I know people who are computer programmers but couldn't install a new application to save their life. Likewise, I know musicians who know a lot about their instrument but know absolutely nothing about plugging into a sound system. Where this jumped out at me recently was when I was setting up sound. A musician needed to plug his guitar into a direct box and plugged into the Output jack, not the Input jack. Training can go a long way but that's not my point. Consistency [keep reading]
This Should Be Your New Year’s Resolution
December 22, 2009 Mixed by
Sunday was the "solo flight" for my new volunteer. I smiled at him as I walked to my seat with my family. I knew he was the most nervous person in the entire sanctuary. After the service, he asked me the best question possible; "How did I do?" My immediate thought was to pat him on the back and send him on his way. He had done a good job and even remembered to record the sermon - a common rookie error. Instead of going with my first [keep reading]
Why More Channels Equal More Volume
December 9, 2009 Mixed by
Often, you will see the line "when turning on three channels, the total output volume increases." There is science in them thar words! The first thing you must understand is how sound volumes are added. Two sound sources at 96 dB and 104 dB do not equal 200 dB. That's pretty obvious; otherwise, mixing music would be a nightmare. The answer lies in the math classes, like algebra, you took in high school. "Why do I need to understand logarithmic equations" you might have asked [keep reading]
Walk The Room, Don’t Walk The Line
November 16, 2009 Mixed by
Failure comes when we forget the fundamentals, be it basketball, chess, or live sound production. Here's the typical situation a sound tech encounters on a Sunday morning...1. Walk into church - usually with coffee in hand.2. Set up the appropriate equipment on the stage.3. Walk into the fortress that is known as the sound booth.4. Start the work behind the mixer which includes setting sound levels for the singers, orators, and musicians.Given the above situation, let's consider three [keep reading]
Your Role In Giving Power To The Music
September 25, 2009 Mixed by
"Our congregation really concentrates on the words when they sing," said one of my sound techs last week. In his opinion, people were moved by the words and not the music. I thought about it for a few seconds and said "I wonder if it's because we aren't pushing our instrument volume levels high enough?" This morning, I jumped out of my car, put in my headphones and proceeded to dial in U2's "Where the Streets have No Name." The moment [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, 