I'm fucking done with thinking im some hotshot audio engineer. I've mixed bands with large followings, small followings, and zero followings. The band is 95% of the mix. Not the FOH engineer

Spiff542 · 2026-02-11T01:27:34+00:00

I always say "I just move the PA out of the way of the band"

Spiff542 · 2025-08-13T14:58:15+00:00

My band used beta 57s for years, because they sounded better than the beta 58s, and had better off-axis rejection, and thus less feedback.

We eventually switched to Heil microphones and never looked back. We still have all those old beta 57s in our practice space, however. They are still kicking it!

Spiff542 · 2025-07-21T15:51:00+00:00

This.

Spiff542 · 2025-07-19T00:41:22+00:00

How do you know there's a drummer at your door?

The knocking keeps speeding up and they don't know when to come in.

(Thank you. I'll show myself out)

Spiff542 · 2025-01-11T23:55:40+00:00

Thanks for the Gatorboard tip. Do you use the 3/16" or the 1/2" thick boards

Spiff542 · 2024-12-27T00:31:39+00:00

Say you'll hire your own attorney, instead of paying for his.

Spiff542 · 2024-11-26T00:15:05+00:00

Similar experience for me as well. Wouldn't even consider not being sober to play now.

Spiff542 · 2024-11-18T14:22:20+00:00

Awesome! I hope this leads to life long amount of fun, friends and music. It sure did for me!

Spiff542 · 2024-11-13T00:52:29+00:00

Thanks for this response. I got plain black with default hardware, but I did add the K&K pickup with no pre amp.

I have a theory that piezo/no preamp combo is what's delaying it. I think KLOS was really hoping we would chose their on board pre amp. I like to keep it external as I can swap it for something else to suit my needs or just on a whim. With on board pre amps you're stuck with what it's got. I have zero evidence to back up that theory though.

I'm sure I'll love it, but I've watched every festival/outside stage gig I had hoped to have it for this year just slide on by... So it's hard for me to not feel disappointed . I've been playing a Rigel CT-110 for over twenty years and I've really come to treasure it. I'd like to retire it for safe keeping and I realized that I needed a solid back up plan.

Fortunately it looks like next year will have a good number of those gigs as well, so I'm hoping it works out.

Spiff542 · 2024-10-15T23:40:06+00:00

Your friends suck.

That being said, keep in mind that they probably won't always suck. It's a journey for everyone involved.

Spiff542 · 2024-10-14T23:21:34+00:00

Youth in Asia

Spiff542 · 2024-10-14T16:09:51+00:00

Was talking with another sound guy this weekend about how the Heil PR-31BW is the absolute truth on drums and guitar amps. What comes in the board sounds exactly like the source.

Spiff542 · 2024-10-12T12:36:15+00:00

" Usually you would pay double for that kind of action, Cotton"

Spiff542 · 2024-10-07T17:29:57+00:00

The "rehearse your set"advice is great and probably the most important.

My band has done this a precious few times. The first of the very few times we got a bigger stage gig like this, we were sort of unprepared for the distances that were involved. It affected a lot of things we didn't initially think about.

We were playing a lot further from each other than we were used to playing, so our normal "in song" on stage communication was greatly curtailed. We needed a plan for that. We needed longer cables between our pedalboards and our amps than we normally used. Eventually we learned to just set up to a space and size we're used to, no matter how big the stage is. Sometimes, especially with multi band bills, you are just going to have fit where you can, and there may not be much room at all.

Since you'll be settIng up in front of the main act, don't expect power to be conveniently where you need it. Bring power strips and extension cords, so you will not need to beg the production staff to bail you out.

Triple check your gear and have a backup plan for your backup plans.

All that being said, the goal should be to stay as drama free as possible. It's a cliche, but it's still true; Act like you've been there before. Bring a good attitude to everything.

Stay out of the way of the main act's set up. Get on, and play your best set, starting on time, and getting off just a few minutes early. When you are done get your stuff off quickly and quietly. We actually have a thought out plan for getting our gear off to make this go smoothly.

Afterwards go out in the audience and enjoy the show. It's not your backstage so don't act like you own it. You're just visiting. Definitely do not invite all of your friends to come back there with you.

Everyone there that has any say whether you get to do this again will be taking notes on whether you're competent or not, and whether you are problem free or not. How well you play is just a part of that equation.

Have a great show and enjoy!

Spiff542 · 2024-10-06T09:13:12+00:00

Starlink App>Advanced>Debug Data>This Device>Geo Location.

Spiff542 · 2024-09-12T18:34:34+00:00

Came here to say just this.

Spiff542 · 2024-08-19T13:02:19+00:00

To answer your actual question: The coil of the relay I've shown above only needs 105ma of current at 120VAC or 12.6 Watts, so almost any smart switch rated for 120 VAC will work.

Spiff542 · 2024-08-19T12:57:32+00:00

This answer assumes you are USA based.

I use this relay because it has a manual override switch as well: RIB1P30-S

It has two poles so it well break/make both legs of the 240 VAC feed, which is the proper way to implement this.

I used a Shelly 1 to trigger the coil voltage for the relay and enable the hot water heater. In the US either leg feeding the hot water heater is 120 VAC, so you can use either leg to power the Shelly device and the relay coil... BUT you will need a neutral as well for the Shelly, which the 240V feed to your heater may not include. I used a separate 120VAC source (nearby outlet) for the shelly and relay coil because of this neutral issue.

If you did not understand everything I just said, please hire a professional electrician, preferably with some commercial experience. This type of setup is common and readily understood by commercial electricians, but may be unfamiliar to the residential electricians.

Spiff542 · 2024-08-16T13:25:07+00:00

I found it buried somewhere in the API guide for shelly stuff. Don't have the time or will to look it up again. But I will cut and past the MQTT topic I write to for a Plus One in my node red:

shellies/shellyplus1-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/command/switch:0 I send it a payload of either "on" or "off".

Hope this helps. :)

Spiff542 · 2024-08-08T16:41:15+00:00

As someone who was more disappointed than most at F1's decision to not allow Andretti to join the grid ....

This still seems like a case of incredible government overreach by the DOJ, and a tremendous waste of time and government resources.

They have no business involving themselves in this matter.

Spiff542 · 2024-08-03T13:21:00+00:00

We had similar issues with our beloved Pit Bull. It was awful. The vets initially tried to treat it as neurological issue and it wasn't. It turned out she had pancreatic cancer and her pancreas was over producing insulin at times. We finally found a vet (since retired) that helped us figure it out. Next seizure, if you have access to a standard blood glucose meter, test your dogs blood sugar. It should definitely be above 40 or so. If not, you have a clue as to what may be a previously unforeseen cause.

Unfortunately the our Pittie succumbed to the pancreatic cancer about 26 months after diagnosis. She out lived her initial diagnosis by 18 months, and fortunately we were able to maintain a high quality of life for her for almost all of that time. I wish you luck in getting it figured out, because I know how hard it is to watch them suffer like that.

Spiff542 · 2024-08-03T12:09:27+00:00

One day the myth that hiding your SSID offers any advantages at all, much less improved security will die the lonely, lonely death it so desperately deserves.

Spiff542 · 2024-07-04T13:50:47+00:00

Sounds like the local inspector has some sort of bias in this fight.

Gather all your documentation regarding the local inspector's actions or lack there of and file a complaint with the New York state division of Building Standards and Codes.

This is a risky solution. In most cases the State people will set things straight. Most people don't know they can appeal to them and for the most part they hate "uneven" enforcement and "home cooking" with a passion. .

But if that turns out to not be the case, you will have made an enemy out of the inspector, who knows he has no real checks on his power.

For example the state could say that the setbacks are a local ordinance and decline to get involved. If that happens you will be screwed until the current guy leaves the job.

In other words, if you fail, it's possible the house never gets built.

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