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Small Operator System Details and Rationale
Steve Crump:
Mixers.
A&H QU PAC
A&H QU-16
A&H SQ5
Midas MR18
Rack 1:
Ashly Protea 4.8 DSP
(2) Crown MA5000i
(2) Crown XLS2500
Rack 2:
(2) Powersoft T602
(1) Powersoft T304
Tops: TW Audio T20 90 or JTR Noesis 3TX
Subs: JTR212 or Tannoy VSX15B
Monitors: EV SX250 and some DIY 12" coaxials
Mics: mostly SM58s, SM57s, Shure drum kit, E-609, along with the SEV7 which seems great for singing drummers.
Radial Engineering. D boxes.
Transport: Family mini van or enclosed trailer
Live music, small community type events.
Reason for gear choice:
Size and weight.
I really like the A&H mixers for most all shows, but I do like the grab and go feel of the MR18. To my ears the 3TX powered by the MA5000i sounds great for folk, blue grass, the acoustic stringed performances, but I really never could get to where I wanted to be with the sound for the Blues Rock, 90s alternative or the Southern Rock music, (could be me, not the gear and I can accept that). The TW Audio using the Powersoft amps seems to fill in what I was missing with the 3TX. I have only used the T20s for 3 outdoor shows, but each time nothing but compliments.
Nathan Riddle:
Sometimes it's just fun to gush about what cool stuff you have and how you're super happy with it all :)
Sound gear:
Consoles:
SQ6/GX4816/ME-1
C3500/DM32/GX4816/ME-1
Xair18
Flow8
Wireless:
8x QLXD (HH,BP) [B87s/c, SM86, KSM8, sE MC1, B58] [I really only ever use B87 or SM86] [OTE: DPA, THOR, Acacia]
4x EW300 G3 IEM
Wired:
Senn: e904, e604, e906, e614, e935
Shure: B91a, B52, KSM9, SM81, B87c, B98, SM57
Rode: NT1, NT4
Presonus: PM-2
Audix: OM7
Heil: PR35, PR22
DI:
Klark Technik
RNDI
Countryman
Teegarden Magic DI
Radial
Speakers:
SPL TD1
SM100
TH118
SM-LPM (SM100 monitor)
K12 (if I have to use monitors)
DNA20K4
Why I went with what I went with:
dLive = more FX/Dynamics processing
SQ = slightly better than X-series at the time
Xair = small bar bands with no room for FOH
Flow8 = smaller gigs/weddings, perfect mixer; can record; FX, monitors etc.
QLX-D = Having too many wireless issues, I now have zero
EW300 = Langston's post about IEM's, while these are technically better I think the Shure would have made non-picky musicians happier
Mics = Just enjoy experimenting with mics. I've narrowed it down to what I like though. V-B87 (cuts/HiFi), D-904 (fast),
DIs = I enjoy experimenting with DIs. I've narrowed it down to what I like though. RNDI, KT, Radial.
SM100 = Small system (replaced SRX835p)
TD1 = These sound so good
DNA20K4 = good deal, plus these amps are incredible, sips power, endlessly configurable, zero headache limiters, etc.
K12 = money maker
Application:
Church contemporary bands. Mostly IEMs with multi-tracks.
Transport:
14x7 - V-nose trailer towed with F150
Lighting & Video also go in this trailer + trussing.
I'm getting to the point of it is too small.
Do I like it?:
Insert expletives yes!!!
The sound-system sounds so freaking good I can't believe anyone uses anything else. Forget correct coverage & phase alignment and all that crap. Get good sounding speakers is 99% of the battle.
brian maddox:
--- Quote from: Mike Monte on April 03, 2022, 08:11:44 PM ---Does anyone want to share:
- what sound gear (speakers/mixer/mics/etc.) they are currently using
--- End quote ---
Either whatever is given to me on a gig or...
I own a Yamaha CL3, a Behringer XR18, A rode shotgun and a couple of sm58s. Oh and probably some other labs and crap I don't ever use.
--- Quote from: Mike Monte on April 03, 2022, 08:11:44 PM ---Does anyone want to share:
- why they went with that particular gear
--- End quote ---
I use the CL3 to remote mix studio gigs from my house. I chose it for it ubiquity in the corporate audio world which is where I ply my trade as well as it's ability to "mirror" another Yamaha console remotely. This enables me to mix gigs in my pajamas, which I enjoy quite a lot.
I use the XR18 as a utility mixer for monitoring control and zoom calls and all kinds of stuff. very handy that it has a 18x18 USB interface to my computer.
--- Quote from: Mike Monte on April 03, 2022, 08:11:44 PM ---Does anyone want to share:
- the application (type of live music only, please instruments, etc.)
--- End quote ---
I basically don't do live music anymore. I haven't for quite a while. In fact there are a LOT of audio professionals who don't do music gigs. I'd venture that would be "Most" actually.
I do live special events with both in person live audiences as well as broadcast and webcast events. I work on site, but I also work virtually from my house.
--- Quote from: Mike Monte on April 03, 2022, 08:11:44 PM ---Does anyone want to share:
- how you transport it
--- End quote ---
My console doesn't get transported [well expect for that one time a few weeks ago when I carted it to a VERY RARE for me local gig]. I have a variety of other gadgets that go into one of the various Pelican style cases I own and then get checked onto planes.
--- Quote from: Mike Monte on April 03, 2022, 08:11:44 PM ---Does anyone want to share:
- and, most of all, what you think of it....
--- End quote ---
My gear works well for me. It makes me money. That's why I do what I do. It's how I pay my bills.
I've been doing sound professionally now for 3 decades. I still love my career choice. I still love growing and learning new things. I largely left doing music gigs about 15 years ago, and I don't miss it a bit. I find what I'm doing now to be more challenging, and I love that. I also have a lot easier time paying my bills.
I know mine wasn't the kind of answer you were looking for. But I can't seem to pass up an opportunity to remind people that "mixing sound for music acts and shooting that sound out of big black boxes" is not the only way to find an interesting, challenging, and yes REWARDING career in audio.
Luke Geis:
I get to play in two different worlds. I have my own stuff which has turned more into a side gig and the company that I am now employed by, which I get to drive much of the purchasing decisions : )
My gear: Midas M32 + stage box, JBL SRX 812SP's mains, JBL SRX 818SP's subs, and 8 x RCF NX12SMA monitors. My mic box has standard Shure options, Audio Technica, and I have become a bit of a drum mic collector. I have a Miktek PMD5 kit, an Audix Kit and a CAD Kit. I use Behringer C2's for hats and perc., while I have a pair of AKG C212's for overheads. I have a few other options, but that rounds it out. I have a dozen DI boxes that range from passive to active, stereo to isolation.
I use it because: At the level I was working at, I dealt mostly with local and intermediate bands, some small corporate gigs, and medium-sized special events like Pride festivals, or other local outdoor events. I wanted gear that was easy, worked for me as opposed to making me work, would get me in and out of the venue quickly and can pack as much punch as would fit in a Chevy S10 pickup truck.
What I think of it: I mean, it is a pretty good package really. The RCF NX-12SMA's were really nice addition. I am the only game in town with that level of quality sitting on the stage in that quantity. The JBL SRX stuff was as good as I could afford for the type of work I could nab. It sounds really good and pretty much runs itself. The Midas M32 is popular among bands and not one person has faulted me for it. All in all, I can arrive at a venue, set the whole thing up ( including 8 monitor mixes ) in about 3 hours, and strike it all in under 2 hours by MYSELF!!! I don't have to spend much time fiddling with tuning and I can create a good mix easily.
For the company I work for: We own Yamaha QL series mixers, an L' Acoustics Kiva II rig ( 16 Kiva's, 4 SB18's, 4 SB15's, and 8 5XT's ) with 5 x LA4X amplifiers, we use Crown XTI's to run a set of 8 JBL SRX 712M's and we have a standard mic kit that is not as nice as the one I personally own. We do mostly corporate where I work, so most of the gear is suited towards that type of client and their needs. I sort of fill in the rest if needed.
Why we run it: Let's be honest, L' Acoustics is top-o-the-heap and the Kiva II's are a hell of a box. With The LA4X they are very easy to manage and as a system, it really packs more punch than its weight suggests. It's hard to beat really.
What I think of it: The L' Acoustics stuff has its quirks. I do not like ground stacking the Kiva's... It has a thing going on. In the air, it is a dream. The prediction software is accurate and tuning it takes minimal effort. The system as a whole is definitely nice to work with and I would be happy dealing with it anywhere, anytime. The QL is par for the course, you can't go wrong with it. As for the JBL monitors, well, they are predictable and I can get them loud enough for anyone I deal with. We almost went with RCF for everything, but a great deal presented itself to us and I couldn't be happier.
Matt Vivlamore:
Does anyone want to share:
- what sound gear (speakers/mixer/mics/etc.) they are currently using
Main: RCF TTP4A (4x)
Subs: JBL SRX828SP (2x) (being replaced late summer with either RCF TTS18/TTS36 or Sub9004/9006)
Monitors: RCF NX-12SMA (5x)
Mixer: A&H SQ5 & AR2412 + AR84
Mics: Basic Band Festival mic package (Vox: e935, GTR: e609, Kick D6/Beta91a, Snare: e904, Toms: e604, OH/HH: SM81 and a handful of Radial DIs). K&M 210/9 mic stands
Cabling: CBI Ultimate mic cables (2', 6', 15', 25' & 50'); 150' "drive snake" with 1x Edison extension and 2x Cat5e cables.
- why they went with that particular gear
I’m growing and trying to focus on Mid Level shows; 300-1000 people outdoors (above the bar guys, but smaller than the 8x box line array hang companies)
- the application (type of live music only, please instruments, etc.)
Live Music of all kinds
- how you transport it
Jeep Gladiator towing a 6x12 tandem axle enclosed trailer; I out grew my 5x8 enclosed trailer over the winter.
- and, most of all, what you think of it....
In 2016, I closed up shop after a 6 year run with a prominent wedding band because I was burnt out. When I started rebuilding Meerkat Sound "2.0", I know buy quality gear and try to get the gear that I would hold onto for many years. My last system was Fulcrum FA22ac and SRX718s/Itech amp (at prior to joining the wedding band, I had 4x SRX722 & 4x SRX728 with Itech power). I started out with the JBL SRX8##P system, and I don't care to much for it. I don't think it is as good as the older SRX7## and Itech amps.
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