rogue_drummer
Gold Member
This may be the "same old same old", so forgive me if this thread is redundant.
I'll try to be short. I usually play every week in my church's p and w band, either on the kit or congas/djembe. Yesterday I took a break from it all (per arrangement with the director) and was just a member sitting in the congregation with the family. I did this for two reasons 1) primarily to give myself a break from an early rehearsal call of 7:30 am and sleep in a bit, and 2) to hear for myself the quality of the sound coming thru the PA system. I had heard previous rumblings from some people about the sound, so I wanted to check it out for myself.
Big mistake. Or good idea depending....
So I'm sitting there listening to my buddies up on stage playing. Holy %$#*&^(^% !!!
It sounded bloody AWEFUL!!! Not the quality of musicanship, mind you, but the overall sound mixed and coming thru the PA system. Man it was horrible!!
1) the drums are in a plexiglass cage. They sounded muted to the max, like coming from a room down the hall,
2) I couldn't hear the choir at all (usually average 15 - 20 members every week.)
3) the lead guitar player who is a veteran from the LA bar band scene and very good, could barely be heard on his solos,
4) never heard the piano,
5) never heard any ryhthm guitar.
6) only person clearly audible was the director - she plays rhythm and sings.
These are all part-time volunteer postions, including the audio techs, who are friends of mine. The only paid position is the director, she's full time staff. Now that we are all comfortable working with each other and playing together, this now becomes sort of a delicate matter.
Something clearly has to be done to "fix" the mix. I'm not sure if this is the way the powers that be want it to sound, but man, I certainly hope not.
How would you guys go about approaching this problem? So as not to hurt anyone's feelings or "be another person offering up his opinion", so to speak. I don't want to come off as a "know it all", but if you guys (and gals) could hear this PA and mix, y'all would understand my concerns.
Any ideas?
I'll try to be short. I usually play every week in my church's p and w band, either on the kit or congas/djembe. Yesterday I took a break from it all (per arrangement with the director) and was just a member sitting in the congregation with the family. I did this for two reasons 1) primarily to give myself a break from an early rehearsal call of 7:30 am and sleep in a bit, and 2) to hear for myself the quality of the sound coming thru the PA system. I had heard previous rumblings from some people about the sound, so I wanted to check it out for myself.
Big mistake. Or good idea depending....
So I'm sitting there listening to my buddies up on stage playing. Holy %$#*&^(^% !!!
It sounded bloody AWEFUL!!! Not the quality of musicanship, mind you, but the overall sound mixed and coming thru the PA system. Man it was horrible!!
1) the drums are in a plexiglass cage. They sounded muted to the max, like coming from a room down the hall,
2) I couldn't hear the choir at all (usually average 15 - 20 members every week.)
3) the lead guitar player who is a veteran from the LA bar band scene and very good, could barely be heard on his solos,
4) never heard the piano,
5) never heard any ryhthm guitar.
6) only person clearly audible was the director - she plays rhythm and sings.
These are all part-time volunteer postions, including the audio techs, who are friends of mine. The only paid position is the director, she's full time staff. Now that we are all comfortable working with each other and playing together, this now becomes sort of a delicate matter.
Something clearly has to be done to "fix" the mix. I'm not sure if this is the way the powers that be want it to sound, but man, I certainly hope not.
How would you guys go about approaching this problem? So as not to hurt anyone's feelings or "be another person offering up his opinion", so to speak. I don't want to come off as a "know it all", but if you guys (and gals) could hear this PA and mix, y'all would understand my concerns.
Any ideas?