Are there days you just arn't feeling it?

[WashburnAB95]

I mix live sound for Church. (I also play some but that is besides the point) I have access to the mixer but not to the main system. (this might be important) I went through a series of weeks where I was very pleased with our sound. Then I had back to back weeks where I just couldn't get it how I liked it. One week it seemed no matter what I did we sounded muddy. The next week the sound had a harsh quality to it.

First possibility-some one is messing with the main system so I can't produce the same sound I am used to. I might still be able to find a suitable sound but the one I am used to is is missing.

Second possibility-(and I think more likely) maybe my ears just where not
feeling it that day. Do Your ears have off days when you mix? How do you over come it? I tried to adjust for what I was hearing but also stay as close to familiar settings on the board as possible.

When your ears are having an off day, how do you avoid the urge to grab a knob every 10 seconds?

 

[Icemanaroonie]

I've never run a soundboard outside of setting up our own pa, but I'd recommend that once you find a sound you like, take a picture of or write down your settings so you can reproduce it exactly as is. If you have to takedown and set up speakers as well, consider making a map of where you prefer to place them.

 

[quickfix]

What do you do for a living? Is it a noisy environment at times, and then quiet at other times.

The days I spent in the office and classroom/sim, my hearing was ok.
The days I spent on the flight line and in the cockpit, not so much. Couldn't EQ an amp in the evenings if my life depended on it. It would end up being too screechy/high pitched for everyone else.

And I used double protection. Ear plugs and a David Clarke headset.
In the end I became permanently hard of hearing.