A question commonly asked when picking microphones is "Which microphone has the best reach?" The problem is that a microphone doesn't reach for anything. A microphone responds to sound waves that travel to its location. The microphone measures variations in air pressure and provides an electrical output that mirrors those variations. The air pressure variations can be sensed as long as they are within the hearing frequency of 20 - 20,000 Hertz. I think part of the [keep reading]
2009 Direct Box Survey Results
June 17, 2009 Mixed by
The results are in for the 2009 Direct Box Review! Some of the findings only reflect what many know to be true. Some of the findings were a surprise. The bottom line is this; not all direct boxes are the same. Survey Background The goal of the survey was to determine if cost and brand name were good determining factors in quality. The survey was made up of two questions. The first asked for the survey-takers role (sound tech / musician / both) and the second asked for the [keep reading]
Brand New 8-Track Technology
May 24, 2009 Mixed by
"I have a question for you but it's not about work," said my manager. I was intrigued. "Our church has a CD/DVD burning tower. Now that people can listen to the sermons on the internet, we hardly use it any more. Do you know of anyone that would like to rent it from us?" What an incredibly wonderful illustration of how technology changes and how our equipment purchases that make us modern and cutting edge can quickly become dust collectors. Remember [keep reading]
Wired vs. Wireless Microphones
May 9, 2009 Mixed by
In the last newsletter, I discussed the quality of sound produced by wired and wireless microphones. I quoted Shure regarding how technology makes the two very similiar in quality, especially in the live environment. Harry F. (a newsletter subscriber) email me with this: "One thought on the wireless vs. wired. The biggest difference, in my experience, is how the compander interacts with the signal. It's always a good idea, if you're picking up a new wireless unit for a new [keep reading]
I'm Chris Huff and I've been working behind a mixer for over twenty years. Since 2008, I've been helping other sound techs learn all about the art of church audio through behindthemixer.com.
For more about me, 