Re: [Harp-L] bassackwards Cruncher

[pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Sound guy at our last gig was so hung over he forgot to un mute the house vocal harp mic for the only song I play acoustically into a stage vocal mic - the guitar guy casually walked over to me and told me about 12 bars into the tune and I switched back to my amp and mic for the rest of the song - unfortunately it was a harmonica solo instrumental song. You can only control what you can control. We end up telling the sound guy that in this band the harmonica is the featured instrument and it needs to be loud and present in the house mix. Sometimes they get it. 

You'd think Charlie would get the absolute best in sound consideration. Too bad. 

Ross 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Easton" <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 5:52:55 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: [Harp-L] bassackwards Cruncher 

I wouldn't be so hard on Chuck. 

It's not the first time harp players got screwed by sound men, on or 
off the tube. 

Willie Nelson did a live tv show a few years ago. You had to strain 
to hear Mickey blow harp. 
It was as if the sound tech hated harp players in general and didn't 
bother to raise his mic. 
I recorded it then erased the video after the show. a real 
disappointment. 

Saw WAR on tv back in the 70's. Not sure if it was Midnight Special or 
some other show. 
Lee played the live harp intro to Slippin into Darkness. It sounded 
like they pulled the signal from the monitor. 
The harp sounded muted with no reverb or presence. Another lackluster 
performance thanks to tv technicians. 

Watched a brief minute of the best of the World Music awards tonight. 
I couldn't hear the horn section backing Beyonce. 
Percussion's and bass were way too loud in the mix. 

I'm sure most of us will now be more sensitive or aware of the mix on 
live tv shows after this discussion. 


Michael Easton 
www.harmonicarepair.com