Sound Design Live

Build Your Career As A Sound Engineer

Sound system design for the largest public event in Philadelphia’s history: The Eagles Super Bowl Parade

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In this episode of Sound Design Live I talk with Chris Leonard who is Director of Audio at IMS Technology Services. We discuss his sound system design and mix for the largest public event ever in Philadelphia covering 1 mile for the Eagles Super Bowl Parade, dealing with wide dynamic energy coming through a podium mic, and how to build relationships and get more work with Project Managers.

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Yes this is a large scale event, but you’re taking the principles you already know and scaling them up.

Chris Leonard

Notes

  1. Hardware: VTX speakers, CL5, QL5, BSS BLU806, iTech amplifiers, SG300 switches, Rio rack
  2. Outreach
    1. Do
      1. Connect on LinkedIn.
      2. Show that you are actively working with your posts. Make them authentic about the level you’re working at, but focus on more of the work you want to be doing. How organized are you? What equipment are you using?
      3. Follow other freelancers and companies.
      4. Send your blackout dates (vs available) every 1-3 months.
      5. Make your emails personal and interesting.
    1. Don’t
      1. Expect a response to your availability updates.
      2. Email your availability updates more than once a month.
      3. Offer to travel if the request is for someone local.
  3. Quotes
    1. The city learned their lesson and got it right this time.
    2. With Dante over CAT5 you don’t want to go beyond 300ft, but with fiber I can go for miles.
    3. I heavily use LinkedIn.
    4. I need people who can be an A1 for a massive show and some that can be basic breakout AV tech.

Mixing Monitors for Tears for Fears

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Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of Sound Design Live, I speak with the the Director of Audio at IMS Technology Services, Chris Leonard. We discuss mixing monitors for Tears for Fears, setting up the sound system for the presidential inauguration, and Dante troubleshooting tips. I ask:

      • How did you get your job at Maryland Sound?
      • Walk me through the sound system at your last gig at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
      • How do you troubleshoot Dante networks?
      • What was the biggest mistake you’ve made on the job?

sound-design-live-mixing-monitors-tears-for-fears-chris-leonard-headshotThe day you stop learning, you’re only moving yourself back.

Notes

  1. All music in this episode by Tears for Fears.
  2. Educational resources Chris recommends: SynAudCon, Smaart classes, Smaart manual, Smaart User Group on Facebook, InfoCOMM, Sound Design Live podcast, Bob McCarthy’s book, MXu,
  3. Hardware: RAT tools CAT snake, Yamaha Ri8-D, CL5, QL5, VRX 932LA-1, Q-Box, GoPro, Shure55
  4. Dante troubleshooting
    1. Unplug the secondary (redundant) network. It’s easy to get those crossed.
    2.  ULXD Dante configuration needs to be set to Redundant Audio if you are running a star topology network.
  5. TM Array
  6. Stage Jammer: Patching the stage, jamming the stage together
  7.  Quotes
    1. A lot of it has to do with your attitude and work ethic. Nowadays work ethic seems like a thing of the past.
    2. As a company you don’t always have the space the bring in a green person right away. You need to have them mature a little bit, but if they mature in a labor pool that you work with all the time and they get to know your gear, I’m more inclined to bring them along on a show.
    3. Networking is key. If you came to town for the first time and said, “Hey I’d like to work with you,” the first thing I’d do is see who you are connected with on LinkedIn or who I know that already knows you.
    4. They were making fun of me for volunteering to work for free and the truck driver said, “You’re all laughing. One day you’re all going to work for him.”

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