Saturday, July 25, 2009

How far we've come....

Down through the years, it has been so amazing how far technology has improved the quality of live sound. Groups started years ago standing around two microphones and a piano. Then JD Sumner, a pioneer and legend in this industry decided to try everyone having their own. I remember when my father traveled in the 80’s; they had 6ft Peavey Speakers, Peavey powered board, huge monitors and Realistic microphones. I was watching a video the other day of a group back in 1992 that had a 5ft rack with Amps, Crossovers, etc with a soundboard that looked like it was 6ft long on a table beside it.

Today most groups use Allen & Heath, Mackie, Yamaha, Soundcraft or many others analog mixers. Some may use a digital that has effects, processors, EQ, and compressors all in one board; example of these are Yamaha 01v,01v96, or Ls9. For their choice of speakers they may use powered versions or non-powered. Instead of trying to get a happy balance of monitoring, now you have In Ear Monitoring Systems which will allow you to have your own personal mix. Most groups still use monitors for house sound for those who do not have sound person. Microphones have mostly gone wireless but still having a few groups to use a wired mic depending on personal preference.
Even track playback has come a long way from the 80's. Most groups earlier days carried a live band but as time went on most groups started to use tracks from Cassette Tapes or just piano and bass. Then the CD was invented, then the DAT and eventually was all were forgotten once Mini-Disc came on the scene. All up until last 5-10 years a little box called, 360 Instant Replay is the choice of most groups for track play back now days. The Instant Replay is a hard drive with a feature known as "Hot Keys" so that once you hit the button the track starts. Another less expensive version is a software that a gentleman from Oregon designed called Emcee Pro. The program mimic’s the Instant Replay features and more and can be loaded onto any laptop running Windows systems.

Man, how time flies...Can't wait to see what the future holds for Live sound...

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