Random thoughts... and a little poo.

After listening to band practice the other night (when I wan't playing) I realized something. Pretty much nothing you do on the soundboard relating to drums does anything to the sound. Oh, you might PSYCOLOGICALLY think you have done something but no, not much has changed. The simple reason is that for changes at the soundboard to be evident, the PA system has to be able to "overpower" the natural acoustic sound of the drums - which ours doesn't. With Jeremy playing, I pulled the main faders for the drum channels all the way down and listened. Then, I pushed them up to 80-85% and listened. No change. Donny looked over at me with that "SEE WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU" look on his face. The only thing we can possibly do with our PA (relating to drums that is) is possibly make them slightly louder (by turning up the trim and going 100%) which isn't going to happen. Making them softer through the PA isn't going to happen either because if you turn the PA off... the drums are just as loud nonetheless. The one comforting thing is that with my kit being miked, even though I'm not "really" running through the PA, it does provide me with the sound I need to hear myself playing. Am I frustrated? Actually, no. We're not putting on a rock concert by any means but that also doesn't mean we have to compromise on sound either. I know that not everyone is a fan of drums or loud instruments for that matter. For those folks, the least we can do is make what they don't like, sound good. At least that way we have a chance to change their thinking. If we make what they don't like sound like poo, then there's little to no chance their feelings toward drums and loud instruments will change.

We'll soon be able to go all IEM on stage and get rid of the floor wedges. This will be interesting for sure. On one hand, we'll have more room on stage, a few less cables running around, everyone will be able to hear themselves (probably the most important) and there will be less volume from the lack of wedges (4). The guitar and bass amps will still be going though. Here's the OTHER side of the equation - the floor wedges were partly filling in the sound coming from the middle of the stage. Now, that will be diminished significantly. This is what I call the "poo effect" or P.E. for short. Because our left and right main speakers are so widely spaced and there is nothing to fill in the space in front of where their output converges, P.E. will be in full force for the majority of the front rows. I'm not complaining mind you, just making a prediction. What can I do about it? I don't know, I'm just the drummer. ;-)

At any rate, took it easy Friday night. I was going to go to HSV to check out Scott's band but I was a little tired. Kyle was up for it though it seems. I invited the Burns' along but I never heard back from them. I'm guessing they might not have been able to get childcare on short notice. Come to think of it, they've never went to HSV to check out any of the bands that I'm aware of. Bishop Black, who we saw in the studio earlier this week will be playing tonight in HSV. I wonder if anyone will be going?

It's a tad gray out today so I'll probably try and get some work done at the homestead. I've got some more minor cleaning and straightening up to do. Whee!