The AudioArt Blogs

Yesterday I participated in a benefit for a local musician who has been stricken with a serious illness that is preventing him from working. Reuben ‘The Lounge Lizard’ Morgan has been part of the local music scene for many years. He has played locally and generally promoted live music in the area. The community held a fund raiser to help out with his expenses while he is unable to work. I was pleased to be invited to mix the sound for the main stage at this event.

I took the new SAC rig down to the venue and tied it in with the house system. This was my third time out with the rig. I am beginning to find my way around without problems, but I have only scratched the surface of the capibilities of this virtual mixing system. There were 9 acts that performed on the main stage within a 10 hour time peroid. The show went smooth as there were plenty of experienced volenteer stage hands available and there was provided backline so that set changes were quick.

The SAC rig performed flawlessly through out the day. The sound is very well defined. With the experience that I now have I can tell that this system is going to be a pleasue to use. Things will only get better as I gain more experience with using the system. Things become easier and I learn more each time that I use the system. The work flow becomes more natural and I do not have to think as much about how to do the things that I want to do. I had never had opportunity to mix on any of the hardware digital systems prior to putting this virtual system in service. I have been strictly analog up to this time. The digital workflow is a bit of an adjustment for me.

One thing that has amazed me about the system is the reaction that I see from both the musical community and the crowd in general. Everyone thinks that this is a natural way to do sound in these times. There are a lot of ooh’s and aah’s about the system and the GUI. One other thing that I have noticed is that noone has asked if I know what each of those knobs (as in big hardware) do. Most of them do not realize how much hardware is replaced by the Mixer In A Box.