drink the free beer and flirt with the ladies.
That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.
Peace
Paul K
Edited by Paul K (09/10/07 07:36 PM)
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#1819308 - 10/03/07 05:07 PM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: Paul K]
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BAss4Worship
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Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 18
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Do what they do in some bands, tell the singers to stop singing or let them walk off, the Bass and Guitar player needs to grow up. They not going to last very long.
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#1830092 - 10/25/07 10:31 AM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: Zombierocker]
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audiorulez
Senior Member
Registered: 06/20/07
Posts: 493
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The bad thing is that the leader of the band's father is there for all the shows and when I tell them to turn the amps down he tells them not to listen to me!
The root of your problem is the leader of the band's father. Next time this happens, stand your ground. Either they listen to you (the professional sound engineer) or dad, if the latter, then they need to look for a new sound engineer.
Consider getting an SPL meter(radio shack $40) and show them how loud the amps are, reminding them that permanent, irreversable damage can occur with levels over 94dbA in 15 minutes of exposure.
Or just tell dad to go f*ck himself.
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#1878508 - 01/24/08 03:19 AM
Re: HELP!!! New sound tech, old problem!
[Re: Zombierocker]
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bennardo
Senior Member
Registered: 11/21/06
Posts: 36
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Dump them. The politics are so messed you that you will never fix it.
Remember, if you think the sound reeks, then so do the PAYING customers. Get in good with the owner to run sound for the next band that gets hired.
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