If you need a PA for a show you have come to the right place.
I am an experienced engineer with 7kw of dB Technology power at my disposal and can turn your live performance into your audience's best gig.
I have mixed just about everything that makes a noise: solo artists, jazz bands, rock and blues bands, concert soloists and several full stage shows.
Over the years I have learned techniques to clean up sound and produce a bright and lively mix. Every gig is as much a performance for me as it is for the musicians, you can never relax at the desk and should be working it at all times.
All PA rigs, desks and outboards do just about the same thing – it is the quality of the engineer that changes.
I mix live bands and produce live mixes; you will notice the difference.
The technical bit:
Front of House: I run two dB Technologies Line 50 Concert speaker systems. They are active with the amplifiers mounted right behind the speakers and comprise 18” subs, 15” mid, 10” highs and 1” horns and run to 3400watts each.
Depending on the venue and type of music to be mixed we can run one line at 3400w or add more 18” subs or run both full lines to 6800w.
All the pics and blurb from dB is attached.
Monitors: Four separate monitor mixes run to the stage and are driven by QSC amps.
The desk: 35metres away at the other end of the multicore is my Soundcraft Spirit 24:4:2 desk.
The outboard: all kinds of things to make the sound clean, mostly Behringer –
2 x Twin 31 band graphics – one for Front of House, the other for problem instruments like violins, acoustic guitars, Indian instruments and castanets!
8 x electronic gates – to isolate the drum sounds
2 x compressor/limiters – to smooth the drum peaks and troughs
4 x feedback destroyers – to stop stage monitors feeding back
2 x vocal multi-effect units – to add a variety of effects to your voice
CD player/MD player – for walk in/out music and recordings
Microphones: SM 58s for the voices, SM 57s for the instruments, Sennheiser clips for the drums and AKG D112 for the kick.
Stage Lights: how I hate lighting rigs; heavy, cumbersome and make no noise at all! However if you must have them I run 8 Par 56 cans on two bars from a lighting desk with me at the back of the hall. I mix the lights as well as the sound, but am happy to let one of your mates do it if they wish.
Floor Lights: I hate dance floor lights even more than stage lights – at least the stage lights are on the band, these ones are disco lights for a dancing audience. They are even heavier than the others and are sound to light driven. There are five on the bar and they make shapes and flash and I hate them. Please tell me you don’t want these as well!
Practical things: I will need 3 x 13amp sockets on the stage to run one Line 50 Concert system, monitors, lights and leave enough for the band backline. And 4 x 13 sockets if we are running both Line 50 systems. I shall need 1 x 13amp supply somewhere near the desk at the back of the hall. I have plenty of long extensions and can work from 32amp or 63amp supplies.
Access: I don’t do stairs, and I’m not very keen on lifts either! My prices are for me working solo, if we have an access problem and I need to bring someone with me I will have to charge for them.
Pricing/contracts: You are probably looking at about £300 to hire me for a 12hour day, a bit more if you insist on those pesky lights. I will prepare contracts to be signed and exchanged. Payment can be by cheque but it must clear prior to the day of the gig, or you can give me cash on the night but prior to the performance. Sorry to be awkward but I have been tucked up once on a bouncy cheque, never again.
If you want to say hello to your engineer link to www.something4theweekend.co.uk and look for Brian the Bass