ProAudio Review - August 2008 - (Page 46)

LIVE | Feature WISH Continued From Page 44 MY TOP FIVE (WITH A FEW ASSUMED “GIVENS”) FOR HOUSE-OF-WORSHIP FOH By Dan Wothke My “Top Five FOH Wish List” is written with some assumptions that the equipment staples are in place. These consist of obligatory graphic equalizers, a system processing unit, wireless receivers, digital effects units, and a recorder. Another staple for any FOH engineer is a quality tester for quickly analyzing, and resolving, problems. The Ebtech Swizz Army 6-in-1 tester is such a tool and a musthave for any house-of-worship (HOW). Behringer also makes its version, the CT100. Regardless of which brand you choose, be sure it can test the most common connections, wiring errors, generate a tone at multiple levels, and verify phantom power on microphone lines. With that said, on to my wish list. One: The Tube-Tech CL 1B would be my compressor of choice for the master output. The cost of such a piece is a hard sell to justify when compared to other needs for most HOW’s FOH racks, but having a quality tube compressor to run the entire mix through is always a welcomed edition in engineering circles. On different occasions, we here at Belmont Church have had the pleasure of using dbx 160SL and Alan Smart C2 compressors during mixes. Both performed incredibly well (as you would expect), but I really preferred having the ability to hit the tube harder, taking the bite off of the highmids while accenting the punch. I wouldn’t complain having any of these three compressors at my disposal, but I am just a big fan of the Tube-Tech line. For a stereo output or to have an additional compressor available, a Tube-Tech would not disappoint. Two: As mentioned, I assume that there are some effects units already in the rack, but one I would love to add is the Lexicon 960L. Technically, I would not want the unit directly in the FOH rack (due to fan noise) but I would figure out a way to isolate it. A 960L would be welcomed because the controller could be right on the console, and I would have the ability to utilize multiple effects at my fingertips. No more leaning over, adjusting the setting, popping back up to listen, leaning back over, readjusting, popping back up, and repeating until satisfied. With a controller on the board I could hear the subtlest differences as I adjust and can quickly tap in my delay times all while keeping one eye on the on-stage action. Three: One of the staples at a FOH rack is a standalone CD burner. I currently have two at my disposal, so there is never a lapse in recording, and they both work well. However, one option I have yet to find is one that would auto-drop IDs in, based on time. For instance, every five minutes, an ID would automatically be inserted. The benefit of this would be for teaching CDs that are duplicated and sold to the congregation. With the IDs inserted, the listeners have a convenient way to navigate the CD. This is currently accomplished by manually inserting a track ID as close as we can remember to every five minutes. Maybe this is available on certain decks, and I have yet to run across one. (If you know of a way to tackle this on a standalone CDR — not computer/hardware recorder, please drop me a line. I have thought about grabbing the chicken timer from the kitchen as it could be programmed Ebtech Swizz Army 6-in-1 tester as a 5-minute reminder, but I don’t think those sitting around the board would appreciate the clucking.) Four: It sure would be nice to look down and see a digital processing I/O module. The exact model does not really matter, just whatever is required by the new digital desk that we have yet to upgrade to. At this point, I’d be ecstatic with anything between a Soundcraft Vi6 and a Midas XL8. Five: In the “not likely but sure would be nice” department, how about a rack on a swivel, one that would swivel at least 180 degrees with a neat, organized cabling system? With it, gone would be the days of contorting into my favorite pretzel shape, looking like some type of circus performer whenever accessing the rear of the rack when an additional piece of equipment is added or a repair is needed. This would make my job even a greater joy while installing the new Tube-Tech compressor on the main mix inserts of (insert your favorite digital console here, PAR readers). Dan Wothke is the media director at Belmont Church in Nashville. He invites you to contact him at dwothke@yahoo.com. WISH continues on page 48 ® Lexicon 960L Klark Teknik DN360 Graphic EQTube-Tech CL 1B 46 | ProAudio Review | August 2008 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - August 2008

ProAudio Review - August 2008 Contents Publisher's Page Broadcast News and New Products Yamaha Pocketrak 2G Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder Bench Test Marantz PMD620 Flash Recorder TASCAM DR-1 Portable Digital Recorder Tips From The Pros: Location/Production Audio Prosumer Portables in a Pro World Studio News and New Products Apogee Ensemble Solid State Logic Duende Mini FireWire DSP Live News and New Products Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing World Tour Behringer Eurolive B412DSP and B415DSP Active Loudspeakers Gear for FOH Engineers — A PAR Contributors’ Wish List Contracting News and New Products Buyer's Guide Single Slice

ProAudio Review - August 2008

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