Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher. Support Sound Design Live on Patreon. In this episode of Sound Design Live I talk with Kenneth 'Pooch' Van Druten, the FOH sound engineer for Linkin Park, Alice and Chains, Kid Rock, and System of a Down. We discuss: How Van Druten got his first job in audio. The number one skill that gets him in the door for every job. The value of microphone placement. Why speaker coverage is important beyond anything else. How to set gates using … [Read more...]
Dancehall Sound System and How To Mix Music You’ve Never Heard
"This guy doesn't know dancehall." That's what the singer's friend said about me during sound check. We had just started and they were already giving up on me. That was ten years ago, and honestly, he was right. And if I'd had the balls to ask, that would have been a perfect time to get to know reggae and dancehall. Sure, it would have been hella awkward, but I would have learned something and developed a relationship instead of standing there blushing. How To Mix Into The … [Read more...]
Learn To Become A Recording Engineer Online
Subscribe on iTunes or SoundCloud. Support Sound Design Live on Patreon. In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast I talk with the owner of Audio Issues, Björgvin Benediktsson. We discuss live sound survival, website design, and the Potluck Conference. He also talks about the Icelandic language, Sigur Rós, and how to deal with the shitty parts of working in live audio. Details from the podcast: Music in this episode by Pan and The Long Wait Björgvin Benediktsson on … [Read more...]
Keep Calm and…Too Late: the Concert from Hell
What follows is an awesomely painful story of a tiny technical problem that destroyed an entire concert. I share it with you to illustrate one of the most important points that Darryn De La Soul made in our interview: Don't panic. As sound engineers, you know that anyone working on live events has ample opportunity to lose their shit. Aside from the technical problems that can ruin a show, there are lots of egos bumping into each other and other elements that easily combine to create a … [Read more...]
Honestly, Live Audio Is Not Based On Science
Did you hear my interview with Dave Swallow? You should. In our conversation it was obvious that he has a ton of valuable information to share, but that information is kind of hidden in his book. Let's dig around in the dirt and pull out the gems. Your job as an engineer is to get the best out of what you are given, even when you are given the worst. Bored. Swallow spends a lot of time covering information that you can find in the user manuals for mixing consoles and outboard gear. It … [Read more...]