October 31, 2005
Frankensurface
The sound reinforcement console biz has finally lumbered into the digital age full bore. With sales of the PM5D at over 1000 units, entries by Digidesign, Loud/Mackie/EAW, Allen and Heath and the established players the large scale pioneer PM1D and Digico line there is now a fairly wide choice in every level of the market, though some have yet to ship. Undoubtedly there will be more. I'd hate to be a console product dev guy right now that was in the middle of a large frame analog design without having at least a strategy for dealing with the digital market.
As us graybeards retire, die off or lose our gigs to younger, better, cheaper mixers the change over from analog console to surface will start accelerating compared to the last couple of years. Some of the apprehension was and still is well justified. Audio quality, reliability (and redundancy) and suitability to purpose are indeed primary factors not only for surfaces but for traditional consoles. Some of my peers though, guys I respect and have worked with for years are starting to use some pretty lame excuses when it comes to implementing surfaces. I'm all for letting people chose the toolset, but let's make sure we're basing our choices on facts and with an open mind. A result of this apprehension by some have led to the current crop of surfaces being designed with an eye toward the past largely to placate those that have latched onto the yesteryear of gear and aren't willing or capable of either changing or adapting to different work habits.
Over the last week or so I started thinking about how often I was using surfaces these days compared to traditional consoles. For the last year and a half or so, about half of the touring dates I've done where we have carried production or had the ability to fully spec down the piece I've been able to use a surface. I would have used them more except that the current market makes an XL4 or H3k less expensive to rent than a PM1D or D5 and the bean counters have nixed the idea. There have also been a couple of availability issues where we wanted to rent them, they just weren't in those markets. On perhaps a quarter of the pick up dates I've done I've been given a digital option. To be fair, many of those gigs have been with B and C level regionals that haven't been willing or able to make the investment in new technology primarily because the margins and client base won't allow for it.
While there are a bunch of usable offerings in the surface market, no one has yet hit a true homerun, the be all and end all of surfaces. It will probably never happen, but if I could pick and choose what I think are the best features from surfaces either shipping or recently announced. Obviously, you couldn't just plug the parts together. Besides figuring out how to integrate it and hit the price point is what you guys with those high dollar, cushy manufacturer gigs are supposed to do. Pretty much all of my wish list is available on one or more surfaces, though there isn't one with all these features.
First and foremost is audio quality. Using what I like to call the XL4 Standard I'd give the nod to the Digico D5 as it sounds most to me like an XL4. It's got warmth and depth, though not quite the equalizers of the XL4. That's one area where all the surface dudes need to work. The equalizers. They're good, but they could be better. In terms of failover, I'd take the hot spare PM1D engine topology and pair that with the D5 mirror/failover topology and for good measure implement the faders and mutes active on a dead surface concept from the Digidesign Venue. Dual, autosensing PSUs on every piece of gear, modular so I could hot swap what it was running or easily replace toasted supplies. Every function of the surface, controllable from a PC either mirroring the mode of the surface, or with the ability to use the PC control separate so the entire state of the surface interface is not changed when using the PC, only the particular parameters changed. I'd also want a granular access scheme where I could lock different parameters and set various levels of users. I'd also like two independent cueing facilities with the ability to route any or all inputs or outputs to either both, or only a single cue ouput.
In terms of interface, I'm a layer and bank guy. I don't need to see all 60 or so handles, just 16 to 24 inputs at a time with a master section flexible enough for me to route outputs and control groups of inputs. I don't even need to see an input channel unless I need to manipulate it and for me it's easier to do that in layers and banks and three banks of eight layers works well for me. Layers are one of the things some of the newer users don't like. It's like when Neo makes his first jump. At first not being able to see all of the inputs will seem strange, but as you get used to it you'll find that it's a mental security blanket and little else. When I do need to manipulate the controls, something like the big knob that the Loud boys came up with would be awesome. A soft encoder that mimics the function of the feature it currently represents is an excellent idea. So much so that every multifunction encoder on the surface should behave in that fashion. And let's get the taper on the encoders to follow their analog counterparts. If the rotation of a control is 270 degrees for full effect, the encoder shouldn't have to be turned three or four full revolutions to match that. I'm a big fan of touchscreens. I think the visual representation of the function or device with a bank of encoders below or beside the screen works well. Highlighting the desired control and manipulating it with the "big knob" is also required. It needs to have completely flexible and independent I/O. It can come up as 1-48 as in the snake, or soft patched to whatever you want, on a per scene basis.
Speaking of scenes, the scene/preset scheme needs to have the flexibility to load just a single band input list for a festival, to completely reflash the surface or clear everything back to a pre determined starting point. I need to be able to lock it so visiting band guy doesn't blitz my festival settings while trying to load his band settings. I need granularity in my library configs, but not to the point of offering settings based on the instrument. I'm being paid a great deal of money to equalize the bass drum or compress the vocal. If I can't dial up basic settings of my own, I have no business doing what I do. I need to store them, not get training wheels on using them.
In due time I think we'll start seeing many of these in the same surface, though it's going to take some time for the manufacturers and more resistant users to get on board.
Posted by Dave at 11:56 PM | Comments (4)
October 29, 2005
One Truck Tour
Posted by Dave at 01:33 AM | Comments (2)
October 27, 2005
Google Local? Google Clueless
In the next week or so I'll change from seasonal resident to official full time resident of the Silver State. Y'all certainly do some things, well shall I say "interesting". That's another subject entirely though I do like the incorporation rules and structure. I hit it up to the Northwest for a few hours this afternoon to finish off some biz so I could make the move final. Herb was nice enough to supply me with the transport. Under a Franklin each way, though no seat assignment. With today's trip, with the exception of the kart racing team (I'll get that in the next month or so), my big gnarly workbox and a few assorted audio tidbits, it's all down here. Time to get legit and change the drivers license. Good news though! I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico. No, really. Gotta get new tabs and plates, the fancy Vegas Centenial kind and an NV license. For whatever reason I decide to keep the CDL I've had for nearly 15 years. I don't tell too many people I can pilot a CDL because well, I'd have to drive the truck. Old farts only drive if a young turk can't do the gig, or has trouble backing into the slot. It's handy having a CDL and also an international drivers license as overseas that can be an asset, even if you never drive. There is nothing like having tachiographs from Euro tours in your name when you didn't really do any of the driving. Or so I'm told.
To transfer the CDL is like having to renew it back in Twin Peaks land. Show the valid license, pass the vision test (that's harder for me these days) and produce the med card. Trouble is, my med card is a year or so past due. My thinking is that I've already got the CDL and if I decide this show biz thing isn't for me, I can always get a gig driving clean towels or beer to the casinos. Casinos need lots of beer and towels. At least I do when I'm at a casino. This past spring when I was having the full work ups I suppose I could have got the DOT card but I was more concerned with my ticker jumping out of my chest or my arteries getting so stuffed that they couldn't pump blood that I didn't think about using the grand or so worth of physical and tests to get a current DOT cert. So I figure I'll reup, but where to get the card? Well, Google Local should be able to help with this, right?
Err, wrongo. I Google "medical clinic dot physical las vegas" get the following...
Las Vegas Hilton Steakhouse
Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
Las Vegas National Golf Club
I don't think I asked where the doctors are, because obviously they'd be out on the golf course, but the steakhouse? First of all, any self respecting doc would be at Morton's or Envy or the joint in the MGM Grand. I'll think I'll do this the old fashioned way in the morning. Break out the Yellow Pages and start calling around.
Posted by Dave at 12:37 AM | Comments (1)
October 22, 2005
Gig mon
Posted by Dave at 07:07 AM | Comments (1)
October 16, 2005
DTV Migration to be Pushed to 2009
According to a post on another list I'm on, the manditory migration for over the air broadcasters will be moved to April 7, 2009 as part of a bill to be introduced in the coming weeks. It was initially planned for the end of next year. What that means for us pro audio types is we'll still have to do the bounce between analog and DTV in some markets. That also means a delay in what the impact of the existing UHF spectrum used by some pro audio wireless gear (UHF 52-69) as it is returned to non TV use. Part of it is meant to be allocated for "emergency communications" (UHF 60,61,68,69) though AFAIK there are no radio sets and it's not clear what the penetration will be, considering a push toward 3G sat bands after UHF failures during Katrina and Rita. Terrestrial radio or cell technology won't be much good if there is no antenna infrastructure in the affected area.
In the end, could it be that UHF 68-69 may be underutilized and left for unlicensed entertainment technology? Well, wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first.
Posted by Dave at 02:46 PM
October 09, 2005
TEC Award Winners Announced
The Mix TEC Awards winners have been posted. Notable SR types include Crown in the amp dept, the powered VerTec in the box dept and the PM5D in the console dept. I've been a few times over the years including one year witnessing a rant maquerading as a keynote from a bitter, aging, out of touch Phil Spector. This was well before a woman was shot to death in his house, with his gun. Even though the awards might be geared toward who has the best marketing or advertising budget, it's not a bad way to spend a Saturday night at AES prior to hitting the parties.
Posted by Dave at 06:55 PM
October 07, 2005
Mix Online Blogging AES
Nice little nugget, Mix Online will blog AES at http://blog.mixonline.com/aes/ . Nice to see Mix Online put to good use. Sounds like the show is back on track. That's good to see because for a few years I thought they might be circling the drain.
Posted by Dave at 04:55 PM
October 05, 2005
The Year of the Surface
While technically and legally I'm still a Washington State resident, I am firmly entrenched down in the desert. I'm in the shadow of the casino with restaurants worldwide, famous for "The Pig" sandwich. On a recent trip to Hillbilly Heaven I was informed the delightful pork offering was no longer called "The Pig", but rather the "Pulled Pork" sandwich. Having such a hard rocking casino next door is pretty handy, particularly with a Nobu on the premise. After a few orders of Nobu toro and some edamame, along with the requisite big Kirin it makes one forget about The Pig. A few orders of Nobu toro, edamame and the big Kirin, with tip, will set you back about a Franklin.
Other than that outing, where I met Patrick and Jane while at the Nobu sushi bar, I haven't been out much. Patrick was a lawyer from Phoenix with wife Jane in tow who could give anyone of the Desparate Housewives a run for the money. Patrick's fascination with John Entwistle led him and his lovely wife of 15 years (no kids) to stay in the very hotel where The Ox expired after a night of hard partying. I wish I would have known that prior to telling they what I did for a living. I should go back to my old alibi of saying I'm "in computers". No one thinks that's glamorous or exciting. What I've been telling people is that I'm in the entertainment technology biz. I usually have to clarify that I'm a soundguy and if they don't get that, I usually tell them I'm a roadie. I had to leave them on the gaming floor after June started becoming abusive to a bartender. She had had one (or three) too many and I decided to pull the patented Snagglepuss "exit, stage right" before they noticed.
Anyway, this post was supposed to be about how this AES is ushering in (finally) the general acceptance of control surfaces in the touring and regional end of pro audio. This AES will see the most high performance surfaces ever offered in the history of the biz. Yamaha will be there with the iconoclast PM1D, the largest seller so far the PM5D and the new M7 whatever the hell else it's called. Basically a DM2k met for SR. Digico will be showing their wares as well as the new A&H model, the Digidesign Venue along with the stalwart that never quite caught on (though is a nice surface) the Innovason. There is also one new entry, though I can't mention it by name it may be the worst kept secret in the surface market today. If they hit the price point right it could gain a foothold in the mid range market which is largely unserviced at this point. Disclaimer, I was involved (as were scores of others) in several sit downs and tours of the surface over the last couple of years. Hope I didn't break the NDA.
It will be good to see the AES attempt to achieve the glory it once had. The program looks good. I wish I could be there. I had planned to go, but hesitated due to high rooming costs. When I finally did find an affordable place I'd gotten a gig and new client ( a high end caberet/ corporate/ casino act)in the new city for that weekend and chose not to make the trip to Javitz and stay home and work. I'd appreciate any first hand reports from the scene. Email me or post them in the comments.
Posted by Dave at 12:03 AM | Comments (2)