{"items": [{"author": "John", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100633726263571579985", "anchor": "gp-1314372595411", "service": "gp", "text": "It is really important to ask the band what they want - happy band members usually produce better music.\n
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\nA big factor for tweaking is the caller. Can the caller be heard clearly at the end of the hall? Sometimes there is too much bass and not enough treble for the voice quality of the caller or the music is too loud relative to the band. Good judgement is necessary.", "timestamp": 1314372595}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1314374130643", "service": "gp", "text": "@John\n I'm trying to cover the case where the band is me or someone else who has set things up and is looking for minor adjustments from a helpful volunteer. Caller EQ is definitely important, but that's also something a band that runs sound can handle. Caller level relative to the band is often something that the band can handle by having one of the musicians go out there, but band levels relative to each other don't work as well that way.", "timestamp": 1314374130}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/114987071963782993407", "anchor": "gp-1314387014233", "service": "gp", "text": "A decent intro to working a live board. I try to locate both the loudest and quietest piece in the band, sometimes is is better to turn down the loudest, rather than always turn something up, killing dancer's ears. Messing with treble and bass is above the scope of this article, but understanding what the band members sounds like unamplified really helps you get them defined in the speakers the way you want them. Callers need to be EQ'd for clarity, not necessarily quality or exact replication.", "timestamp": 1314387014}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1314390061141", "service": "gp", "text": "@Danner\n \"rather than always turn something up, killing dancer's ears\"\n
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\nI want a sound board that makes adjustments to the instrument faders have no effect on total sound output. If I turn someone up, everyone else is turned down to compensate. To change the overall volume, you'd use the master faders.", "timestamp": 1314390061}, {"author": "Rick", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/262531240438717?comment_id=262954000396441", "anchor": "fb-262954000396441", "service": "fb", "text": "Nice intro. Thanks Jeff.", "timestamp": "1314447112"}, {"author": "Audrey", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/262531240438717?comment_id=262996450392196", "anchor": "fb-262996450392196", "service": "fb", "text": "Great articles Jeff!", "timestamp": "1314454839"}, {"author": "Terry", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/110796240920571504300", "anchor": "gp-1314889015785", "service": "gp", "text": "Nice article, Jeff. Typically the sound will be quite different in a quiet, empty hall during pre-dance sound checks, versus a hall full of lively dancing bodies. Aside from talking and stamping and so forth, those bodies are absorbing sound instead of letting it bounce off the floors and walls.\n
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\nThe best we can do pre-dance is try to achieve a reasonable balance, get the monitors right, and then be prepared to tweak during the first couple of dances. Typically, the band will want the monitors turned up because suddenly they can't hear themselves or their colleagues, the dancers can't hear the caller, etc.\n
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\nIt helps to have all the channels labeled in advance; experienced sound people bring paper tape and markers and make sure the mikes are properly tagged with the channel #, and the mixer is properly labeled for each player/instrument.", "timestamp": 1314889015}, {"author": "John", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100633726263571579985", "anchor": "gp-1314890094238", "service": "gp", "text": "Labeling the channels is a good idea. A couple of years ago I bought a set of 6 XLR cables where each one is a different color. That also helps - especially when you can't read the label or forgot who is who.", "timestamp": 1314890094}, {"author": "Terry", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/110796240920571504300", "anchor": "gp-1314891524448", "service": "gp", "text": "color coded cables are great. The only problem is when there's a snake. You plug your nice colored cable into the snake and then it comes out the other end black :)", "timestamp": 1314891524}]}