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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 21, 2018 22:12:32 GMT
I have been using a £17 Behringer mic since I started gigging - sounds nearly as good as a Shure just slightly muddier but I don't mind as it cloaks my nasal tendencies a bit. Durable too and easily replaced at that price
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 22, 2018 11:35:25 GMT
Nice one on the reviews DefJef - always great to get positive feedback especially on lyrics which after all although very personal, the hope is you can touch someone or make them feel how you did when you wrote them. Think sometimes we obssess over our gear when we should concentrate more on our own performance?
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Apr 22, 2018 12:13:41 GMT
You're absolutely right dodger . My mate loves his gadgets and their ability to add texture but I often have to say, "the song doesn't need it. I'm going for simplicity on this one." All the same, live is a gear nightmare and, if there's no sound guy to help at the soundcheck, it's a constant running around out front and back on stage to gauge levels. Then comes the onstage foldback that totally affects how you perform no matter what the audience is hearing. You need to hear each other and particularly you need to hear the rhythm but if that's all too loud then you overcompensate with a vocal performance that is much too loud for the mix out front. It took us forever yesterday but paid off with the comments on the clarity of the sound again (sounded rubbish onstage though!). Mind you, it doesn't help when the venue is piping some other music into a speaker near your ear! We also had trouble tracking down what was causing a sort of pinging feed back...till we discovered it was coming from the kitchen smoke alarms!
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 22, 2018 17:15:32 GMT
We were supporting the local Oasis tribute band the other week and using their gear - my foldback had a delay of about a milisecond and sounded really weak. Put me right off but fellas in the crowd said the sound was perfect
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 23, 2018 11:47:30 GMT
I've never been in a proper studio DefJef - would love the experience of everything done for me. I look after our sound and haven't a clue really and my bandmate is always wanting his guitar too loud in the mix and it doesn't let the vocals breathe...
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 23, 2018 14:20:46 GMT
I wouldn't mind doing a bit of sound engineering if someone showed me the basics DefJef. I always start off with getting our vocals as loud and clear without clipping and then getting the guitars well below that. He always wants to hear his guitar as much as the vocals and doesn't realise they'll fight each other for room in the mix. I've watched him solo a few times and always want to adjust the knobs. The mixer we use is pretty sensitive to small turns as well. He always wants loads of reverb too whereas I like to barely notice it's there. Was playing solo on Saturday and just took along my Alto Trouper - portable PA with built in mixer but it has no effects. Wasn't sure if it would be loud enough for a noisy bar as I've only used it at home or in a quiet care home. It's a bit deceptive as it sounds the same whether you're beside it or further away. It's brilliant though and I'll definitely be using it again - 2 inputs for mic and guitar and independent volume and tone on both plus a master volume. It has bluetooth and aux input as well so I'm actually thinking of getting together some backing tracks and doing more solo gigs...
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Apr 23, 2018 16:09:51 GMT
We only use a 12" speaker because we're playing in small bars - plenty loud enough. But it sits out front and I usually have it on my side becuase I sit on the left (he's left-handed so it makes sense). I can hear it better obviously and know there's enough guitar in the mix. He's quite a forceful strummer too which doesn't help. No monitors so it's all on the fly. Any bigger venues with their own PAs there are usually monitors and it feels like such a luxury. I always just like the guitar through the monitor cos as you say the vocals aren't a problem. It took me a while to get comfortable singing through a mic because it was all over the room and I was really self conscious (still am a bit especially solo).
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