Live from a Rush Concert.

Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

Mike Caldwell said:
I still have their catalogs from back then, oh to be able to make a phone call into the past and still order some select pieces of equipment at those prices.............and sell it today as vintage new old stock still in box!
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Here is a photo (from the Music Emporium catalog 1979 that I have on my "wall of catalogs" in the office) of the "system in question" that I wrote about-I am not sure what amps were used however for the "show in question".
 

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Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

Hi John, I was at that particular show. I was also disappointed with the mix quality where I was sitting (SR, about 75' back from the PA, off axis by about 45 degrees, PA was Clair Bros. i5 + i5b). It wasn't the worst I had ever heard, but it wasn't worth the $100 ahead tickets. Lots of low mid....not a lot of definition to the sub....and a real lack of midrange. I walked over to the mix position, and the mix sounded better, but not amazing. I think what I heard was a dark mix compounded with not quite enough horizontal HF coverage (the i5s being a 90 degree box)
 
Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

Aaron Kovacik said:
Hi John, I was at that particular show. I was also disappointed with the mix quality where I was sitting (SR, about 75' back from the PA, off axis by about 45 degrees, PA was Clair Bros. i5 + i5b). It wasn't the worst I had ever heard, but it wasn't worth the $100 ahead tickets. Lots of low mid....not a lot of definition to the sub....and a real lack of midrange. I walked over to the mix position, and the mix sounded better, but not amazing. I think what I heard was a dark mix compounded with not quite enough horizontal HF coverage (the i5s being a 90 degree box)
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I would like to meekly point out that Clair Brothers does not make the i5 systems, but rather Clair Global produces them for rental only. (Unless I am wrong, which has been known to happen.)
 
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Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

Max Warasila said:
I would like to meekly point out that Clair Brothers does not make the i5 systems, but rather Claire Global produces them for rental only. (Unless I am wrong, which has been known to happen.)
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Semantics, who gives a crap?! Put a couple giant audio providers together in a blender and you get Clair Global rather than Clair Brothers and Showco.
 
Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

RYAN LOUDMUSIC JENKINS said:
Semantics, who gives a crap?! Put a couple giant audio providers together in a blender and you get Clair Global rather than Clair Brothers and Showco.
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Well, it does matter... just a little bit.

You all know who Clair Global is.

Clair Brothers is in Mannheim, PA and specializes in installed audio systems.

They are not the same thing. They are separate entities.
 
Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

John Chiara said:
I just got a text from a reliable musical associate ranting about how awful the show... at The Saratoga Performing Arts Center...sounds. I mean he is hammering me with adjectives!
Any info on what might be going on?
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Worked the show in AC a month ago and it sounded great! In a shitty sounding venue too! Props to Brad Maddix!!!
 
Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

Rob Ottaviano said:
Worked the show in AC a month ago and it sounded great! In a shitty sounding venue too! Props to Brad Maddix!!!
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That's Brad MaDix. One D. Want to make sure it's spelled wrong the right way... :)

I'm still waiting for Rush to call me as a last second replacement for Brad. After all, our names are similar enough i should be able to do the job, right?
 
Re: Live from a Rush Concert.

So I went and saw Rush on Saturday night in Hamilton Ontario at Copps Coliseum. My seats were in the balcony, about 3 rows up from the bottom, slightly stage Left. I'm estimating about 150 ft. back from the array. I'd give the sound a 6/10. Two problems:

1) A fair amount of echo that smeared out the definition. Not much that you can do about this. From now on I'm going to try to get seats closer to the PA to swing the direct/reverberant ratio more towards hearing the direct sound from the PA. When I saw them in October at the Air Canada Center, I was only 40 ft. back from the downstage Left corner of the stage, listening to the side-hang, and the sound was quite good.

2) Somewhat of a bump around 1.6k that gave everything a harsh, chainsaw-like sound; especially on vocals and guitars. During intermission, I was lucky enough to dodge security and make it down to FOH, where I got to briefly speak to Brad Madix! I told him of the echo problems, and he replied that "there's not much you can do about that except hang delays", to which I agree. As they already have 48 I-5's and 28 I-5b's in the air, any more would be a little crazy, plus would block sightlines. I asked if the array was zoned, and he said the top 3 boxes were on their own send, and that he would send someone to have a listen to the 1.6k honk. I don't think anything changed in the second half.

I do 4-5 arena shows per year, and I know that in those rooms definition can be a problem. I was surprised at how much low end there was up in the balcony, so the I-5b's certainly do their job. Overall, the mix was good, just the system could have been tuned better, at least where I was sitting. Lights, Video and Pyro were awesome. Geddy's voice was a little rough in Subdivisions, but was good from there on. Rush played great. And it was cool to actually speak to Brad.

-Mark
 
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