I sometimes get e-mail from people asking questions about gear or someone looking for long term solutions to their problems. These are a few of the questions and my reply. I will add them as I make time. Check back as always.

Subject: Re: Please respond Date: Sat, 26 Feb. 2000 20:30:34 -0500
From: "Mark Farmer"
Organization: Mix That/Live Technologies/ProAudioReview
To: Jason R., mixthat@columbus.rr.com References: 1 Jason R. wrote: >
      Mr. Farmer > > Hello, my name is Jason Richards. I am just 16 years old, but I help run > the sound system for my church and for several school activities. Our > church received an issue of the Church Production magazine and I saw your > e-mail address in an article and decided to ask you some questions. > As I start to think about college and a future career, it seems that a job > as a sound engineer or in some related field would actually be pretty fun. > So I was wandering if you could reply to my message and provide me with some > information about your career. Any information you could give me about > education, how to get a job, what it pays, or anything else would be > extremely helpful. I thank you for your time and hope that you can provide > me with some information > >
Thanks, > Jason R.

 

     Jason, I am so sorry I never replied. My life and work never seem to stop sometimes. Congratulations on your gig at your church. I found out that I will be at the FOH position this year at ICTHUS. Very fun. Well, let me see, my education..mmm I wanted a career in music, sound, audio, electronic anything. I tried college at OSU for a bit and they dropped their Audio Engineering program two years later. Big bummer. So I decided on The Recording Workshop, here in Ohio. They still as of yet, do not have a Live Sound Program. But I took what I learned there, basics in audio and sound recording, and used it to get gigs with local bands here in town. First it was "if I lug your band gear and set it up will you let me run your sound?" Then for twenty bucks I'll run your sound and set up your gear. Then for fifty I'll run your sound. After a few years I was charging 75.00 for walking in and doing nothing but running sound. Then, I peaked the interest of a local large sound company and ended up being hired by them to work at a 1700 seat club/theater here in town. Many up and coming bands played there-Pearl Jam and many down and going (as we call them) bands like Blue Oyster Cult. So after three years there I worthy enough to be hired on full time as an audio engineer at Live Technologies Inc., where I am now and have been for the last nine years. Writing for Pro Audio Review came around about five years ago and has been a great new challenge for me outside my job. As a career, hmmmm. I would say you have more of a shake and chance at making Live audio a career as opposed to becoming a Recording Engineer. Studio jobs are deadly hard to attain. I believe you would have to endure more years of making little or no money trying to get your foot in the door of a studio than you would a Live Sound company. Go meet up with the largest local sound company in your area. Introduce yourself to them and try not to be annoying but still act and look interested. Ask them if they need help for the summer season. Go and do this soon if you need summer work, because most sound companies hire in FEB-April for the summer season. The pay: let me see. Well some companies pay by a day rate, others pay hourly or others are on salary, as I am. A good company will have health insurance and 401 k programs. Going out of town on a gig should put per dium in your pocket from most companies also. This allows you to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner while out of town. Dig through my web site for more information or e-mail me again. Touring with a band is a new ball game too. Take care, I hope I helped. Visit: www.live-audio.com /if you are interested in reading and posting with some audio pro's.

Mark Farmer
http://home.columbus.rr.com/mixthat
www.livetechnologiesinc.com
www.proaudioreview.com

Subject: sound advice

Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 02:25:26 EST
To: mixthat@columbus.rr.com
From: XXXX@aol.com

I started doing the sound at my church recently. We use a Carvin DX series mixer. I was wondering if you know of any web sites (or any other sources) that I can go to for information on the "how to's" of proper sound mixing, trouble shooting etc. I would like to educate myself with regard to sound mixing to become more proficient.
Thanks for your help.
Bruce

Subject: To Mark Farmer
Date: Fri., 23 Apr 1999 01:44:47 -0400
From: "The Deeter's E-Mail" <XXXX@sunlink.net>
To: Mark Farmer<sndmixr@infinet.com>

Subject: Re: sound advice reply
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 10:57:58 -0500
From: "Mark Farmer" <mixthat@columbus.rr.com>
To: XXXXaol.com, mixthat@columbus.rr.com
References: 1

Bruce,
Thanks for the e-mail. Just wondering how you found me? Here is my best answer for you. Try purchasing the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook. That book is one of the greatest references to live audio around. It covers wiring, setup, mic techniques and background of sound equipment in general. The other thing would be to try to attend a sound school or seminar in your area. Some are better than others. The Pro Sound News Live sound
workshop seems to be getting good reviews. The Syn-Aud-Con workshops are also good. Go find a local/regional sound company so you can watch them setup and do sound check. Try to become friends or buddies with one of
the guys there so you can attend more of their events. You will learn something each time you see them setup, sound check and tear down. Hope this helps, just my 2 cents.

Mark Farmer
http://home.columbus.rr.com/mixthat
www.livetechnologiesinc.com
www.proaudioreview.com

Here are a few questions I received on amplification and the Crown K2 article I wrote for Pro Audio Review. I believe the article is still posted on Crown's Web Site. If not you can find it within Mix That or on the Pro Audio Review web site.



Hello Mark,

I read your review on the Crown CM-311. I am a singing drummer in a small variety band and love it also. I was wondering if you ever used the Crown K series amps, and what you thought of them. I read the specs on them and like
the part about how much wattage you get for amperage used from your AC connection. I have a small PA system and would like to enlarge it, but don't want to take the chance of tapping in. Also what do you think of running 2 ohm loads, this amp is to be able to handle them

quite well.

Thank you, Scott Deeter at sunlink.net

Subject: HAIL FROM DARKEST AFRICA!
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:56:18 +0200
From: "EVENTTECH CC" <XXXX@iafrica.com>
To: "MARK FARMER" <sndmixr@infinet.com>

Dear Mark

Thank you very much for replying so promptly. Glad to have found your great website and to have made the contact with you. Thanks for the magazine info., we are contacting them now and will let you know how we get on. We found your e-mail address on the Crown Site (K2 Review).

Cheers, Talk to you soon
Regards

Jimmy, Sheldon & Rob


Subject: Crown Amps
Date: Wed, 3 Feb. 1999 13:31:37 -0500
From: "Robert P. Yareff" <XXXX@concentric.net>
To: "Mark Farmer" <sndmixr@infinet.com>

Dear Mark,
I'd like to impose on you to help me make a decision on purchasing Crown Power Amps. I'm bi-amping my system, therefore I'll need to buy two amps, and would like to match them. The mains consist of 4 Community CSX43-S2's, 2 per side (Each CSX43 =200watts continuous @8 ohms, 500watts program @8 ohms), There are 2 subs, 1 per side, and they are EV T18's (Each T18 = 400 watts (AES) @ 8 ohms nominal). I was going to get 2 Macro Tech 2400's, but now the K2 has me thinking again. I definitely want to run in stereo due to two state of the art Keyboards, vocal processors, and other modules.

I read your article on Crown's homepage. I would truly appreciate your
input as to which Amp to buy for my situation.

Sincerely,
Robert P. Yareff <XXXX@concentric.net>

PS Thank you very much in advance!
Subject: QSC'S PL1.8/PLX2402 VS CROWN'S K-2
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 11:15:43 PST
From: "REGGIE KEAUNUI" <XXX@hotmail.com>
To: SNDMIXR@INFINET.COM


HI MARK

MY NAME IS REGGIE KEAUNUI.I READ YOUR REVIEW OF THE CROWN K-2 AND I WAS
WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO USE AND/OR REVIEW QSC'S PLX-2402
AND/OR PLT 1.8.IF SO,I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SHARING YOUR
VIEWS AND/OR OPINIONS ABOUT THESE QSC AMPS AND HOW YOU FEEL THEY SOUND
AS COMPARED TO THE CROWN K-2.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHICH OF THESE AMPS TO PURCHASE FOR A
SOUND SYSTEM I'M PUTTING TOGETHER AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS
YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THESE AMPS.ALL 3 OF THESE AMPS WILL POWER UP MY SYSTEM
NICELY,BUT I HAVEN'T USED ANY OF THESE AND I WAS HOPING TO GET YOUR
Professional OPINION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY INFO YOU CAN SHARE.

ALOHA
REGGIE
Scott,

The K2 amps are a great purchase if you can afford them. They are very quiet because they have no fans. This can be a real advantage at events where the noise must be kept to a minimum, say at a quiet corporate event or in a studio. These amps have one of the highest dampining factors of any amp I have seen. This can be a assistance to your speakers since it can help control the drivers (subs or mids) that are connected to it. The sound of the amp is incredible and has a very realistic reproduction of any input. They come in colors and also sound great on subs. The K2 also has no problem with 2 Ohm loads. I wouldn't' worry about the wattage used by the amp, any standard 20 amp wall outlet should handle this amp fine. Just in case I would make sure it is on its own 20 amp circuit though. Plug your band gear, lights or other items into another breaker.

Hope this helps

Mark Farmer



Subject: Hello from Turkey!!
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 07:29:37 +0200
From: "Kemal Akbay" <XXXX@turk.net>
To: <sndmixr@infinet.com>

Dear Mr. Farmer;
I was surfing around the net to see if I could find anything that could help me find a way to BEGIN to learn about the sound
technologies, acoustics, Hi-Fi systems etc.. In Turkey (Turkish Republic) where I live, I attend to Istanbul University Industrial Engineering and I do not have a chance to study or learn about sound engineering here because we don't have any department about any of them in Turkey! I also am an amateur drummer and I have a studio where groups can come over to practice and pay for it. I have acoustic problems in the studio and I have trouble finding out technical help.
I am planning to come to the States to have a 2 years degree on sound technologies but the fact is that:
1) I don't have enough info about the schools in the States where I can have my education.
2) To begin with I don't have idea how to begin to learn about the sound tech stuff. Any magazines you would advice me to
subscribe to begin with? If you could be of any help, I'd be very grateful indeed!
My name is Kemal Akbay; a 21 years old boy from Istanbul,Turkey And my e-mail is : XXXX@hotmail.com
You have a beautiful web page! Sorry for interrupting your time,
Yours sincerely,
Kemal

Here is another e-mail asking about amplifiers and the Crown K2

Subject: Crown K2 Review
Date: Fri., 8 Jan 1999 18:15:25 -0500
From: "Richard Rupert" <XXX@uplink.net>
To: <sndmixr@infinet.com>

Mark,

I recently re-read your review of the Crown K2 in Pro Audio Review from June of 1997, and would appreciate your answering a couple questions.

I have been using Carver PM 1.5 amplifiers for lows and mids for many years, have heard the reports of their "weak" low end performance, but continue to use them because I get enough low for my purpose (show band performing for about 1000 people, often outside). They are powering EV 15L Pro Line speakers (2 per amp side) and I find that I lose about 1 speaker each year to coil burn out (the cones or windings are never distorted; no scratching when
pushed into the basket). Probably I'm pushing the Carvers a bit hard to get the low end I am looking for (although, I'm not over extending the cone travel), and even though the Carvers have a clipping protector, I still believe the problem is from pushing the amp. I roll off 16 Hz and down with the EV crossover, and pull the 40 Hz and below all the way down on my Alesis ME Q 230. (in fact, other than the low frequency roll-off, the EQ is essentially flat, with a little dip around 4K).

My question (finally) is this: have you ever compared the "apparent" low end response of the Crown K2 with the Carver, and does my logic "fly"? (That is, does it seem possible that I'm simply pushing the Carvers too hard to get the low end, and in that way burning out the voice coils?) Incidentally, the cabinets are an EV approved design. I appreciate any input you may have on this.

Richard Rupert
XXX@uplink.net

PA compliment:

each side= 4 EV 15L ProLines crossed over at 150 Hz Powered by 1 Carver 1.5
2 EV 10 Series II from 150 to 2200 Powered by one side of a Carver 1.5
2 EV DH 2 drivers into EV CD horns Powered by a Stewart 100 watt amp


Subject: Re: Crown K2 Review Reply finally huh?
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 01:46:04 -0500
From: "Richard Rupert" <XXX@uplink.net>
To: "Mark Farmer" <sndmixr@infinet.com>

Mark,

Thank you for your reply to my e-mail. I realize I didn't give you much detailed information to work from. And please
don't feel it's necessary to apologize (albeit implied in the subject line of the e-mail) for a delayed response. I truly
appreciate your taking the time to consider my woes.

I would have to agree with you on your thoughts of 'under' powering your sub speakers. This is also a common reason speakers are blown up in many car sound systems too, believe it or not. I would suggest that you move the low crossover point from 16Hz to around 30 or 35 Hz. I don't know any musical instruments or CD's or anything other than a tone generator that can reproduce down to 16Hz. Your sub boxes defiantly will not go that low. So why not eliminate the unwanted frequencies to your subs. Usually sub enclosures cover freq. from around 30- 80/90Hz. I would also look at what gauge speaker cable you are using. Resistance can be an amp killer.

I will raise the low roll-off point as you suggest. I am using short-runs (5 feet max.) of 12 gauge wire.

My question (finally) is this: have you ever compared the "apparent" low end response of the Crown K2 with the
Carver, and does my logic "fly"? (That is, does it seem possible that I'm simply pushing the Carvers too hard to
get the low end, and in that way burning out the voice coils?) Incidentally, the cabinets are an EV approved design.

The K2 is a much more powerful amp than the Carver you have and would also control the sub speakers much better. The damp. factor on the K2 is above 1000 I think. I used the K2 on subs since that review and it thumps. We have gone to EVP3000 and the Crown 5000 at our shop for subs and stopped under powering or bridge mono amps for the reason you are contacting me...we were loosing lots of speakers at our 50,000 seat outdoor shows where we were pushing the amps to hard dropping the Ohms and loosing all of the damp. fact. of the amp<controlling the speakers(subs in this case).

Do you prefer the EV's to the Crown K2? Or is there another reason for using them?

Double check phase from the console to the speakers - -Are you using wall outlets to power the rig? Is is all powered correctly? Grounds? Neutral? Measure the Ohms at your subs during one of these 1000 people shows. See what it is? Anything below 4 ohms for long periods could be kind of dangerous. We run all of our sub systems at 4 and the other enclosures at or around 8 ohms. This maintains a good consistency to all the amps and speakers. Making sure nothing in the loop here gets under or over exerted.

I will go back and check polarity, although I'm quite certain it's all right. For mains power, I use a 220v
to 110v breakdown box I built, and I check for proper voltage after hooking up to service at every
venue, and I never cut neutral legs. I have never actually checked the impedance at the cabinet when all
is connected, but I never run lower than 4 ohms (theoretically, anyway). Two EVL's at 8 ohms each
in parallel hooked to one side of a Carver. I appreciate any input you may have on this.

Well, I hope I helped a little. E-mail me again if you need more or anything else I might be able to help with. My web page by the way has all the articles I have written for PAR.
Cya
Mark Farmer
www.livetechnologiesinc.com
www.infinet.com/~sndmixr

You have helped a lot, and I am taking you at your word when you offer more. Please don't feel rushed: most of my needs will start in May, so I've got some time to work these problems out.

Richard Rupert
XXXX@uplink.net
Green Valley Recording

Subject:
Date: Thu, 22 Oct. 1998 15:59:26 -0400
From: George Curry <XXXXX@rzim.com>
To: Mkramer@imaspub.com
Greetings,

I saw the article by Mark Farmer on the Crown head-worn mic in this month's issue of Pro Audio Review and tried to contact him via the e-mail address in the article, but it was returned to me undeliverable. So I thought I would send the message to you.

I use the Crown mic in our studio for live, nationwide radio interviews. It helps out to have the freedom to move about while talking. I have it attached to a Sony MDR-7506 headset. When it is not in use, the headset (with mic attached) sits awkwardly on the table. I would like something sturdy to put the headset and mic on when they are not in use. Do you have any recommendations? I've looked around for a something, such as a head that is used for display purposes, but have not had much success.

Also, we do a good bit of live recording (voice only, lecture format) using a lavalier mic. I'm currently using a Shure SM-184, but I'm not overly excited about it. What would you consider to be the best lavalier on the market?

Thanks for your input.
George Curry
Communications Manager, RZIM


George Curry
Communications Manager, RZIM

George, I have a few suggestions on what to do with your headset when not in use. My first would be, mount a few pieces of dowel rods into a piece of 2 x 4, 1/2" or 3/4", on the wall in your studio. This way you could keep track of them by color coding the pegs and the headsets, making sure at the end of the day there was a headset on each rod. Another solution might be to purchase a multi-drawer file cabinet on wheels. Try lining the drawers with foam and lay your headsets in the drawer labeled, headset microphones. You could also utilize this file cabinet for your other microphones in your studio. If you wanted to buy two file cabinets without wheels, make a caster plate for them and mount your own casters on the bottom, then you have a roll-around set of deep drawers for you studio microphones. Another on wheels storage possibility would be a multi-drawer tool chest from Sears Craftsman. They have some nice units with varied depths of drawers which would also solve your problem and allow for storage of the rest of the studio microphones.
There are some glass-heads available from places like Pottery Barn or Pier One Imports that might make a more contemporary art look to holding your headset microphones. I wonder though, if storing them this way might stretch the band of the headset when not being used.
I am not quite sure there is a ‘best’ lavalier. Each lav mic has its own pickup pattern and application. Some work well in noisy environments others pick up too much around the original source. A few of my favorite lav mics are the Sennheiser MKE104(cardioid), the DPA 4060, or the new Beyerdynamic MCE 7. Shure has a new UT Series of wireless mics that come with a WL184 lav which sounds quite nice for the money. Placement of any lav mic has a big effect on the final result. Try moving the mics around on your test subject while testing any of these or other lav mics at the retail store, a little bit goes a long way with these types of microphones.

My two cents,

Mark Farmer
sndmixr@infinet.com