Audio, a work in progress

Well, we've been in this new building for almost a year, and still, the audio needs help. The latest addition, speakers on the stage, and subs on the floor.

The speakers on the stage are to provide coverage to those folks in the first few rows of seats who are not in the main coverage pattern of the flown speakers. Unfortuneately, near as I can tell, there is no trim on the speakers in order to attenuate the one within 2 feet of a seat vs. those 6 feet away. And, these are great when seated, but as soon as the audience stands, guess what, no coverage to the 2nd row of seats (assuming of course that people are in the 1st row. :-) )

The subs on the floor, more to come by the way, are to get more umph in the bottom end, move some air, compress your chest as the kick drum is played. So, those of you who like the low end, go ahead and sit closer to the stage since that's where the initial impact of air movement will be felt. I could feel it pretty good during rehearsal last Wednesday, but didn't really feel it this past Sunday. I wasn't mixing though. :-)

And that brings up another point. Those of us who mix at front of house, do have our own styles. I tend to be more rock 'n roll, and others tend to be more musical or studio-like. We each use our giftings and knowledge the best we can for the moment. Grant it, in live audio, there's no re-do, you just roll with it, hope you get no feedback, and that the mics are opened when they should be. Sure, we make mistakes, and no one is perfect. We try to get a good mix with all the distractions of others relaying information to us while in the heat of mixing. It isn't easy and takes a certain kind of personality to deal with (or ignore) "it". There are some in the audience who loved the mix and some who didn't. There are those who have been in bands, are still in bands, and have a thing or two to say. We just roll with it, take what we can from it and hope to be better and better as time rolls on.

Think about it. A front of house guy can't really take his instrument home to practice, so the only practice we get is during rehearsals or live shows. That's why the better ones have been doing it for a long time. The really good ones keep on learning.

We've all heard the "God isn't finished with me yet", and so it is with audio. We're not finished yet either. More enhancements to come.

Serving Him in sound reinforcement,

Ken