My mind goes back to when I was living in Chicago, in the fall of 1999. A somewhat reluctant convert to the Windows platform (from an Amiga 3000- can you blame me?), I was consoled to see a flood of programs appear in what was a very innovative time for computer-based music applications. There were […]
The Xybots are dead. Long live the Xybots! Upon the successful completion of a mission, the leader of the A-Team often said: “I love it when a plan comes together.” Well… yeah. Who likes it when a plan falls apart? This blog was originally established to chronicle technical hurdles encountered while planning, practicing, and ultimately playing […]
Before the decision to play live was made, I considered driving the sequences from a more powerful desktop workstation. The reasons to use a desktop were there:- more CPU power & RAM, faster hard drive(s), better cooling, plenty of juice for the USB ports, and the ability to tuck the box away somewhere under a […]
Let’s talk about using a laptop as the central piece to a live show. If I could sum up the collective wisdom and opinion of those who have gone before, I’m pretty sure it would sound something like this: “Don’t do that.” But I really feel like I have to do it. For the past […]
If you’ve wondered what those Aux channels mean on your mixer, I will explain. That way, should you ever get the ear of a seasoned electronic veteran… like The Juan MacLean, for example…. you can ask them more insightful questions, and won’t need to spend your car ride home doing a *facepalm loop! The aux dials on […]
I can’t be the first one to do this, but this seemed like as good a place as any to put the analog signal routing- esp. if I want to use any of the effects chains. The ideal place would be under the hands of a dedicated, competent sound person… unfortunately the venue doesn’t […]
As an added bonus, these metal brushes are also louder… yet still much quieter than the ‘crack of doom’ their wooden cousins would produce on my snare.
Is it possible to play through a PA system and keep fidelity? Or will the guitars be squashed alongside the track mixes? Our first practice is this Friday & we’re going to give the PA-only route a whirl. I am using a B-52 Matrix 1000 v2 combo (with a 15″ sub-woofer) and a Fender Passport 250 for the current […]
As a drummer, I have always played loud. I try to control it, but when it comes time to translate feeling down to the drum skins- I always end up pounding them like a crazy gorilla on speed. I remember playing a show in the 90’s, when our band was politely asked to leave because […]