Bill Evans of FOH magazine has covered personal monitors (also known as "speakers in your head") from that end of the signal chain a couple of times. But no matter how good your earpieces are, they are of no real use unless you have a wireless IEM transciever package that is at leaset as good as your ears. And in the post-700 MHz world, doing more in less bandwidth is just something wireless guys have to deal with. Here is some of the cooler stuff we have seen to help that happen.
Click on the image to see the full-size version.
Technical info on most of these can be found here.
From FOH magazine; the un-edited version of this page is here. Used by permission.
Mr. Soundman Lyrics by: Pat Donohue Sung to the tune of: Mr. Sandman
Lyrics: Mr. Soundman, Turn up the sound So they can hear me for miles around Use all the volume that you can manage, I wanna do a little hearing damage. Mr. Soundman, you know what I need Keep on a-crankin' till their eardrums bleed. I'm gonna terrorize this crowd, Mr. Soundman turn me up loud.
Mr. Soundman, I'd like there to be Lots less of everyone and lots more of me. If you could take me up a little higher To just before you blow your amplifier. Mr. Soundman, cause me some pain I don't need earplugs or novacaine I ain't too good, but I ain't proud. Mr. Soundman, turn me up loud.
Mr. Soundman, what did you say? I must have blacked out. I think I'm okay. You really got me with that high pitched squealin' I can't hear nothin' but I like the feelin'. Mr. Soundman, you got it right My ears are ringin' for the rest of the night It's always up and never down Mr. Soundman turn up… I wanna crash and burn up… Mr. Soundman, turn up the sound!
Song History / Background: Pat Donohue is guitarist for the Guys All-Star Shoe Band of Minnesota Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion (prairiehome.org). You can also visit his website at (patdonohue.com).
This is Gerry Nelson's version:
And this version is from a group called Jim Earps Acoustic Friends:
Some time ago, I posted an article on how to ring out a sound system: how to use your ears and an equalizer to minimize feedback and maximize system gain. If you're not using an automated EQ, then this is one of the most important things you can learn.
This video explains the process, and shows how to use a spectrum analyzer in the process. If you set up portable systems, you probably need this video. The information is from Bill Gibson's book, The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook.
As usual, if you have difficulty with the video, click on the article's title ("Feedback Control and Room Tuning").
While many churches today have their sermons available online and many others are streaming live, there are still churches that want to learn how to make their content available online.
This video is a very basic primer about how ANY church can begin to podcast, including resources, equipment, programs and links.
While there are many different ways to record, encode and post your content, this was just one way - specifically on the cheap. How does your church do it?
Specific links mentioned in the video: www.sermon.net: free podcasting host (with ads) Audacity: free audio editing software Lame Encoder: to export MP3 from Audacity.
Some churches choose an upbeat presentation, with current technology and modern music. Others prefer the traditional style and format for their services. Who's to judge what's best? How about judging by what unchurched people think?
Here is a radio conversation among 3 very un-churched people about their impressions of several traditional churches, and one new, contemporary one. Given that these are opinion-shapers (in England), I would expect that their opinions are very widely shared.
Audix has put out a great video on micing cabinets. The best part: they include both theory and audio samples!
Here's their statement: Learn how to mic up your guitar-- This video shows you how to locate your speaker, different miking techniques and positions and what each mic position sounds like. Used in this video is the Audix i5, Audix CX112 and the Audix Cabgrabber(TM) for mic placement.
