Basics on live mixing/ sound techniques

[kktk]

I play in a band and do sound myself. I understand some simple basics, wiring and how to get a simple PA system to work. I usually manage to get a 7 piece band without too much trouble. But I really dont understand many things, dont use crossovers, dont understand mixing techniques, dont use compressors, limitors, expanders ---really cannot "command the system" the way it should be used!! [b]Where can I find information on how to improve on my skill set online? Any great books out there?[/b] I have the Sound Reinforcement handbook from Yamaha--but most of that gets too technical for me to understand. Something in more plain english would be great... Help.... Thanks K

[where02190]

Just do it. No better teacher IMHO than seat of the pants sometimes we fall down but get back up hands on doing. When in doubt less it more. One of the best mixes I eever heard was a festival I was working several years back with Cracker on the bill. Their FOH guy (who's name escapes me) bypassed all the channel eq's, dynamics and effects, got inputs gains and pushed up the faders. It sounded amazing. Hope this is helpful.

[kktk]

Well that is what I have been doing. My problem becomes time. On that day, we are in a time crunch no matter how early I show up there. I would love to get a chance to just do all this without a gig that night. I dont get to experiment(because of lack of knowledge) as time is always running out and I have to get the gig setup and getup on stage an play!!! :) Moreover, the more components I add, the more places where I can screw up. Putting it all together and making sense out of it really becomes difficult until you know what that piece was intended to do! thanks...K

[Gtoledo3]

[quote]Originally posted by where02190: [b]One of the best mixes I eever heard was a festival I was working several years back with Cracker on the bill. Their FOH guy (who's name escapes me) bypassed all the channel eq's, dynamics and effects, got inputs gains and pushed up the faders. It sounded amazing. [/b][/quote]Funny. Just the other night I was mixing sound at a place where the PA sounded horrible. A "soundtracks" mixer, whatever the hell that is. Well, I just turned all of the eq off, went over to the graphic and pushed everything flat, and instantly sounded 100% better. Check out [url=http://www.prosoundweb.com]www.prosoundweb.com[/url] They have a live sound reinforcement forum. I haven't checked it out, but it's worth a try.

[Valkyrie Sound]

[url=http://www.prosoundweb.com]www.prosoundweb.com[/url] .... is really good for Live... check out their classroom sections too. Also check out Live sound mag: http://www.livesoundint.com/archives/novdec2001/main.html EQ also has a pretty good Live sound section.... it's very basic and might be perfect for you on a monthly basis... I just hope they expand it! ;) Valky

[Rick K.]

I so recommend reading and studying. You'll save tons of money and not blow anything up!! What are you running FOH currently? Rick

[halljams]

Get [url=http://shop.store.yahoo.com/rehobothmusic/yamsounreinh.html]this[/url] book. It is a great start.

[where02190]

[quote]Originally posted by GT3: [b][QUOTE] A "soundtracks" mixer, whatever the hell that is. [/b][/quote]It's Soundtracs. British made, and often thought of as a Soundcraft knock off here in the USA, they are an excellent console, well made with great preamps. (IMHO Far better than SC) We use a Soundtracs SoloLogic console here in the studio, and I often work with a company that has several as live desks. They are excellent. However, relating to your situation, often times a decent house PA gets either butcherd by poor maintainence or a bad house engineer, who thinks his eq will work for every situation and no matter how many people are in the room. When I mix live(which is not too much these days) I always bring my won house graph if there is any question whether I will be allowed to change the house graph. I also always carry at elast vocal mics, which have been disinfected from the last act, so that I have a vocal mic I am familiar with (often I carry all my own mics) and also so the act I am workignw ith doesn't hae to inhale the last several hundred beer guzzling, germ infested singers before them. Hope this is helpful.

[kktk]

Thanks for the suggestions people. Already have the Yamaha book. Too technical for me at this point. Need something a bit easier to understand. As far as FOH's---right now we rent out stuff when we play(I know....!!!). So everytime I see new equipment and spend turning knobs till I get something going. Since I dont know the theory behind it...I experiment.!!!!

[where02190]

Apply to local sound companies for an internship.

[MusicMan]

The main thing for a novice is to understand what goes where and why. Everything you are hooking up eventually has an "in" end, or an "out" end to it's signal chain. A voice or sounds goes, "in" to a mic, the cable goes "out" of the mic "in" to the board, that signal goes "out" of the board, and "in" to a poweramp. Then "out" of the power amp "in" to a speaker cabinet, where the voice or sound comes "out" of the speaker. Understanding the routing of all signals is the first step, and will help you in the path to understanding how the gear in that signal path effects the signals. -john