Why is wireless so hard?! Even after 15 years of shows, I still don’t get it.

A perfect example is a show I worked on a couple of weeks ago. As far as I could tell, I was doing everything right. I was using a solid antenna and distro from RF Venue, following the guidelines I knew for antenna placement and frequency coordination using Shure Wireless Workbench, but it didn’t work. I was still getting dropouts.

At breaks I would scramble to re-coordinate and war game and increase transmitter power. No improvement.

I hate to call it magic, but sometimes it just seems to work and sometimes it doesn’t. Even after the hundreds of shows I’ve worked on, wireless is the part of the signal chain that I have the least confidence in.

One thing I know is true: just like sound system tuning, there is no magic bullet. A solid signal chain develops at every link.

If I want to stop having these painful experiences on shows, I need to take my skills to the next level. But how?

The best solution would be to hire Karl Winkler to come out on shows with me, but something tells me he’s not going to fly to Minneapolis for a show tomorrow.

I guess the next best solution is to have Karl train me on the principles. I know how to operate some hardware and software, but I have never trained in the basics of wireless systems.

If I could have it my way, I’d also get Alex Milne to teach me about filters, Nick to walk me through the process he developed on tour with O.A.R., and Stephen Pavlik to give me a crash course on wireless for IEMs.

Of course, I’ll have to check my budget. How much is it going to cost to take a day off of work, travel, and lodge myself at the training location? Ideally, it would happen in Minneapolis. But then I’d have to put on pants and leave the house. And it might be snowing! Also, this doesn’t really help Chris in Philadelphia or Aleš in Slovenia.

Wait…

What if we could do this online? We won’t be able to shake hands, but this might be the best compromise. If we do it through video conference then presenters can show demos with their webcams and anyone can ask questions.

I’m not very clever when it comes to marketing, so I guess I would call it something like Wireless Workshop. I really like Guileless Wireless, but that seems silly.

So how much should it cost? Let’s see…MxU is $300. Smaart class is $750. SynAudCon Making Wireless Work seminar is $750. I don’t think this event would need to cost that much. If we can get 50 or 60 people to attend, tickets could be as low as $77 and still pay all of the teachers.

Hmm, some people might not be able to afford $77. Let’s also offer a $30 discount for people who need it.

What do you think?
Should we do it?

1. No, this is a dumb idea.
2. Yes, sign me up!

Register here – http://www.sounddesignlive.com/online-wireless-workshop/

Ideas? Comment below. 🙂