The Sound Couple - Gig Triggering Memories
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- The Sound Couple heads off to a new/old bar! This is the first time The Sound Couple is working as a team at this venue, but Bart was there with another band in prior years with a different band.
In making the video, it fueled memories of years past and thinking of the people who are no longer with us and the memories we all have of the gigs and people we remember.
The Sound Couple primarily use PreSonus gear featuring:
PreSonus UC Surface
PreSonus CDL12
PreSonus CDL18s
PreSonus 32R
PreSonus SW5E
PreSonus NSB Stageboxes
PreSonus AVB-D16
Please see our "About" for a more comprehensive list of gear we use.
Logistics, Unknowns, Budget, and Bar Gigs-a great beginning to another instructive time with The Sound Couple. And, its a console-based gig. Fortunately, Willow gets the appropriate priority-or maybe it’s Willow’s budget that gets the priority. In any case, Bart will be solo for at least part of this gig.
I took note of the following “Learning Points” in this video-rich, as always with lots of opportunities to learn from The Sound Couple:
1. As someone who has to use a powered wheelchair when outside my home, I had to cover my eyes when Bart parked in a designated handicap spot. But, he did make it clear it was just for a very short time to load and unload, when no other convenient nearby parking spot was available. He kept the hazard flashers on to alert people to the temporary nature of his location. And, he also emphasized that it was a practice he would not recommend. So, because I am a true fan of The Sound Couple, and because I wasn’t looking to park at this gig myself with my handicap-accessible van, I graciously give The Sound Couple a pass. (Insert winking emoji here.)
2. Having to create one’s own stage is a unique problem for a production company. Fortunately the teamwork of The Sound Couple makes quick work of this challenge.
3. The flash back to Bart’s time as a musician was an enjoyable way to transition during this video. The passage of time is always something we should enjoy. And, for those of us who have had “a crew cut and the crew bailed out,” it is worthy to remember those long ago days when we actually had hair on our heads.
4. Every time I see the drink sliders in action, I have to smile and realize what a really clever idea they are. All the more so because they came about following a suggestion of another one of the wise followers of this channel.
5. Uh, oh! Another overhead run of Cat-5 cable. This always presents a “hold-your-breath” challenge. At least Stacy didn’t have to climb a ladder this time. The use of the mic stand and mic clip as an extension rod to place the Cat-5 cable was a great idea.
6. It is important for production companies to face real problems head on without over-emphasizing potential problems before they actually exist. Thus, running the Cat-5 cable over top of the power plug for the clock seemed reasonable at the time and ultimately proved to be so. Remember, the construction of the Cat-5 cable for audio use is designed to reject noise.
7. It is always an important learning point whenever Bart gives us a tour of any piece of equipment. This time, the tour of the console in its wheeled rack lets us see how he employs the Cat-5 connection to also give him the ability to control the stage lighting from the console position. This is very useful when Stacy may not be present for the entire gig, since she usually is the one running the stage lighting. And, its important to note how Bart’s patch panel allows him to quickly set up the console, along with the pre-connected cables for the laptop and other devices. This effort in advance helps minimize both time spent and confusion during set-up at a gig.
8. Time Conservation is in the forefront, as Rhino the Band runs their own stage lines. But, the production company must still double-check, even triple-check that all is working properly for the gig.
9. Bart highlights the way the shut-off of a wireless mic can affect the input of noise on the mixer. Coordinating past experience about this issue with the band helps with potential possible troubleshooting.
10. It is always helpful, and a good learning tip, when Bart explains when and why he chooses to use the stage boxes. In this case, the availability of various lengths of Cat-5 cables was instrumental in making the decision.
11. Another set of learning points: Bart’s explanation of how he is using the various layers of the console, how he is recording using PreSonus Studio One, and how he is using the Yamaha SPX 990 through the Aux Returns for special effects.
12. With the signature drum intro, Rhino the Band takes off with a flourish at another action-packed gig. The stage that Bart and Stacy created works perfectly for the gig. It even has a raised platform for the drummer. Ingenuity on display!
13. And, following her 70-mile round-trip, Stacy is back from feeding and caring for Willow. The “LightMaster” has control of the stage lighting. The crowd-more “close watchers” than actual dancers-with significant drinks in hand, gather around the stage, just in time for us to again revel in the use and great value of the drink sliders.
14. As usual, watching the tear-down and load-out has lots of good learning points. By now, hopefully everyone has watched both Bart and Stacy properly coil cable using the alternate-reverse-coil method that preserves the cable by preventing the twisting of the jacket that tends to separate the jacket from the conductors. This is such an audio industry standard, yet many people in the production portion of the audio industry still don’t realize the damage they are doing to their cables by coiling them using several other methods that, over time, will lessen the life of their cables. There are several videos on UA-cam that describe this proper method.
15. Learning Point: Have you noticed when Bart removes the CDL12s that he always sets them on the floor in exactly the proper orientation that Stacy needs, in order to quickly and properly place the CDL12s into their protective covers. Stacy has done a video on the method she uses. Her method is the height of efficiency and also guarantees that the protective covers will last a long time. That video is posted on the earlier portion of this channel.
16. Learning Point: Bart and Stacy close the video with a reminder of how important maintenance of equipment and vehicles is to a production company.
What a touching tribute st the end. Wonderful memories linger forever.
Another truly enjoyable and instructive video populated on the channel. Thanks to Bart and Stacy for, once again, letting us tag along on a gig that was bursting with learning opportunities. We wait with eager anticipation for the next video from The Sound Couple.
Hi Dean - thank you for the "pass"! We too are very sensitive to this need for some folks. It was a judgement call we made. Some venues make it very difficult to avoid this option as they are not vendor friendly. Thanks again for your breakdown of the night! Overall, it was a good gig and will continue to look forward to them there.
We will be back there in a couple of weeks and we are debating on whether or not to make a video since we have this one and at least one more sitting in the "to do" pile. There are a few primary elements to the the videos: Band, location and Us. We will always be there so if the band and location stay the same, should we still do a video? Perhaps we let the cameras roll and see if anything interesting happens?
Bart: My vote is that you should always post a video. There is something in each video for us to learn, as we watch you and Stacy tackle the challenges of a particular time at a venue.
A good example of this can be found in numerous previous videos. During the early days of your channel, we went with you and Stacy to White Bear Lake UMC several times. Each time there was a chance for us to absorb several learning opportunities.
Similarly, we saw numerous gigs with Rhino the Band at various venues. Each of those videos had points of commonality, yet still presented many learning opportunities.
I would urge you to take us along, even when you may think we’ve seen the venue or the band before. I am confident we will have great enjoyment and ample opportunities to learn from The Sound Couple during every video.
Well that ending was very nice. Don't be sad because it's over, smile because it happened!
Great perspective!
Bart & Stacy :-) It is so much fun to see you work so good together in this business. I like your videos a lot. Greets and love from Germany :-) Martin
Thank you Martin! Welcome...our channel provides a glimpse of what it's like working in Midwestern US...we catch a lot of grief for our Scandinavian accents! We hear it more when we listen to our videos!
You accent does´nt hurt my ears ;-) I like your videos a lot. I am an experienced self employed sound engineer and I learn every day new things. What you two folks are doing has my 100 % respect. Keep doing what you are doing with heart and soul. 💯
great job, really supportive of the band mix too with FX. I hope it pays you well as you certainly deliver! Great team!
Thanks! It helps that we enjoy what we do since we are unable to retire just yet!
exelente trabalho estava esperando video novo
Obrigado! Temos muitos mais vindo!
Que legal mais um brasuca apreciando essa bela dupla... obrigado @thesoundcouple vocês são incríveis 🎶🙏🤠
The tribute at the end is really nice and it made think. We should tell people these things while we still can. I don't do this. I better get started.
Thanks for your efforts.
That's good to hear....you are absolutely right!
It’s sad all the people you’ve lost. I watched to the end and read ever one. It was a beautiful tribute to the people who meant so much to you. Love your videos!!!
Thanks Harlan. I will say that I was a bit surprised how many myself. Really sad part is that all of them too soon.
Nice to have wonderful memories. Thanks for the vid.
Thanks...hopefully you have a some of your own!
Great video as always. Teared up a little at the end. It is a blessing to still be here doing what we love.
Thanks for hanging in there to the very end. Appreciate your sentiments...every person listed has contributed to who I am today as a sound/musician guy. We are all here for a short time and with each year that passes, we become even more grateful.
Hi guys, I am always watching your videos, I'm from the Philippines and doing a small scale set up. unfortunately, I stopped for a while because I need to find a reliable job that will provide my family's needs. here in our place I don't have a regular set up. For approximately a month I just have 2 or 3 events and with very low payment.. I admire you guys doing what you love and your skills are amazing.. hope that I can also have equipment the same as your using. God bless.. 😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully we are able to help you in the work you do. Both Stacy and I have day jobs as well because this business is cyclical and admire those that are able to support themselves and families by doing what we love doing!
Great job as always. That seems a lot of sound for a small place.
Rock and roll! LOL!
Good job ,Sound Couple. Always excellent.
Appreciate your continued support!
Hey guys, very nice video and awesome job, a quick question, the speaker pole where did you get it? I have a pair but is to big, thanks and greetings from Connecticut 🎶🎤🎧
We have a pair of Gator ID series poles, and subsequently acquired Rockville Gaspoles since they were rated to handle the weight of 2 CDL12's.
Crown headset mic….I have had three of those. Good sounding mic!!!
Yes, I had a Cough Drop mute switch that worked great with it! I hesitantly sold that mic because I thought I would need it again....but for better or worse, I have not. I sold it to a fellow drummer and it served him well for many years!
@@thesoundcouple sold mine as well. Ended up buying a Shure WH20 and it just wasn’t the same! As always we enjoyed the video!! Keep up the good work!
Hey Bert, great work, you guys are awesome.....qiestion, what kind of tablet is that??? it looks huge...(thats what she said)😂😂
Ha Ha! - it's an iPad Pro.
That wireless mic when turned off cause the receiver to output hiss, so the squelch needs adjusting on the receiver to prevent that awful sound from coming out the mains. Bart, you knew that. I’m just saying for the rest of the folks who may not have known. Another great show you guys.
we had that issue with 3 wireless microphones, in the end frequency it was using that was interfering with something (we have no idea what it was), we changed the frequencies and its stopped doing it
That’s why digital wireless is the way to go. I had that problem with older analog wireless and whenever there is any sort of interference when the microphone was off, the loudest most annoying noise came out the receiver.
That 80s song … so good!
An interesting point is the fact that I was confirming again an issue we have already seen in the past (would not be acceptable if it was my gear). Bottom line, don't over step your boundaries...I reported the issue (again) and will consult on a solution if I am asked to. I see some guys assume it's ok to attempt to fix it....I learned that if you do that, not only could you make it worse, you now own that issue and any other problems that can be linked back to the change "you made" indefinitely into the future and it can backfire on you. If it's bothering them enough, they need to make the effort to resolve, even if it's simply asking for your help...but don't take it on yourself unless you absolutely know what you are doing and can guarantee your work. In this case, I am not familiar enough with this system to guarantee any of my troubleshooting/resolution steps.
@@thesoundcouple Excellent point Bart.
What hits Home is ‘becoming the owner of an issue’. I had to quit fixing my relatives computers for that exact problem. I was getting called for every darn thing that they couldn’t figure out!
Good call!
Command strips for the cables overhead next time you’re there! Would love to hear more of your drumming days.
Really not a bad idea, but I would be concerned about the bar getting excited about sticking things on to the wall. I find it hard to believe that they just haven't put some hooks in the wall with all of the music they have there...I don't get it.
Lol great use for a mic stand even if Im not using mics, Last week I got a PreSonus ERIS 3.5 speakers lol for my computer they sound awesome.
They do make a lot of nice products and sometimes you get creative and by luck, there is no better way!
love your videos
Appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to watch them!
I am a great fan of your channel.are u based in UK or USA kindly
We are based in the US- Minnesota.
Thanks for watching!
Unique stage platform...could you throw some light on what they are called or what that is
These look like someone built these for that space. 2x4's, plywood and carpet. We are back there this weekend and will take a closer look!
Hey, Sound Couple. Can you send the full reference of light setup? I'm from Brazil and it's will be very usualble primarlly because the light stands in comparison of the old Q30 struts which are expensive but still widely used here. You're doing a great job, I'm inspired by you.
Thanks for watching! Check out this video of ours where we do go over a lot of our light setup. Hope this is what you’re looking for!
ua-cam.com/video/9HA7sJwYpkE/v-deo.html
What your total cost of this set up . that you guys take out for a band to play on. a round fiquire. Awesome set up. love how you guys and handle the sound egineering.
Thanks Benjamin....we don't have standard rates and it varies on the type of gig and the time requirement. Out of town shows become more of challenge as the gigs sadly don't have the budgets in some cases to account for your hours spent/gas consumed on the road to get there.
The bands Wireless mic I have the same one but it’s a EW500 G4 e945 mic and when I turn it off it makes noises or if it’s out of battery so that’s the common issue and I usually keep it muted and when show starts the mic channel is unmuted
Thanks for sharing!
Great gig as always, just wondering in a bar like this, what db do you try to achieve?
We typically like to not go over 100dB. It depends on the room and the vibe as well.
I haven't done music production for quite a while now (never had digital when I last did it!). Can you clarify the 'signal' path from FoH to the stage please? Is Light and PA both going down the same CAT5 and being re-separated/demuxed at the stage? Where does the Netgear router come into it? Thanks
Hi Nick...good question! The cat5 from FOH to stage is primarily for AVB (audio) to the stage boxes. It's nice that AVB will support Ethernet, so any device (AVB/non-AVB), will have network presence if plugged into it. For lighting, we typically use our Donner wireless DMX dongles. The Netgear router is a AT&T Hotspot. From our NowSonic router, we configured a wireless WAN to the device for Internet access. Bottom line, we have our own private network for all of our devices with seamless Internet access..
Ever wish you could go back to playing again? I go through phases where I really miss playing, but I'm a way better mixer than I ever was a drummer... lol
Great question Dustin. I like the idea of being a musician, but the reality is I like being on the production side better. My biggest concern is that the physical demands and late nights are going to become a larger issue for us as time passes. I find that we are enjoying our time off quite a bit so the tables may be shifting. Used to be bummed to have a weekend off, but not so much anymore!
Ahhh maaan i wanted to do the bah bah bahhhh on sweet caroline who ever did the edit i hope you get put on santa.s noughty list 😂😂😂😂
I guess you can blame us then! Can't remember if that is done at every show or not!
Pls can you guys make a video of what it takes to start up a production company on a low budget
😂
Not sure if we are the best qualified for that topic. The biggest point is to start, but I can't say I was perfect and got lucky in the sense we got a good chunk of business because I use to carry a lot of debt. I am a different person now and can't ever imagine doing it again that way....so that's horrible advice and we pay for our gear now or we don't get it. It helps that we have day jobs and we do loan money to the business for bigger purchases.
What DB were u running los tod the time? And never passing db?
We don't check every gig, but I am guessing we were around 98-100dB.
you are a great team
Thanks! We like to think we work well together!
So you mentioned that you turned down something like 5 or 6 other gigs for the same weekend. I don't know where you live and work, but is there not much competition? are you that much better? I am curious how you promote your business?
Hi Maynard....great question. I really don't know if there is a single answer, but here are my thoughts:
1. I think there is a shortage of small production companies in the area that are willing to serve bands and events who can't afford the higher rates of larger production companies. Meanwhile, all of the other gigs have been corporatized with big budgets and big production, leaving a big gap in need since most production companies want those gigs.
2. Most of our contacts are bands and there are lots to pack in here in MN during the summer months so there are dates that when it rains it pours...lots of street dances and city festivals going on in July/August/September. I have noticed more seasonality to production now, so that isn't helping the allure of it. We have day jobs, so it's not as big of deal to us.
3. There is less people that want to do this work...We know of bands and production companies that can't find help. I just saw a Facebook posting where a cover band was willing to pay bonus and train you without any experience.
All of our business is word of mouth...There is an organization here that does numerous weddings and they always need production...we are turning down as many as we can take due to other obligations...but they are always in need it seems....but again, it's seasonal.
There are likely more reasons, but that's just a few that come to mind.
@@thesoundcouple You have day jobs as well? Blimey!!
@@nickharvey5149 Ha Ha! Stacy is a teacher and I am in IT.
@@thesoundcouple I am also in IT now, but I used to tour (Director) very big bands round Europe!
I had a gig, where the drummer thought, he could do it without any microphones, but his bass drum was practically inaudible. I expected a cajon player, had a SM57 only but this was ok, the goal wasn't to simulate a 60" bass drum.
A good ol' 57 is always good to have with you!
🤗 Adakah Saya #1 Hadir...
Y'all get a lot of work from Rhino. If I'm ever in the Twin Cities area, I'll have to check them out. They seem to be a really good band.
Yes! They are playing all of the time. Our gigs with them have backed off considerably as they have gone in another direction with their production needs.
Couldn't you use the 32R as a stage box?
Yes we could have...however, there was no real benefit in this case.
Digital gear isn't plagued nearly as badly with interference issues as the old analog gear was anyway!
Good point, but running any wire by a transformer can get people worked up!
RHINO is your company's name?
Not quite....Rhino is the name of the band we were working with at this gig.
what rack do you have for your board?
(what dimensions?)
@@lelhothedevil Here is the link to the one we have: www.roadreadycases.com/product/11u-slant-rack-16u-vertical-rack-with-casters/. Please note that this "technically" a bit too shallow for the console, but we made it work for us. We use a couple of right angled connectors and needed to prop the front of the console with a couple spacers. We like then not having the extra depth which would take up more space in transport and at the venue
Did it really need that much pa?
Technically, no. It is interesting to mix with the system in idle....has a different vibe to it.
@@thesoundcouple I'd always rather the headroom, than pushing a PA to the edge of its capability. added bonus it's a lot easier on the gear 👌🏼
I am a great fan of your channel.are u based in US or Uk kindly
@@JOHNDANIELS254 We are in the U.S.
👍🏻✅❤❤
Thanks!
How do you set room eq?
There are a lot of instructional videos out there to explore this topic. In a nutshell, you can use your ears and measuring tools. I used to use measuring tools (RTA mic/pink noise) occasionally which was helpful for learning, but now, I primarily use my ears. It's a combination of make it sound good to your ears and cutting any problem or offending frequencies. The better your system is tuned, the easier all of this becomes.