Rockquest08
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:52 pm

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Has anybody here been to any of the rockquest gigs this year?

What was the sound quality like? As a paying audience was it of the professional level expected?

If you were in a band did you have any communication with the engineers during soundcheck?

Did they sort out your needs?

Did they make notes to assist them during the show?

I am posting this because my experience was pretty poor and I want to know if it's just me or does it seem like the soundguys have little experience or professionalism at both live sound and the all important communication with the bands.

I read all over the net how this is an opportunity for bands to play a professional gig through a concert rig but from what I've seen and heard i find little evidence to back this up.

RE: Rockquest08
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:59 pm

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Interesting.

When I was involved (this is going back to 1995/1996) I found the stage-hands nothing but helpful, tuning my guitar, giving me some quick pointers with the amp etc.

And at the finals at the ChCh town hall we got to play though a huge P.A and it sounded GREAT.

What exactly are you expecting Whirly? It's a very, very quick stage-change in the Rockquest, so there's not a lot of time for messing around with things.

What are some of the negative comments you've heard?

I wouldn't expect the absolute best sound on the stage or standing in the audience, because at the end of the day, they're all high-school bands with almost ZERO gigging experience, so you should expect feedback and other random sound issues.

RE: Rockquest08
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:31 pm

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Agreed - it would be a difficult gig to mix due to the nature of it and the experience of the musicians. This is exactly the reason I would expect to see some notetaking going on during soundcheck.

I expect to hear a properly mixed drum kit at the least as this is the one constant in the show. I expect to have the sound engineer make an effort to find out from the musicians what it is they would like to improve. Like you say they are largely inexperienced and so a gig like this would require extra patience from the engineer and they would need to give guidance to the musos at an appropriate level. Telling them that there is a "giant standing wave coming from the bass" does nothing to help clean it up.

A professional builder will ask your requirements for the extra room but will not expect you to tell them the mix ratios of the concrete. These young musos have no idea what it is thats messy they just know it sounds crap and the engineer with the crew t-shirt on surrounded by techy equipment seems to be the logical person to speak to about it. The soundcheck at our regional went well until someone actually checked the sound with the soundguy and asked if that was what we could expect it to sound like on the night. At that point we got the standing wave explanation.

And yes my memory from 1995-96 was of a higher level of production too.

Too balance the discussion I welcome feedback on how these young guys and girls are expected to communicate with the soundies because obviously they are at his/her mercy and the communication must work both ways without anyone getting peeved off.

RE: Rockquest08
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:53 pm

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Having been backstage myself, albiet a long time ago, and this is at the finals I'm talking about.... you get all of about 30-60 seconds with the tech and BANG, you're out playing.

So there's almost no time to even bother with any of the usual soundman/band member chit-chat.

Even at a *proper* gig, it takes two or three songs for the soundguy to iron out all the issues. And since you only get two songs, it's kinda hard! To top that off, you've got 10-12 bands, all with several individuals, all with their own instruments and styles of playing. So with all that in mind, I reckon they do pretty darn good with what they've got.

Ya can't polish a turd

RE: Rockquest08
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:59 pm

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Ya cant polish a turd but a poor mix can make a well rehearsed band sound really bad.

Surely the guest/judging band that has had the benefit of a proper sound check and are good musicians to boot shouldnt sound as bad as the turd!

RE: Rockquest08
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:17 pm

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