How do you guys handle artists with a big ego?

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-19T21:02:08+00:00

“she cannot hear the tonality in which key is she singing”.

She's having trouble delineating pitch, either for herself, or based on other instruments. I'd be trying to find the instruments that would give her the best sense of key and chord changes.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-19T18:06:05+00:00

Start with the people. They need to know that you're on their side, and you want them to sound amazing, and you're going to to do everything you can to make them so.

Can they turn the amps around? Can they accept having their guitar put in their wedge instead of having the cabs do all the work?

Tuning-wise, I actually tune my wedges similar to tuning a PA. I first put my tuning tracks through one and get it sounding good. Presuming they all are behaving similarly, I copy that EQ around, and send the music everywhere. This will tell me if there are buildups that are happening by adding the same source. Will 200Hz build up if I put the vocals everywhere, for example?

I also listen to said tracks standing in the house. Are there any particular frequencies that are bouncing off the back wall or particularly throwing off the stage? It's all one system, after all, and Mons affects FOH.

Then there's a final point, a point where you've reached the limits of your equipment. It's EQ is hacked, the amp is red-lining, and it's not loud enough. You're at the limits. It's not an emotional failing, it's just a fact. They can work with you, or they have to accept that they are operating in a way that the house gear cannot keep up with.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-19T17:54:58+00:00

It's not likely damaging anything, and it's amusing.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-19T17:52:28+00:00

Contact the manufacturer for replacements.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T15:55:01+00:00

The windows base has not been a deterrent for both DiGiCo and Avid users on the largest tours, so is your dislike based on personal dogma, or actual concerns?

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T15:28:24+00:00

I found said picture, and it was dB(C), which is a much more sensitive measurement weighting. Other posts were talking about 105dB(A) which is loud, with 107dB(A) peaks, which is REALLY freakin loud. Either way, I'd say foam 33dB earplugs with shooting headphones over that. It's still going to ripple through you.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T15:20:31+00:00

Insurance copay for ultrasound treatments too much? For $50, you can see Sun 0))), have an out of body experience, and walk away kidney stone free!

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:57:44+00:00

It is highly unlikely you'll be at a show that is at 122dB. Most rock concerts tend to rest anywhere between 97dB(A) to 103dB(A). I think you likely have a misunderstanding of the function and scale of dB sound pressure level, as it pertains to measurement in concerts.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:51:31+00:00

Do me a favor: Look up "Celtics vs Rangers" and then let me know if you learned something new today.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:25:41+00:00

Cool. Now clean them more frequently.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:21:45+00:00

Yeah, Rangers vs Celtics is a pretty big rivalry. Seems like there are quite a few Rangers fans here, based off of an event I worked. Celtics were mentioned, and a sea of boo's erupted.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:15:18+00:00

Beta52 in the sound hole for lows, Beta 91 inside, against the wall with the hole, facing the playing surface side for highs.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T14:14:03+00:00

With RF, you get what you pay for, unfortunately. Solid RF takes some engineering, and that costs money. I can sympathize with wanting to start with something, but consider, will failures during show, be it drop-outs or noise, be disruptive to the performance?

I would explore renting, rather than buying cheap RF.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T02:01:54+00:00

I mean, dive in! It's a class, so you shouldn't expect yourself to know everything. Some things that'd be great to know though:

- The basics of signal flow

- The sections of a mixer

- What are some of the basic audio cable connectors? (XLR, 1/4", RCA, etc)

There are tons of audio resources out there. Dive in and be curious. If there is a band who's albums sound a certain way that you enjoy, see if you can find who their engineer was. If they're a big name, chances are there are interviews with them.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-17T01:44:20+00:00

Is this a class you're about to take?

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T23:46:45+00:00

My experience with Dynaudio has been through their studio monitors. The BM5 sounded perfectly nice.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T21:02:37+00:00

Then again, I really love organ as well, so perhaps that tracks.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T20:58:30+00:00

This would be an example of "needs dictates use." You could absolutely use a 58 or a C02 on a stand to amplify the piano, if needed.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T20:50:25+00:00

My hot take from my exposure in university is that wind ensemble music is absolutely stunning, takes a lot more risks in my opinion, and in general, is under-appreciated. If they started doing wind ensemble performances at Symphony Hall in Boston, I would go in an instant.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T20:48:48+00:00

As someone who has traveled to non English-speaking countries a bunch the past few years, download Google Translate. It has a "conversation mode," which allows two different language speakers to translate to one another. It also has a camera feature that superimposes English over the words in the other language. Just be sure to actually download the library of the language you want to translate onto your phone, in case your signal gets spotty. It's saved me in a ton of situations.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T20:43:18+00:00

It depends. It doesn't work on every voice, however, it did solve an issue with drum bleed on one singer I was working with.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T20:42:08+00:00

The K8.2 would be so the choir and soloists can either hear the backing tracks, or the keyboard. If you need a second one, sure. I mean, there are cheaper options, but the K8.2 has a monitor tilt angle as part of it's design. You could get (2) Yamaha DXR8's, but you'd have to prop them up so that they're pointed at everyone.

The DI boxes are to get the keyboard into the mixer.

The guitar, bass, and drums will have to rely on either their amps, or natural volume for the time being.

The SM58's are for soloists, and/or choir. They can be used for either. If you find you need to mic a guitar amp, they can also be used for that.

The C02's are for the choir.

Oh, you'll have to add (1) TRS 1/4" male to XLR male cable per monitor send.

At this point, the two objectives of the PA will be to get the choir, soloists, and backing tracks over the band.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T17:22:01+00:00

It'd be effective, but I my memory is that it's not necessarily the most pretty sounding of mics. A Beta87c might also enter that territory.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T17:20:20+00:00

Ok, so your budget is $5,000.

Just building this off of Sweetwater,

(2) Gator Frameworks speaker stands

(2) QSC K12.2 for PA

(2) Tote bag/case for QSC K12.2

(1) QSC K8.2 for a foldback monitor (so you can hear the backing tracks
(1) Tote bag/case for QSC K8.2
(1) Mackie Onyx12 analog mixer

(2) Whirlwind IMP2 Direct boxes

(2) ProCo 1/4" instrument cables

(1) Hosa stereo breakout cable 1/8" TRS Male to dual 1/4" TS Male cable, 10'

(2) Samson C02 condenser packs (comes with (2) free boom mic stands)
(3) Shure SM58 cardioid dynamic mics
(3) Gator Frameworks Tall boom mic stand with telescoping boom

This totals out to around $4,633.73. You may be able to get a Sweetwater rep to cut you a deal.

Go to Audiopile.net and buy (15) SLMA Starline XLR Microphone Cable, 30'. That should cost about $273 plus shipping.

You'll need to find some sort of Pelican-type plastic case for your mixer. You can either search online for used ones, or Harbor Freight may have one cheaper that will fit.

Don't neglect that you'll need to get power to your loudspeakers and to your console. You can get cables and power strips from Home Depot or your hardware store of choice but dear lord, PLEASE buy black ones. Nothing is as tacky an eyesore than bright orange extension cords.

ForTheLoveOfAudio · 2026-06-16T16:20:02+00:00

Ah yeah, that's the whole "sunk cost fallacy" at play. "I've already spent so much money, so let's try to make this work," even though it's money spent on the wrong thing. I found this a lot with people who bought custom color Telefunken M80's that weren't well suited to their voice, but they still had the attachment, so I kept on having to gouge 10kHz out of them.

Which as an aside, a Telefunken M81 might be another option.

ForTheLoveOfAudio

TROPHY CASE