Iron Groove at Sarnia Artwalk 2011: Revisited

Okay folks, here are a couple videos that I am revisiting from Sarnia Artwalk 2011. I was mixing sound at the small stage during Artwalk weekend and working for local sound company Great Big Sound. It was a fun weekend and I had a blast mixing this band. Enjoy!

See Spot Run At Bridge Bash 2014 Point Edward, ON.

Alright! This past Thursday night, my wife and I attended "Bridge Bash 2014" in Sarnia at Point Edward. It was a great performance by See Spot Run. Found this great quality video of their song "Lucy" posted. Here it is: Enjoy!

Going Direct: The Ins and Outs of DI Boxes

Today, I found this great article on Prosoundweb.com talking about direct boxes. As a sound tech I have always had my questions about direct boxes and which types to use in live sound setups. This article is a great guide letting you know which type of DI box to use for all types of instrument hookups.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/going_direct_the_ins_outs_of_di_boxes1/

Over the years, I have used a number of brands of DI boxes for all kinds of audio hookups. One of my favourite brands is Radial Engineering. They are made in Canada out west and used my hundreds of audio professionals across the country.

Direct boxes come in two types: passive and active. Each type has its advantages and uses. (Note: the article has comments from seasoned audio professionals on the types of DI boxes they use.)

Here are some of the Direct Boxes that I have used over the years on stages:

BSS AR-133 Active Direct Box

 Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box

 Radial JDI Passive Direct Box

 Whirlwind IMP 2 Passive Direct Box

 Yorkville Sound YDI-1P Passive Direct Box

This is just handful of all direct boxes available on the market. Many of them are built tough to withstand the use and abuse on the concert stages of the world. Check out the manufacturer web sites for the complete lines of direct boxes available.

See Spot Run Appearing At Bridge Bash 2014

Coming up July 10-12, 2014, the Point Edward Optimist are getting ready for the annual "Bridge Bash" under the Bluewater Bridges. This year the band "See Spot Run" will be the closing performers on Thursday, July 10th. Opening for See Spot Run will be local bands: "The Barnburners" and "Squeeze Left". The evening entertainment kicks off at 7pm.

Here is the lineup for Bridge Bash 2014

Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 7:00pm

• The Barnburners
• Squeeze Left
• See Spot Run

Friday, July 11, 2014 at 6:00pm

• Corner Stone
• The Ropers
• Powerhouse
• Rock Ridje
• Rumblefish

Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 6:00pm

• Painkiller Jane
• Retrospect
• Bling Dog Molly
• The Room
• 3rd Wave

Admission is $5.00 for everyone and all proceeds go towards the building of a new splash pad in Point Edward. There will be a beer garden for 19+ on all 3 nights along with a family area with food and merchandise vendors onsite.

Bridge Bash is always a great time so, why not bring the family down for a few nights of great, local entertainment under the Bluewater Bridges in Point Edward.

I Am An Audio Engineer - T-Shirt

Okay, today I was browsing around on Facebook and I saw a picture of this great T-Shirt for all Audio Engineers. Check it out. Maybe there should be a "Canadian" version also.

Radial Introducing SB5W Wall-Mounted Stereo Direct Box (“WallDI”) At InfoComm 2014

What a cool idea! Radial Engineering has come up with a stereo DI box that can be mounted inside a standard wall socket. They will be featuring it at the InfoComm 2014 show in Las Vegas this year.

This is a really great idea! I can just see how it could be used for so many kinds of audio/video installations.
It would be a perfect fit for a school gymnasium installation where a basic stereo input is required to feed the audio signal from an MP3 player or a laptop computer or other line level signal source.

I look forward to reading the specs on this item and seeing how easy it is to integrate it into any kind of audio system/installation project. Here is a picture of the device:

Click on the following link to read the entry taken from the www.prosoundweb.com site:
http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/radial_introducing_sb5w_wall-mounted_stereo_direct_box_walldi_at_infocomm_2/

Too Old To Start A Business?

Is there ever an age when you are too old to start your own business?

Personally, I would like to start my own sound company business but, I wonder if I am too old to get into it.

I turned 45 this year and I still would like to put together a sound business. I would only be able to start a "part-time" business because, I still need my full-time job to live and take care of my family.

Currently, I work as freelance sound technician for local bands and events. Usually, I work with sound systems supplied by the artist or the venue. My main goal is to purchase pieces of sound gear and build my  own sound rig. I am 45 years old now and I feel that I am still not too old to work on creating a business. I would like to speak to other people who have done the same thing to see how it worked for them.

If there is anyone out there who has started a business later in life, I would appreciate any advice you may offer for my idea. Please contact me via email with your suggestions.

Thanks