Last week's podcast with Philip Graham revealed some of my misconceptions about condenser microphones being a bad choice for live sound. Most sound engineers and musicians are so used to close miking with dynamic mics like SM57s that they don't really know how to use condenser mics for live performances. I know that I'm guilty of this, but many situations do not require close miking and actually would sound better without it. Let's take a look at some of Philip's ideas from his post, Condensers … [Read more...]
Condenser vs. Dynamic Microphones For Live Sound
Subscribe on iTunes or SoundCloud. In this episode of Sound Design Live, I speak with Philip Graham of Ear Trumpet Labs in Portland, OR about condenser versus dynamic microphones for live sound, close miking, and and why Shure SM57 microphones sound terrible from more than a few inches away. We compare the Ear Trumpet Labs Edwina microphone to a Neumann KSM105. Plus, we talk about stage monitor feedback, building condenser microphones, and quality control. If you're playing an acoustic guitar … [Read more...]
Sound Design Live eBook – FREE Chapter
Once upon a time there was a boy who was passionate about audio. Every day he talked to other sound engineers and sound designers, and one day he started publishing those conversations. Over time, he gained many followers and was inspired to publish an eBook to help them build careers in pro audio. This is the book that I needed in college when I was trying to figure out what to do with myself, unaware of the many opportunities and paths available to me as a sound engineer. This is the book … [Read more...]
Sound Design Live Is Back!
I love music, live events, and audio, and during the last few months I've rediscovered that I love Sound Design Live. I'm really excited to show you what I've been working on! First of all, there's this ballin' website. I'm not a pro web designer, so let me know if you see any problems. More on that later. Second, I wrote a book for sound engineers, yo! Well, not really. Actually I compiled the best parts of my first two years of interviews into an eBook, but that's close, right? This is … [Read more...]
Easy Invoicing For Sound Engineers
In the last two posts we talked a lot about career advice and how to always be professional. Don't worry, I'm not going to rant about email this time -- I'm going to rant about invoicing instead! As an independent contractor, you will invoice your clients. If you work semi-regularly at an event venue you may be asked to submit a W-9, but you can still request to take care of your own invoicing, thereby avoiding automatic tax withholding by the client. Whether or not this route is right for … [Read more...]