My First Gig...

[Mick@itc]

Hi all.

Just very happy and wanted to share the fact that I did my first gig last night. After 6 months of buildign up the right gear from many many recommendations here on the forum I packed up the car and did a big-band concert in a local preforming arts centre. Yes, I was spent by the end of the night but it was such a great feeling having started with an idea and now have a working little rig and the first success under my belt.

I couldn't help myself...when I can back to the studio I sat up and listened to the recording all the way through I just wanted to know it was there and usuable. And it is...

So a thanks to all those in here that have given out valuable recommendations and sage like advice especially Steve Remote.

In my mad rush I forgot to take a camera!! and the only photo is a very dark one from my mobile phone...but what the hey!!!

Mick

[boojum]

It is a rush. And when it works well, it is almost nirvana.

[bishopthomas]

Hey, Mick, what kind of setup do you have? Obviously HD24's, but what preamps? What type splitter? Do you have any monitoring in place from the HD24's? Glad to hear your first gig went well.

[Mick@itc]

Hi bishopthomas...

My setup is as follows.

Bottom case...1400Va APC Rack mounted UPS in a Rack box on wheels. This is about 500mm high and gives me the abiulity to move the whole tower around during setup.
Middle Case. SBK 12 unit floating rack case with (starrting from the bottom) one HD24 fed with ADAT lightpipes, 1 HD 24XR fed with analog line inputs, space, 3 Digimax D8s, alalog outs to HD24XR, ADAT outs to HD24, compressor unit space (put in either a pair of nitrous for quality and/or some behringer compressors if I need more than two. The back of the case has a multipin connection that commects to the snake to the splitters.
Top case. 4 behringer 1602 rack mixers. The top three are used for connection to the 48 channels of analog output from the two HD24s. It means I can confidence monitor each individual channel using the mute and L/R pot. The last 1602 I use to take the monitor outs of the top three and create an overall mix for listening. Just of note...this phones output was great to allow the client to listen to the sound from backstage...many brownie points

Splitter case... I use 4 rack units of EWI passive splitters, good value for money and fit within the level of rig. I have two rack units of Horizon passive splitters...having soem problems with them, sound quality wise so they are channel 17~24 and I use them only when I have to. I mounted the splitters horizontally and facing up on a little mixer/poweramp SBK case with the multipin mounted vertically. I'll have to take a picture and show you it, hard to descrtibe but its very easy to read when looking down.

The snake is a Mogami 24 channel jobn that cost me an arm and a leg but I believe this will get the most physical hammering of all the gear so bought a good one.

Will take a few photos and post them later on...

Regards
Mick

[Corran]

Wow, that's a lot of equipment for just your first gig! I am still working on buying my first HD24 (hope to be this year!). But I make do with my Korg D888.

What mics were you running?

[Mick@itc]

Hi Corran

It was relatively simple mic wise...

The venue had the following with I tapped into at the wall via the splitter...
3 plate mics across front of stage.
2 hanging condenser mics
4 wireless handhelds
2 wired handhelds
1 piano sterio pair mic

Then I suplemented with...
DI'ed the fiddle, bass, keyboard and two guitar amps.
Miced up the drumkit seperately with an Audix based set plus two C4 overheads.

All up I'm happy with the overall sound, I have plenty of rythm section "clean" signal to get the strong/punchy rythm section sound and I can play with the other "general" mics to pick out the verious brass sections. At one stage they had a precussion section with windchimes and timps...didn't have them miced seperately but I think I can get enough fromt eh generals. Boy timps sound great from backstage...about 3 meters away when the timp player gets rid of his frustrations...

Anyway...I got some really good advise from Steve R...build slowly with intent, use what you have, and build as you get the cash flowing. Its taken me nearly a year to get to this stage.

Regards
Mick

[noamraz]

Glad to read your thread.

Keep the information coming - Very helpful for me to read..

I liked the idea of using preamps with integrated A/D which flows to the 2nd recorder.

Best regards, Noam.

[Mick@itc]

Originally Posted by noamraz

Glad to read your thread.

Keep the information coming - Very helpful for me to read..

I liked the idea of using preamps with integrated A/D which flows to the 2nd recorder.

Best regards, Noam.

Thanks Noam, its been a real interesting journey so far. My next issue to be addressed is transport. Do I buy a car/trailer combo or do I go and get a van that I can fit out and just run a snake in with the splitter...more a remote situation. But I don't think I am ready for that yet More a wish/dream thing than a sensible move right now. Back to the slowly built it up plan

Mick

[Mick@itc]

Hi
Promised I would post some photos so here goes...

Mick

[Mick@itc]

Pretty lights

Mick

[Remoteness]

Hey, Mick:

Thanks for posting about your first gig.

I'm glad you're so happy with that gig last night.

It's true, (IMHO) this forum is unbeatable when it comes to helping other Remotesters design, build and update their rigs.

I'm happy everything turned out as you planed.

I took the liberty to rotate the photos you posted.
I trust you will not mind me doing so...
My selfish need to charge -- I didn't want any possible neck problems while viewing these pictures.

[Mick@itc]

Thanks for rotating the photos...I have no idea when it comes to that kind of stuff...

Yes, I agree about the value of the forum for exactly that...getting the start when you dont know where to start. I really happy with what I have and, now that I am a seasoned professional with 3 gigs under my belt I am really starting to enjoy the ride rather than the blind panic when you press the record button the first time in a "real" situation. So like I said above...thanks to everyone for the help so far and I'm sure, the help in the future

Mick

[Ibvee]

Looks great!

To me it seems kind of strange to buy a complete set before recording your first gig. It would seem more logical to buy stuff step by step. This seems quite an investment. How did you justify this? Do you have some sort of business plan or do you hope it will 'earn itself back eventually'.

[Mick@itc]

Originally Posted by Ibvee

Looks great!

To me it seems kind of strange to buy a complete set before recording your first gig. It would seem more logical to buy stuff step by step. This seems quite an investment. How did you justify this? Do you have some sort of business plan or do you hope it will 'earn itself back eventually'.

Hi Ibvee

The studio I have paid for the gear with a couple of nice fat jobs and tax cheque. My intention is to expand the current studio based business to include location recording as a major part. I have taken some advise from a very wise person here. Start small and work my way up.

Mick