An Engineer's Toolbox Necessities

[lrieves]

I record at different studios, so I'm always on the move, and I'm compiling a toolbox full of the things I usually need that aren't always supplied by the studio. I thought this would make for an interesting thread to see what all you guys have or would put in your ideal engineering toolbox. I'll kick it off with:

1. Gaff Tape (for labeling the channels, keeping the 421s on their mic clips, etc.)

2. tape measurer

3. guitar cable (a surprising amount of guitarists forget them, or don't have good ones and short out)

4. a TUNER! (obvious)

5. Sharpie, Pens, Pencils (I can't count how much time I've wasted looking around for something to write with)

6. coffee beans (you never know)

7. gum (for after the coffee...)

8. and of course my audio journal, where i keep all my notes.

this is in no particular order, feel free to fill in the gaps!

[BLUElightCory]

- Soldering Iron
- Blank CDs and DVDs
- Assortment of guitar picks
- Toolkit with screwdriver/allen tools/wire cutters, etc.
- Lighter
- Flashlight
- Phone charger
- Set of headphones
- Aspirin/Ibuprofren/Naproxen, Cough Drops, Airborne, Tea, etc.
- Eating Utensils
- Drum Key, Drum Dial, Moongels

[seaneldon]

Smokes
Advil
Notebook
At least one IBP
Transient Designer

[strewnshank]

Sudafed with pseudoephedrine (you have to sign for it, not PE). Helps clear up singers with congestion better than anything out there.

Dual 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch, for plugging in an ipod for referance or downtime.

Spinal Tap

[lrieves]

Spinal Tap

Brilliant

[jchadstopherhuez]

Originally Posted by seaneldon

At least one IBP
Transient Designer

yup.

also...

sm7
daking preamps

i also carry a toolbox with the following :

reference cd or ipod (no mp3's !!!)
extra hardrive
drum keys
tuner
headphones (i like my grados)
blank cd-rs
sharpies
flashlite
screwdriver set (mini-large)
pliers and clippers
soldering iron/solder/flux
extra xlr, 1/4" and trs ends
bunch of misc adapters xlr-1/4, etc.
some george l gtr cables
di's
extra cellphone and macbook chargers
tape (lots of it)
pencils
headphone extension cables

all the best,

jchristopherhughes

[blackfish]

i'll add this to the above

9volt batteries---guitarists kinda never have new batteries
deodorant (it will happen to you, 10 hours in a rehearsal space with 6 people, no DO for the BO no more gigs)
mints or gum
plectrums

[seaneldon]

Originally Posted by blackfish

i'll add this to the above

9volt batteries---guitarists kinda never have new batteries
deodorant

These are crucial, ESPECIALLY the batteries!

[lrieves]

These are some great posts, +2 on the DO and 9 volts. I'll also add earplugs to the list, for moving drum mics.

[Mike Brown]

turn arounds/gender benders and all adapters that you can imagine, a passive DI

[lrieves]

Originally Posted by Mayor999

a passive DI

any reason why you would prefer passive?

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by lrieves

any reason why you would prefer passive?

a few reasons: For some reason if something is weird with phantom power (you never know *sigh*)/there is no power/don't want to carry a ton of batteries etc

&

I can turn around the passive DI and use it as a reamp box... I like to think my gig bag has no one trick ponies in it

(also I hand built one with a jensen transformer and like any good gearslut i like to show off my toys!)