So I attended a 3 group Canadian country show last night (Doc Walker, Emmerson Drive, Aaron Prichett) in a year old college theatre, brand new multi-million facility. I had high expectations becuase I have tech friends who have taken job positions in there, and I know the sound company that installed the rig - they are the biggest in town. The gear list was 4 x meyer JM1-P per side (looks like a 12" UP, or CQ in-fill box hanging below that), 3 x HP700 flown dead centre (cardioid middle cabinet) 4-5 Meyer MJF-212A on deck and a pair digico SD-9's. This show should have been a no brainer, walk in the park awesome sounding event.... it was not. The walkin music sounded like an am radio, no surprise here I do the same thing to let the band have a better perceived impact. First act was a an opener for the opener (2 guys on acoustics, 3 songs)... Right away the "lead acoustic player" had a thump on his acoustic. Okay don't panic, the sound guy is just going to roll up the high pass...... nope, so that was annoying. Second song the lead mic squeels out of no-where, singer didn't request any changes, he didn't even take it off the stand - wtf... how loud is that vocal onstage?
Anyway, they peel them off and put a 4 piece opener on ( lead, bass, drums, singer). It sounded like an AM radio, or the standard DJ smile curve was on the PA. I'm thinking okay maybe it's opener "hold back the pa" syndrome. I do a shoulder check to see the face of the sound guy to see if it changes for one of the headliners.... he's checking out the chicks on the upper balcony, not concerned about the crap thats pouring out of the pa... wow....
So the first of the dual headliner groups comes on, it's the same sound guy, but the sound has cleaned up marginally but not stellar by any means. I attribute this more to the talent of the band than anything that was done on the tech side. BTW would it be a standard practise to run an installed pa in a room, and do a frequency sweep in the room to see if there are any building harmonics issues (rattling). There was a bass gtr / keys note at the end of the song that sent the duct work, or something in the ceiling CRAZY... to the point where my wife noticed it (that's bad folks).
Anyways, back to the tale... other dual headliner band comes on -different sound guy, lead singer is ripping through the pa with very sharp notes - something I'm sure that could have been easily tamed on the digico. Still no back-up vocals, and melody instruments were burried (guitar,fiddle,keys).
The night was basically a sizzle and boomfest, so if this is the definition of the meyer rig, I'll keep my 730's thanks.
Photos below, the lighting rig is 12 auras, and 12 mac 700's.
Anyway, they peel them off and put a 4 piece opener on ( lead, bass, drums, singer). It sounded like an AM radio, or the standard DJ smile curve was on the PA. I'm thinking okay maybe it's opener "hold back the pa" syndrome. I do a shoulder check to see the face of the sound guy to see if it changes for one of the headliners.... he's checking out the chicks on the upper balcony, not concerned about the crap thats pouring out of the pa... wow....
So the first of the dual headliner groups comes on, it's the same sound guy, but the sound has cleaned up marginally but not stellar by any means. I attribute this more to the talent of the band than anything that was done on the tech side. BTW would it be a standard practise to run an installed pa in a room, and do a frequency sweep in the room to see if there are any building harmonics issues (rattling). There was a bass gtr / keys note at the end of the song that sent the duct work, or something in the ceiling CRAZY... to the point where my wife noticed it (that's bad folks).
Anyways, back to the tale... other dual headliner band comes on -different sound guy, lead singer is ripping through the pa with very sharp notes - something I'm sure that could have been easily tamed on the digico. Still no back-up vocals, and melody instruments were burried (guitar,fiddle,keys).
The night was basically a sizzle and boomfest, so if this is the definition of the meyer rig, I'll keep my 730's thanks.
Photos below, the lighting rig is 12 auras, and 12 mac 700's.
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