Is it O.K. to praise sound engineers?

joeturbodiesel@ · #1 03-26-2011, 08:55 PM

I'm just kidding. I'm sure its o.k..... right? Anyway, I had a fantastic gig last night and just wanted to give a public style thanks to Vinnies Sound Machine out of Beeville, Tx last night for helping us with sound at our festival gig. The reason I posted here was to tell all of you that cruise this section of the site what an amazing education I am gaining from spending time here with you guys. some juicy details? well, I didn't get model numbers but starting from the speakers, they were all JBL. They used Crown amps and Sennhieser mics. For the final piece of info they had a soundcraft board. From what I have heard alot of yall talk about, this is some pretty good stuff. Well, it proved itself last night. Everyone said we sounded great and the bands after us did too. The sound was incredible. On my end, I used my rig that I finally got comfortable with tuning and it sounded like the most powerful undistorted bolt of lightening straight from Heaven! This might sound funny to some of you but it was the first time I played at an event this big and felt in control of the power because I finally had it and was prepared. The people running sound were so friendly and accomodating that it made it just that much better. Just thought I'd let yall know. Thanks!

Skitch it! · #2 03-26-2011, 09:06 PM

You bet ch'ya. The engineers can make or break it, all those years of playing, rehearsals can go straight out of the window because of a poor 'sound engineer'? The great guys I've worked with became quite good pals, and what a difference they made to those gigs. If I had the dough I'd put one on retainer and take him everywhere to mix the band.

Nice happenings there man, good vibes abound by the sounds of it, cool

JimmyM · #3 03-26-2011, 09:08 PM

there are many sound companies out there who actually get what it's all about. just because we rant and rave about the lamers who permeate the lower fringes of the pro sound echelon does not mean there aren't really good ones out there. nothing quite like working with a soundman who gets what you want to do as opposed to some drunk know-nothing doing sound at a local bar.

FretlessMainly · #4 03-26-2011, 11:37 PM

Friendly sound-people?

My oh my. What planet do you live on? I want to move there ASAP.

OK, I've met many of the friendly type. But you have had a great experince. Keep that gig as long as you can!

I will say that one of the grumpiest sound guys I've ever dealt with did a fantastic job of getting us spot on recently. So, it's all about the sound. Deal with any attitude for that.

littlepope · #5 03-26-2011, 11:57 PM

Please give thanks to those that have helped you along the way. Many times people do not have to but they do. I was fortunate after quitting my band they let me do sound for them on gigs and clubs.

It is a totally different responsibility, feeling and perspective when you realize you can make or break a bad or good sound to the public. Believe it or not, even drunken club patrons know excellent clear sound compared to mush.

If you go the extra mile to get a solid D.I. signal, well-rounded bass sound, multi-instrument mix, stage layout, songlist and other miscellaneous technical info to the FOH and monitor mixman and even light crewman, it goes along way towards making your life easier.

It is called communication. Besides, life is a learning experience and a journey. (they do not get a good report doing bad sound reinforcement).

Lowbrow · #6 03-27-2011, 12:05 AM

OK and advisable. Always try to introduce yourself to the guy or girl moving the cables around - tell them your name and ask their name. You don't have to be personal, just personable. And if you need more monitors, you'll know who to ask.

RustyAxe · #7 03-27-2011, 01:08 PM

A good sound guy deserves praise. I'm never impressed by the hardware, though. A good man can make mediocre gear sound good. On the other hand, an inept guy can make even the best equipment sound like pure crap. And NOTHING can make a bad performance sound good ...

joeturbodiesel@ · #8 03-27-2011, 01:29 PM

Well, the thing that impressed me about their equipment is they care enough about their craft to have quality equipment to work with. I commented to them that I was impressed by what they had and they told me we tried it the other way and we were always having to replace something. This way they had a more reliable and better sounding system for the musicians and promoters that were counting on it. To me, that is the mark of a true professional and they worked it as a family and were all extremely nice to boot.

One Bad Monkey · #9 03-27-2011, 01:31 PM

Definitely give praise to the sound guy if they did a bang up job. I played at a theatre for three weeks last summer with an amazing sound guy. I bought him coffee the last night and told him how much fun it was working with a sound guy of his caliber. Too often we're all caught up on the guys that really make playing music hard, we have to remember to give thanks to the guys that "get it" and are there to help us make some killer music.

MNAirHead · #10 03-27-2011, 09:45 PM

The honest truth is that 90% of sound guys are acceptable.. it's self important musicians that bash them.. the reality is they're mixing an end product... not wanking on about a frequency range most aren't focused on hearing.

BigMac5 · #11 03-28-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

The honest truth is that 90% of sound guys are acceptable.. it's self important musicians that bash them.. the reality is they're mixing an end product... not wanking on about a frequency range most aren't focused on hearing.

How did you com up with the 90% figure?

Baron Von Vik · #12 03-28-2011, 03:53 AM

Hell yeah.
On my end, Props to LA Sound- pros all the way.

s_mcsleazy · #13 03-28-2011, 04:10 AM

ok for every 100 sound engeneer that hands bass players a d.i. and mixes them completely out of the mix theres usually one that knows the room and knows the kinda sound the band are looking for

RustyAxe · #14 03-28-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMac5

How did you com up with the 90% figure?

Everyone knows that 92.38% of all statistics are wild ass guesses!

joshwilkesbooth · #15 03-28-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

And NOTHING can make a bad performance sound good ...

Pro tools... :O

fokof · #16 03-29-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

And NOTHING can make a bad performance sound good ...

+1

Most of the threads here are soundman's bashing ones by people doin mostly bar scene.
I have yet to read a thread on a F-up sound/soundman on a 10K/people gig.

walker rosewood · #17 03-29-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Most of the threads here are soundman's bashing ones by people doin mostly bar scene.
I have yet to read a thread on a F-up sound/soundman on a 10K/people gig.

furthermore, in most of those cases if the band sounds bad it is usually their own fault, because they do things the audio engineer can't control in a small room.

greenboy · #18 03-30-2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fokof

+1
I have yet to read a thread on a F-up sound/soundman on a 10K/people gig.

Actually there have been many posts all around TB about big gig sound sucking azz. And rightfully so.

Zooberwerx · #19 03-30-2011, 05:51 AM

Nothing better than a competent soundguy who also sees himself as an educator...."here's what I'm doing, what I'm using, and why".

Riis

g4string · #20 03-30-2011, 06:12 AM

I vote no. Giving praise to a sound eng. (SE) is like giving praise to a fluffer for a job well done. Nobody cares about the fluffer....hey wait a minute, isn't this what guitarists think about bass players (and drummers)!! Is a bass player/SE relationship the equivalence of a guitar/bass player relationship? Is the SE our "bass player"??