Nathan Lively's Blog, page 25

Circus Touring with 21 Channels of Sim 3 Audio Analyzer

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Download the circus sound system tuning procedure PDF

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast I answer the question: Where have I been for the past four months? I’ll walk you through a day in the life of a touring circus sound engineer, from load-in to opening performance, and I get into the details of tuning a sound system with 21 channels of SIM 3 audio analyzer.

Show notes:

This article Circus Touring with 21 Channels of Sim 3 Audio Analyzer appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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My two favorite features of the Digico SD5 faders

Slip protection and the 0dB detent are my two favorite features of the Digico SD5’s faders. If I accidently bump the faders with my arm, they don’t move. That is because of the specials fader caps that disengage the fader motor until they are touched.

The 0dB detent is a feature that you can turn on by fader type under the options menu. It allows me to keep my head up for more of the show because of the haptic feedback I get from the fader.

This article My two favorite features of the Digico SD5 faders appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Emergency Digico SD5 Optocore Procedures

These are emergency Optocore procedures that could save your ass.

How did I learn all of this?

I recently started working with the Ringling Bros. Circus as an Audio Supervisor on their new Out Of This World tour. Right before the very first rehearsal, all of my outputs from the SD5 stopped working and I had 100 people waiting on me while I tried to fix it. I made it through that and several other minor emergencies and now know all of the Digico tech support by name.

If you lose output at FOH and are unable to regain control of the outputs (yes, this has happened to me):

At FOH: Setup -> Audio IO -> Setup Optocore -> Optocore Details -> Clear all outputs
At Mon: Setup -> Audio IO -> Setup Optocore -> Optocore Details -> Broadcast only my ID
At FOH:

Reassign outputs in Audio IO (in my case Nanorack ports).
Reassign Group outputs like Master and monitros.

If you are getting Optocore errors due to Snd/Rcv Console issues:

Check all output cards to confirm you have correct ✔ or X.
Setup Optocore -> Optocore Details -> Broadcast all output IDs

Other Emergency Procedures

If your startup session gets corrupted (also a good practice to do once a month):

Quit to Windows.
Right click on startup menu -> Explore
D:\SD5 and delete startup.ses and startup.mrdb
Relaunch SD5

If you get an error about the sd5.exe file being corrupted:

Try to load the SD5.exe in the d:\SD5\backup folderIf that works, move the backup SD5 folder to where the old one was and move the old one to backup
If that works, move the backup SD5 folder to where the old one was and move the old one to backup

If Waves will not load and therefore you cannot save or load a session:

Load Waves session manually.
If you cannot open waves:

Quit to Windows.
Right click on startup menu -> Explore
D:\SD5 and delete startup.mrdb and Preferences folder
Relaunch SD5



Important SD5 Notes

Here is a selection of some of the most important notes I have collected. Some you can find in the manual, but some I had to figure out on my own.

Startup Procedure

Power up (or restart if already running).
Load last known good session.

Shutdown Procedure

Save session to internal and external drives.
Shutdown from File menu.
Power down both power supplies.

Optocore

Even number Optocore IDs are for mirrored desks only.
System diagnostics on the SD5 to see errors.
Only one console can be in charge of an output module.
If you hear ticks and pops you may have a sync issue.
On the D-Rack and Nano-rack display, the tiny triangle under the “o” means that it is receiving timecode.
When one SD5 is loading a new session, the other will show a momentary Optocore error.

Surface

Option-all breaks a gang.
Optio-all to turn everything up on a page. Hit channel LCD to exclude some.
Digico button affects rotary resolution.

Snapshots

If you keep all of your snapshots in a group, it can make updating all of them at once pretty easy:

Make sure Relative Groups is enabled.
Fire a snapshot that loads some setting that you want to change.
Change that setting.
Press Update Group.
At this point, you may want to take all snapshots out of the group, because if you accidently press Update Group in the future…you’re hosed.


Input channel safe does not protect the input gain because that is a function of the rack.

Waves

The Waves server wants to be networked to both the Waves port on the back of the SD5 and the network port. The Waves port is for audio processing. The network port handles the GUI. Careful with these CAT5 cables. They have a short life.
If the Waves server is not appearing in the Waves inventory table: hard reset on the back of the unit.
To recall safe a Waves rack: Right-click on the left of the rack and choose recall safe.
To switch between Setup and Show modes, go to the Master view->System tab->Security and switch between Setup and Live.

Connect a computer

Connect both devices to router

Wireless adapter settings: Make sure Wifi is first in the list. Also it seems to like it better when you set the IP manually. So try that if it doesn’t work.


Under Network – select your computer
Send session
Mirror from console

Misc

Don’t send channels to an aux and also a group because they will be out of time.
If your sessions are not saving with the correct time, you may have a mismatch between Windows and the SD5 software. To correct this: Reset the time zone and time in Windows to GMT, then set the time in the SD5 software to your local time.

Bonus Super Helpful Macro Instructions

This article Emergency Digico SD5 Optocore Procedures appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Start offering podcast production services to your clients

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Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk with Craig Hewitt about adding podcast production services to your business as a sound engineer. Craig helps busy business owners easily produce a regular podcast.

Show notes:

All music in this episode by Tom Davis.
Jewel Beat
Thunderclap
Auphonic, ATR2100
Libsyn, SoundCloud, PowerPress, Blubrry, Podcast Motor Plugin,
Podcasts: James Altucher, Tim Ferriss, Startups for the Rest of Us, Rich Roll
Quotes

The demand is very high. Businesses like Podcast Motor have dozens of podcasts.

This article Start offering podcast production services to your clients appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Results from my sound system tuning pilot course

Howdy,

Hope you’ve been getting lots of great work these days.

Hell, for a lot of sound engineers I’ve talked to recently, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of opportunity out there.

Not sure if you remember, but back in January I launched Pro Audio Workshop: Seeing Sound. It was my first go around at developing such an in-depth training.

…you know how sometimes you fumble through something for the first time and it sucks? This was definitely not one of those times. In fact, it was incredible and very well received by the group that participated.

Here are just a sample of the kind of feedback students sent in:

Already after the very first lesson, I can tell you that the course is worth every penny. -Martin D., AV Tech, Bulgaria

I’ve never before been able to text a teacher about direct action of course concepts. This class has paid for itself already. –Michael M., live sound, California

It didn’t surprise me that everyone learned a lot; what surprised me was how much I learned through the process of delivering the pilot course. Things like:

Students loved the Slack channel because they could get real-time feedback in the field. Imagine, you have a job coming up and it’s a room you haven’t set up before. You’re wondering if you should stack the subs L/R or in the center. You know if you get it wrong, the sound is going to suck (or at least suffer) and it’s going to reflect poorly on you. So you log into Slack on your phone and post some photos with your questions and BAM, you get the answers and feedback that you can apply right away. The show ends up sounding amazing and not only do you get the compliment, you get a testimonial and a referral. That’s how powerful it can be!
The students who got the most out of the course were those who immediately applied what they had learned to their work. This is NOT book theory we’re teaching, it’s REAL WORLD, in the trenches, front line stuff that you can put to work right away. It’s more than a safety net, it active support that helps you level up your game and take your career to a higher level.

And here’s what’s happening next:

I am relaunching the pilot with NEW and UPDATED lesson content. As good as the first run was, I’ve retooled and improved the course material, so it delivers even more value. I was able to make these improvements, because of the incredible feedback I received from the previous group. I cut out the fat and focused in on the most important and valuable material.
Because I’ve already done an intense launch to my list, this time I’m only going to be sending THREE emails about this rerelease, leading up to the training webinar that will explain the offer.
The cart will only be open for 3 days (and I’ll probably send a few follow-up emails as well, before the cart closes) but that’s about it.

After all, I’m only interested in working with a small group of action takers… and I promise, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt if this is right for your or not, so you don’t need to be bombarded with a dozen emails that try to convince you to join.

Now that you know what’s coming up, and before I send out the first promo email, I’d like to know if you have any questions. If so, please feel free to post a comment below and ask. The first launch email will be going out on Monday and I’m probably going to cap attendance at less than 20 so if you decide it’s a good fit, you’ll have to act fast to secure your spot.

Stay tuned,

Nathan

This article Results from my sound system tuning pilot course appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Position Yourself for Non-stop Touring as a Stage Manager and Lighting Technician

Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher.
Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk with Heatherlyn Eagan about how she has managed to book back-to-back tours since university by positioning herself as a stage manager and lighting technician. We discuss electricity, lighting fundamentals, and non-stop life on the road. Plus, these questions:

How did you get your first job in lighting?
Can you make more money as a designer or a technician?
How do you stay busy in the touring world?
How do you stay happy and sain on the road?
How does cruise work compare to bus and truck touring?
What are the basics I need to know to start working in lighting?
How do you feel being a woman in the lighting design industry?
What are some lighting horror stories?

Show notes:

All music in this episode by Stockholm Vodou Orchestra.
Heatherlyn’s book is The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Nat Nelson: Vaudevillian Extraordinaire
Template = gobo = pattern = pie tin
Quotes

I have more work more often [as a tech] than I would as a designer.
I have my little niche in the touring world. I am a stage management lighting split. Which has, on the small and medium scale tours, become a necessity.
Most of these tours go out with a 25′ box truck, which doesn’t require a CDL.
I’m a stage management lighting split. The minute they would see that…Ok, come here.
When it came down to it, I had my pick of what show I wanted to do.
If you are touring with 10-15 people, it’s important to have some alone time because you are seeing the same people day in and day out.
It’s very important to understand what you need out of the day and make sure you get it.
Generally whoever is asking will tell you want they want. If they don’t, ask.
Generally once I dock the truck in front of a bunch of stage hands my level of respect goes up.
I have a very specific genre of books that I like to read. It is historical fiction that takes place in NYC 1880-1912.

This article Position Yourself for Non-stop Touring as a Stage Manager and Lighting Technician appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Is IATSE worthwhile for sound engineers?

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Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk to Nat Koren about his audio career with the San Francisco Opera. We answer these questions:

What are the pros and cons of working with the union?
How do you mix an opera?
What does a sound designer do for an opera?
What specialized gear do they use at the opera house?
How do they mix the show and operate 12 cameras without any humans in the room?

Show notes:

All music in this episode by The Nagual Orchestra
IATSE = International Alliance of Stage Employees
BAFTA = British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Meyer Sound CQ-1, CAL96 column array
Pyramix, Horus
Dante, AVB, CobraNet
Quotes

The benefit of working with the union is that I am able to make a living and have healthcare.
I could be here from 8am to 11pm. I often am.

This article Is IATSE worthwhile for sound engineers? appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Networking and Referral Strategy for Sound Engineers

Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher.
Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk with Ed Gandia from The International Freelancer’s Academy about how to build a solid networking and referral strategy to help you get more of the work that you love. We also discuss:

Strategies for personal referral
Why people give personal or professional referrals
When is the best time to ask for a referral?
Who is a good prospect?
What to say when you reach out
How to measure the ROI you provide for your clients
How to copy successful people, in your own style

Show notes:

All music in this episode by Max Tundra.
Ed’s podcast – Smarter Freelancing
Tap your network. How to get business through friends, colleagues, and relatives.
 Referrals

Create a referral expectation – “I hope I gain enough of your trust, that you refer me to others.”
Ask (the right way) – No one has ever lost a client because they asked for a referral. Ask when you are praised. “Most of my business comes from referrals. I trust you, therefore I’m asking you.”
Don’t wait till you’re desperate. Make it a habit.


Book Yourself Solid (based) Bucket Strategy

Create a list of 60 your warm contacts.
Once a day, write to the person at the top of the list and then move them to the bottom of the list.

Connect on a personal level.
Share a new thing that you’re working on. “Can I send you a couple of links about it?”


Respond with credibility indicators


Gary Vaynerchuk and Wine Library
Kosta Brown Pino Noir
Mark Sisson and Mark’s Daily Apple
Quotes

People give professional referrals for intrinsic reasons.
Identify good prospects based on attributes, not demand.

This article Networking and Referral Strategy for Sound Engineers appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Are you a sound engineer or an artist?

Art and engineering don’t just intersect; they don’t bump into each other on a dimly lit street and exclaim about how coincidental it is that they happen to be at the same place at the same time. The truth is that art and engineering are siblings. They share the same blood, they grew up together, they like to bicker and argue, and they not-so-secretly need each other to thrive.

Like everyone else, I spend a good amount of time wondering who and what I am. The common methods and ideas I’ve encountered that claim to evaluate a person’s cognitive type are generally reductive and more than a little boring. This is not good news for anyone hoping to find themselves in the looking glass (or a series of online personality tests).

Here’s an example: for years and years I stuck by the idea that “I’m just not a math person“. This year I decided to approach that statement armed with a little curiosity and a willingness to try, and my relationship to math completely changed. Now I’m a math person in a big, nerdy, passionate way–I get to be that!

Similarly, I meet people all the time who claim that creating or performing music is entirely out of reach for them. Why? This seems extremely particular to our culture, where performing music is so damn exceptionalised. Why make such a weird, big deal of the simple act of making a beautiful sound? Everyone likes to listen to music–we should be making it, too! (Spoiler alert: It’s really fun.)

These perceived boundaries by which we identify ourselves create a huge loss for us collectively. The things that we close ourselves off to are likely the things with the greatest potential to teach us new ways of thinking. Those new ways of thinking can then enhance the things we’re already confident in. Just like a body of water stagnates when isolated from incoming streams, our mind can stagnate when we place overly-strict boundaries on the things that interest us. The potential for growth is alive inside of each of us, waiting for an invitation to flourish.

It helps us claim our agency as learners when we decide not to think of ourselves primarily as a job, a position, or a function, but first and foremost as human beings. Let’s challenge the people we think that we are. Let’s enjoy the adventure of life-long, multi-disciplinary, creative learning together. Follow a curious itch and start experimenting!

This article Are you a sound engineer or an artist? appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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Content Marketing Strategy for Freelance Audio Engineers

Subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher.
Support Sound Design Live on Patreon.

In this episode of the Sound Design Live podcast, I talk with Alan Brymer about how to use a content marketing strategy to connect with potential clients, build relationships, and establish your niche without becoming a full-time writer. We also discuss the most important things you should be doing before you worry about content marketing strategy.

Show notes:

All music in this episode by FirewoodPoetry
Buzzsumo, Appsumo
Quotes:

The very first thing people should do is thrill their customers so that they want to return for repeat business and tell others about you.
You should have a follow-up list.
Why not write a blog post once a month to address one person’s specific need?
You have to throw some spaghetti at first to know what works.
The truth is that you can’t just hide behind your microphone or your computer. You have to pick up the freaking phone and talk to people.

 

This article Content Marketing Strategy for Freelance Audio Engineers appeared first on Sound Design Live. Sign up for free updates here.

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