Re: Digital mixer - pros and cons?
They actually do very well with the 8 monitor mixes from house. I don’t think any of the instruments has their own on stage amp. That is why all of the mixes, they get themselves so they can play and what ever else they need. They had electronic drums but didn’t like them; the drummer is behind a shield. They are all spread across the stage it is a lot wider then it is deep. I don’t think they would have a problem handling the 10 mixes it will likely become.
They aren’t being a pain about the boosting up of the lead but I have heard the request. I talked to a friend who used to do monitors for some very big name acts and he said that he has been asked for the same thing from some of those acts. So I realized it wasn’t totally out of line but I think it is more then they should expect unless they are willing to spend a lot of money on a console that can do what they want with ease. I just haven’t found what console that would be yet. If I were to mix them I would just ignore the request. They like what they hear when I have been at the mixer for some rehearsals while trying to help train their people.
In summery they (musicians and tech people) do a decent job and a lot of what they want is just to make it better. And they are looking for consistency. I think that is a really good thing to strive for. I am a technical consultant for them I am not a musical consultant, so it is very hard for me to tell them what they should be doing vocally. I can push it and I can tell them they are not performing right and that they need to listen to me. And then I can go looking for more work else ware because they will tell me to take a hike if I act like that kind of jerk. I tried to make the suggestion for them to sing what I think is the right way to do it and the leader (paid position) didn’t want to do it that way. And I must repeat, they are musically pretty good but they could be better.
I actually have heard these volunteers mix much better then what I have heard at other places that are using paid staff or even at church events that are using what is supposed to be a professional sound company.
