The Continuing Saga of Band Drama

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by jive1

Depends on the room and the band. Unless you are going to point the mics away from the drums (which means the vocalists face the drums), you will have bleed. Some vocalists prefer a hotter signal, or there could be compression, both which may increase bleed.

I know there have been gigs where I wish the drummer was behind a shield. From a sound man's perspective, it's a whole lot easier to mix the sound with less stage volume. If everyone played with DIs, amp simulators, and electronic drums, running sound would be much easier.

Like I said....you can't eliminate it, but you can control it. Using the right mics can go a long way from being a problem. When I first started buying mics, I bought SM58s like everyone else. Then, I learned that mics have advanced in the last 30 years, and there are some much better mics on the market that help deal with these sorts of issues.

Sound guys would like everyone in a box. Perfect worlds, huh.....

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

So it took us 4 or 5 tries to find our guy; that can happen. None of those guys complained about the shield much, and not at all after playing behind it a few times.

I've never noticed that you used the shield in any of the videos you posted....I must have missed it.

Typical drummer complaints are that they are hot, extremely loud and totally isolate them from the rest of the band. I've played with probably a hundred different drummers, and I've rarely found one that liked them.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

I've never noticed that you used the shield in any of the videos you posted....I must have missed it.

Typical drummer complaints are that they are hot, extremely loud and totally isolate them from the rest of the band. I've played with probably a hundred different drummers, and I've rarely found one that liked them.

IME, most bands around here use electronic drums to control stage volume.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

My wife used to complain about me getting a "negative type tone" in my voice when I would speak to her and other people we knew.

After awhile I asked her to coach me and let me know in real time when I was getting that "tone". When we were out with friends or socializing in some other context, she would give me the signal (something we worked out before hand).

Long story short, I came to realize that I had picked up a bad vocal habit from my mother and it was so normal to me that I didn't realize that my throat/vocal cords would get tight when I thought I was just making a point about something. I came across as being angry and unapproachable.

It took quite a bit of coaching until I could sense when my vocal cords would begin to tighten up and to be able to change my tone of voice for the better so I could come across to friends and family in a much more civil way.

It's been many years and much effort to change but I still have to be reminded occasionally to "watch my tone" because old habits die hard.

Oh my gosh.. Had my previous employer done something like this with me instead of (me being the only man in the office) making it a man thing, moving my desk multiple times a year, and then the bullying, lawyers, threats against my family I might have avoided quitting my job and not had to go to counseling for PTSD trauma for the last three years, now looking at disability because nobody will hire me and I cant work in my field any longer because of the PTSD. Sometimes you learn a thing or two about yourself and not the bass on talkbass. I might still have a career at the University had my boss been more willing to work with me like your wife. Gee to think... $186,000 down the drain already and I've lost my career.

To the OP: Sounds like somebodies ego was hurt. Too bad their ego is cheaper and easier to repair than gear. That's just my opinion. If the ego started from a "few beers" then you'll never win.

[Renaissance]

but you have to get the acrylic ones, and not the plexi,

Plexiglas is the trademarked name for acrylic sheet. I am unaware of any differences between plexi and acrylic. Why do you recommend acrylic?

I'm not trying to call you out, I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about. I work in the glass industry so maybe I can learn a little something.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by Renaissance

but you have to get the acrylic ones, and not the plexi,

Plexiglas is the trademarked name for acrylic sheet. I am unaware of any differences between plexi and acrylic. Why do you recommend acrylic?

I'm not trying to call you out, I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about. I work in the glass industry so maybe I can learn a little something.

I only know that the shields I looked at, the ones they called "Plexiglass" were cheaper, and less scratch resistant. They tended to be more flexible, too.

The ones referred to as "acrylic" tended to be thicker, muffle sound better, and just seemed a lot better quality.

It could be a "Drum shield industry" thing, or it could be a confusion of terms.

I bought this one:

http://www.pennzonidisplay.com/ds6si...umshields.aspx

and paid extra for three of the "living hinges" that allow any sections bonded with them to fold flat. The chrome hinges don't fold all the way flat. I carry mine in three sections of two, and screw the three sections together using the chrome hinges.

You would know more about the characteristics of the plastics than I would!

[Renaissance]

There are some products out that require "name usage" (Lexan, mar-resistant, etc.) but for plain ol' everyday clear, we tend to use acrylic and Plexiglas interchangeably - kind of like Kleenex and tissue.

I helped my co-worker build a drum shield for his church. We used 1/4" clear "plexi". I was just curious.

Thanks.

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by Renaissance

but you have to get the acrylic ones, and not the plexi,

Plexiglas is the trademarked name for acrylic sheet. I am unaware of any differences between plexi and acrylic. Why do you recommend acrylic?

I'm not trying to call you out, I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about. I work in the glass industry so maybe I can learn a little something.

LOL thanks for bringing/clearing this up, it was bugging me because this was my understanding too - plexiglas is acrylic.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by jive1

IME, most bands around here use electronic drums to control stage volume.

That's great. Cocktail kits are more prevalent than e-drums around here.....and you don't see either very often.