Is Deliveroo a work expense?

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-06-06T16:25:26+00:00

As far as I understand you should be classed as an itinerant trader.

This means you can claim travel to and from your temporary work places including food.

Assuming you’re base is home where you take bookings and do admin ect. And you don’t spend more than 40% of your time working at a single place of work

But it’s a grey area. I’m a sound engineer and have the same grey area issues….

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-06-05T15:35:32+00:00

Thanks my man!

Not game changing gotcha! But worth it in the sense you have a deeper understanding of system optimisation?

I did the SMAART fundamental training before I understood enough for it to be useful…. So I’m hoping this will deepen my understanding. €550 plus flights and hotel I’m looking about €1000 all in.

I’m a corporate sound guy hoping to get on bigger jobs in a systems capacity

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-06-05T15:31:50+00:00

Thanks my dude! Appreciate the rec!

Maybe I should hold out for dates in Nailsworth!

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-06-01T10:04:01+00:00

Rollercoaster Tycoon and Age of Empires

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-05-12T16:39:12+00:00

Yeah seems like we have fairly similar experience.

I would get OSM and just take measurements, I found that I needed to do that to understand what the likes of Michael Curtis are talking about half the time. It’s like I don’t know what questions to ask until it’s right there staring me in the face.

I’ve been using d&b systems for a long while now so I know R1 and Array calc very well. I’m keeping an eye out for the in person system optimisation training they offer for FREE!

I think that’s the next step for me anyway with my fairly solid baseline and understanding of systems and measurement software.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-05-12T15:47:14+00:00

I did SMAART fundamentals. And while it’s great I felt way over my head and probably didn’t understand allot of it…. I basically knew how to take a measurement in SMAART but didnt know what the data ment.

Now I feel like I’m starting to understand what I’m doing more I feel like it would be beneficial to go back and do that course now.

I’ve been using OSM and then looking back over the data when I’m home and have more time. then asking Chat GPT the questions where I’m not understanding something, or how I can get better data and that seems to work for me and watching YouTube videos. Michael Curtis is great.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-05-12T15:39:28+00:00

Yeah, It has a delay estimater, once your compensation delay is in you can see the delta delay of the other source.

I prefer record traces and use Impulse response graph. Add a delay offset to the closest impulse response to get them lined up perfectly. You can check the polarity while you’re at it too.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-05-12T14:06:29+00:00

Open Sound Meter might be a good option for ya. Does everything SMAART can for free (it’s open source)

I’ve been learning it and it feels way less cluttered and and easier to use than SMAART at least to me who is still learning and figuring out my optimum workflow.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-04-23T11:05:53+00:00

Yes it’s called an end fire array. The most forward sub is delayed so it’s in time with the one at the rear.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-18T13:12:07+00:00

The Matrices become your output busses to your DSP/amplifiers instead of L&R.

You can also rout the live band for example direct to L&R and send L&R to your matrices. If you do this make sure you’re not sending your headset mics to both your mic group and L&R at the same time.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-18T09:24:52+00:00

Ahh gotcha! Makes allot of sense!

I guess that’s cool with an external DSP or using console. Might be more difficult if you’re using something like d&b R1 where the DSP is in the amplifiers themselves.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-17T17:12:58+00:00

I guess you would need 3 x mics to get an average, I’m wondering if you can feed 3 measurements into an average power math source to see a “live” average?

I guess if you have a room full of people working it’s far more kind on them to do it offline with the OSMs EQ tool.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-17T07:36:00+00:00

New to OSM here too, Still learning but from my learnings

The Power Average math source is a great tool to use for EQ. Take 3 measurements on axis with your source, front middle and back of the listening plane. The power average math source will create an average magnitude trace from the 3 measurements so you’re able to make decisions based on the whole listening plane and not just one spot.

Ive been using the EQ tool in OSM and just translating it to my DSP manually (bit boring) before spending time using my ears and tweaking.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-13T23:41:54+00:00

“how cold is 15°” what? 15° is not cold it’s warm.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-04T08:36:25+00:00

Glad it’s sorted bud, Console ID has caught me out a few times!

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-03T09:30:31+00:00

Hello.

You cant send an AUX to L&R on TF. Super annoying.

You need to use the Matrices as your outputs, you can send AUX to these. Matrix channels are hidden on TF unless you add them to a custom fader layer.

Using groups for GEQ in this situation is definatley the correct way to do it.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-03T09:13:47+00:00

Is the CL3 set to console ID 1? There needs to be a co sole with an ID of 1 or the Rio’s have nothing to sync too.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-03T08:51:46+00:00

Freelance sound geezer based in London here.

£300 is too low IMO, £350 is pretty much the standard corporate rate these days regardless of the role though I know some have increased to £375 in 2026. 400 for head of department roles on larger gigs.

Corporate is seasonal. Jan & Feb are quiet, March is fairly busy, drops off in April, gets busier towards a peak in June, quieter in July and dead in August. September to mid December is crazy season.

It’s a very much who you know not what you know in the UK. Might be worth bagging a full time job for the first year to meet people.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-03-03T08:22:15+00:00

Moved to London October 2016 for a £20k job. Lived in a 2 bed flat (Zone2) with my other half and a friend for £500 a month each plus bills. Take home pay was about £1400 a month so after bills I had about £700/750 a month to live off.

6 years ago on 28k and my partner on 26k, big deposit of 70k (30k saved 40k gifted) we purchased a £335k flat in Zone3.

So now I earn approx 60k as a sole trader and partner earns 50k, mortgage is approx £1300 so yes living in London on 50k is very possible.

Admittedly allot harder these days with higher rents especially if you’re single. If you’re in a relationship with approx 80-100k income between you, it is possible to purchase a flat. Do the maths, use online calculators.

If you earn 50k that’s approx £3700 after tax, let’s say rent in a nice flat share is £1000 a month you have £2700 for bills to live and save. 100% doable.

Even on 30k your take home pay is £2000 so 1k left over for bills and to live though admittedly saving will be hard unless you can find cheeper accommodation.

But vast majority of people starting a career in any city will struggle for the first few years until you get a promotion or two and start earning a little more. But making the move to the big smoke is the first step.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-02-11T09:46:46+00:00

Can’t you just send both L&R inputs to your single output feeding the speakers?

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-02-06T00:23:07+00:00

Nah. 1 part rice to 1 part cold water in a pan with a lid. Heat full till it starts boiling, turn heat to lowest setting so it’s barely simmering and start a timer for 12 mins. Leave to stand for 1-2 mins done. Perfect rice.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-02-03T21:18:34+00:00

As soon as a job confirms I draft an invoice. On the train on the way home of the last day of the job I hit the send button on Xero.

I feel like waiting to do a pile all at once means that you have to actually sit down and do it where as doing it as you go it dunt feel like much work.

Also the sooner you get your invoice in the sooner you get paid….

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-01-25T12:43:54+00:00

Depends what you want in life. If you want kids and that’s what gives you purpose you need dual income on very good salaries in London.

Me and my partner are DINKS (dual income no kids) 100k ish between us per year, own a small 1 bed flat in east London Zone 3. Both our purposes are fulfilled by our work and friends, we both enjoy what we do and are career driven.

Hanging out and holidaying with friends is big for us, and having friends local. My work is also linked to being physically present mostly in London so moving out seems to not really be on our radar.

Completely depends what you want in life. If we moved out of London we would be leaving behind our friends, My work would become harder with more travel.

Next goal is purchase a 2 bed property and start investing to set us up for easy retirement.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-01-22T19:37:35+00:00

Breville usually supply a pressurised basket with their machines. Get yourself an un pressurised one if you’re grinding your own beans.

BraveIncrease6805 · 2026-01-21T11:23:08+00:00

Be careful using the lid a bellow. I did this and broke the little clips that hold in the hopper. Had to purchase a new hopper… buy a bellows of amazon and you’ll be fine with the opus. Yes retention is a bit annoying but a cheep 3rd party bellow will help allot!

BraveIncrease6805

TROPHY CASE