Mixing Monitors From Front of House with a Cue Wedge

The other day I was reading an article on ProSoundWeb.com about mixing stage monitors from the Front of House console. The article pertained to church sound but, could also be used for standard mixing in bars, clubs, and other venues.

The process involves using a stage monitor speaker as a "cue wedge" so that you can hear each monitor mix at the FOH mix location. This is a great idea for every sound tech that mixes monitors from the front of house console.

To figure out the hookup for this setup at the Front of House mix console, I consult a couple of professional sound techs for some tips. Both guys gave me ways to achieve the setup. Thanks guys!

The way you setup the cue wedge monitors will vary with each different mix console. The basics of the setup is to allow you to take a feed from a solo buss for the console and patch it into a power amplifier plus stage monitor speaker. So, then you would solo the monitor mix and send the feed to the local power amp/speaker setup. This would be similar to the idea of using the PFL solo button on each channel to send a feed to a pair of headphones.

I am hoping to try out the cue wedge setup on my next gig and see how it works. Of course, it will mean that I will have get the extra power amp and speaker setup and cabling for the setup. I will post the results in a later enty.

Click on the following link for the article on the ProSoundWeb.com website.
http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/church_sound_the_oft-forgotton_cue_wedge/church

Cheers!

White Fire Reed Live at the Trinity Lounge

Alright, here is a local band from Sarnia, ON. called "White Fire Reed". They will be playing a live concert at The Trinity Lounge in downtown Sarnia on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Yours truly will be mixing sound for this band at the show. If you would like to check out the band's sound, then go to their new page on ReverbNation to listen to the songs from their debut CD entitled "Positive Change".

http://www.reverbnation.com/whitefirereed

Cheers everybody!

Like, Share and Win the Mother-of-All Mackie PA Systems

Be sure to check out and enter the newest contest from "MACKIE".
Here is a chance to win a complete DL/DLM Series PA System worth $5000.00 US!!!
Click on the following link to the Mackie Giveaway on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Mackie?v=app_408618159212298&app_data=gaReferrerOverride%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mackie.com%252Fenews%252F2013%252F01%252Flike-share-and-win-the-mother-of-all-mackie-pa-systems%252F

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!

Sound Gear Made In the USA!

Today I was introduced some great speakers by Peavey Electronics which are "Made In USA". It is so nice to see that some things are still made in North America. The Peavey EU series speakers and subwoofers are design for portable PA and installation PA systems. The specs and the price are really good for all this gear.
Here is a weblink to the product page for the Peavey EU speakers:

http://www.peavey.com/products/index.cfm/series/680/EU%E2%84%A2%20Series




Currently, I am workng on a sound system design proposal for the public school that my kids attend. The school gymnasium/auditorium is in need of a new, installed sound system. I am going to help them work on that project for 2013.

I already helped out with the Dec 2013 Christmas play at the school by borrowing a small sound system  and offering to mix sound for the assembly. It was worth my effort as I was told how great everything sounded by a few teachers after the show. I am looking forward to working on this project.

Anyone out there have any suggestions for a gymnasium sound system design? I will appreciate all the help from anyone who has had the experience of installing gymnasium sound systems. Thanks!

Cheers!
Ron

In 2012, the number of portable PA products is staggering. Active speaker and subwoofers are available from just about every professional audio company. The use of DSP processing and onboard power amplifiers inside these portable loudspeakers is such a treat! Setting up a great sounding, portable PA system is easy to do with all the great products on the market.

Mackie Designs is one of those innovative audio gear manufacturers that has brought their new DLM Series of Speakers and Subwoofers that include a built-in digital mixer, DSP processing and onboard amplification. Mackie's new speaker design allows for a very compact and lightweight cabinet. Now you can transport your sound system in any reasonable sized vehicle from gig to gig.

Recently, I read a review for the new Mackie DLM Series Loudspeakers. It was written by "Strothers Bullins" for Pro Audio Review magazine. Here is the article taken from the online edition of "Gear Guide 2013 - Portable PA For Live Performance". Please read first and then go to www.mackie.com for more details.

Enjoy!

"White Fire Reed" live taping at Cogeco TV 6 Sarnia

Earlier in the month, I had the opportunity to go to our local TV studio Cogeco TV6 and help with the sound mix for a live taping of the Sarnia band "White Fire Reed". It was new experience for me as a sound tech and I learned much during the session.

After some technical difficulties during the soundcheck, the live recording was a go. The band audio was patched into a Yamaha powered mixer with the main output feeding the video recorders in the studio control room. It was not like mixing a live concert in another venue where you would have speakers and
subwoofers on either side of the stage.

In the studio, only the lead vocalist had a monitor speaker while the rest of the band used their own ears to hear. Of course, the one time I really needed my trusty headphones, is the day I forgot to bring them. It would have been better if I had a monitor speaker to use during the taping so that I could hear the mix separately from the control room speakers.

Instead, there was one person going back and forth to the control room to listen to the end result and then coming back to me to make the changes. Still, it was a fun, learning experience for me and I look forward to watching the broadcast of the segment in early January 2013.

"White Fire Reed" has decided that they want me to be their sound technician for their future gigs. I am looking forward to work with them more in the coming new year. Currently, the band has their 1st CD out called "Positive Change" and will be out gigging to promote it again in the new year.

Check out White Fire Reed at:

YouTube  http://www.youtube.com/user/whitefirereed

Myspace  http://www.myspace.com/whitefirereed

Reverbnation  http://www.reverbnation.com/whitefirereed

Allen & Heath ICE-16 - 16 Channel Multitrack Recorder + USB / Firewire interface

Allen & Heath has just come out with another brilliant product. Introducing the new ICE-16 16 Channel, Multitrack recorder + USB / Firewire interface. It is a new way to do multitrack recording, made easy.

Please take a look at the attached video which is quick introduction to the new gear:



The new ICE-16 unit will be an excellent unit to use with the Allen & Heath Mix Wizard series of rackmount mixers. The WZ3 -16x2 would be a perfect match! The ICE-16 unit also has the capability to be daisy-chained together when more inputs are required. The USB drive interface is such an easy way to store the recorded tracks. Up to 6 hours or recording on a 32GB USB stick! What an easy way to record all your band's live shows, rehearsals or anything else that you want to archive. It want to get my hands on one of these cool units and use with my regular band sound gig.

Just from watching the video alone, I can already imagine all the recording jobs could be accomplished with this simple to operate unit.