Concert in a Gym

[Foxinabox10]

I'm working on a concert that we're putting on in a gym in about a month and a half and have some questions.

First, someone told me not to mic the amps, but many others (including myself) have disagreed. Is there any validity to this suggestion?

Any other suggestions for me?

Thanks.

[Mayhem]

Well I guess that depends upon the size of your gym and the size of the amps.

I have done a lot of shows in small venues where the amps did not require micing up. Maybe a DI for the bass guitar but unless the guitar amps are not going to cut it in the size of the room I wouldn't bother.

However, from a learning stand point, you may want to do it anyhow. A lot of the time you will hear the guitars over the mix anyhow and will have to tell them to turn down.

What are your reasons for wanting to mic them?

[jbeutt]

what's the nature of the show? Lots of bands? just you guys?

What's your basis for thinking you should mic the amps?

If you have the equipment, why the heck not? But I'd definitely suggest that when you sound check, you begin with those levels down. If you're running loud enough amps, there's no reason to mic them. They'll mix in the room, especially in a gym. You'll probably find yourself turning them down.

Here's a procedure i think could work.

1) get your backline+drums sounding good by themselves, no vox, no micing. just mix them right on the cabinets.

2) add in the vocals, and try your best to mix it into the backline/drums that are un-miced


The reason you should avoid micing the cabs is that if you don't have much experience mixing, there's a huge risk of losing your vocals. In your position, i'd try my best to work it out without miced cabs.

But definitely let us know your position in better detail (gym specs, PA equipment, Backline/drum specs and so on). Lay it all out.

[Foxinabox10]

The gym is fairly large and I've always run amps where the amp is simply so that the guitarist can hear himself a little louder where he is standing in addition to the monitor mix (it just stops the constant nagging to turn the guitars up so loud in the monitor mix when someone else needs to hear vocals). Since we would set amp levels rather low during the sound check and tell them not to change them, I would have complete control of the mix from the sound board and the mix would sound better. I do have quite a bit of mixing experience and we've got over 2000 W (Continuous) speaker power planned in addition to the monitors, so I think we're good as far as that goes.

Another question...how necessary would a plexi-glass screen for the drum kit be?

Thanks for your help.

[cutlunch]

I haven't used a shield but it would depend on how much control you want over the drums. It depends on whether you feel that the drums without shield would overpower the rest of the mix. At 2000W FOH they would have to be playing quite hard. Also if you do shield it then you have to do more mixing to balance the drum mix into the monitors for the other members of the band. If you are going to mike amplifiers as opposed to using DI boxes they are going to bleed into the audience anyway. I have been to many High School concerts where the drums aren't shielded and there has been no problem. Also if this is a high school band it is good practice for them to balance their volumes because they won't always have this extra sound gear you are providing.

Just my ten cents worth.

Do you already have the shield or would you have to hire it? If hiring would the money be better spent elsewhere eg another mic.

[AVGuyAndy]

How big is the PA?

[Foxinabox10]

Can you be a little more specific AVGuyAndy? I said above that we have 2000 W planned to be available should we need that much.

[AVGuyAndy]

If it were me, get the PA sounding good in the gym first with vocals. Gyms are usually a pain in the butt. And they're big, so it's hard to get good coverage. 2000w wouldn't seem like enough. I would let the guitar players crank it, and mike the drums, but not the amps at first. Then, if you have time left over, mic the guitar amps just in case. If you have subs, then DI the bass with a quality DI. If not, have the bass player crank it.

And, you really can't tell the musos to not touch the controls on the amp. After all, the band is ultimately responsible for their sound, you are there to make them louder. Besides, they will just ignore you anyway.

[CHScrew]

considering that It is a normal Basketball Court size gym, and your playing for people in the stands. I would say use a shield for the kit. Drums are alot more overpowering than you'd think. If you have one on-hand then use it and you can remove it if you need to.

[Foxinabox10]

AVGuyAndy, the band is not ultimately in charge of the sound as you said. Ultimately, I am in charge of the sound.