FRONT OF HOUSE
[ FIVE STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING MIXING MELTDOWNS | Kent Morris ]
The pastor’s wireless mic battery dies in the unplugged cables will then not be amplified by So, have tested mics and cables ready to go
middle of the sermon; a plug-in decides it the sound system. in the booth and on the stage with someone
doesn’t like being plugged in right now; or the
(A2 or stage manager) assigned to deal with the
console locks up. In worship tech, things don’t Always think about the “next.” A ROS (Run Of always go as planned. Sometimes, they even Show) is essential to know where you are and crash and burn. What’s a tech to do in these where you are going. If you can, talk someone What just changed? If things were going well
situations? Clearly, throwing hands in the air into being your A2 (audio second) since it will and suddenly they are not, WE are usually
and running out screaming do not constitute dramatically improve your performance. The the source of the problem. Either we muted
a professional response. Here are some better A2 handles everything except the mix. On something inadvertently, or we accidentally
ways to deal with the inevitable tech booth large consoles, the A2 follows the order of pulled up the wrong snapshot for the next song,
emergencies. service and takes care of unmuting groups, or we have our finger on the wrong fader. Do not
selecting the fat-channel and stays on COM unmute at full volume! The embarrassment is
Put a buffer between you and disaster. Relying (intercom) to discuss lunch plans. Software bad enough for the mute mistake. Don’t make
on Windows 10, AA batteries, and the guitarist programs now make the ROS chore easier and it worse with a full-throttle unmute. Instead,
remembering to not unplug immediately after more consistent. A new player in this arena is bring the muted channel back down, unmute,
the last song will result in major issues. For ShoFlo (shoflo.tv) event management software. and steadily raise the level.
the pastor’s wireless mic, always have a wired While pen and paper work, they do not allow dynamic handheld posted nearby for use the simultaneous updates and any change is As Pumbaa says in The Lion King, “Put your
one time you forget to change the batteries local only. We are using ShoFlo with In Touch behind in your past.” Once an error has been
before service. Back-up all digital devices on Ministries when Dr Charles Stanley is speaking made, our tendency is to dwell on it the rest
a regular basis. It is a good idea to develop at First Baptist Atlanta. It has improved our of the service. Naturally, as perfectionists, this
muscle-memory for scene updates so that coordination by keeping everyone on track and takes away our concentration and we make
“store, store” becomes as natural as unmuting allowing for quick changes when needed. a second mistake, and a third, and thus “the
a mic. Also, store template scenes in several
problem immediately.
service from not-heaven” ensues. To quote
different locations and on different media so Think simple to complex. When something another Disney film, “Let it go.” It happened
something will always be loadable quickly. Put goes wrong, it is usually the simplest part of the and all that matters now is that nothing else
the band on a mute group and automatically system at fault. A mic cable will typically have happens. So focus on now.
engage it as soon as the last note dies a problem before a microphone, and a mic will away. Any knocked over cymbal stands and be the culprit before the console is to blame.
Live sound is a high-wire act with no net and
no applause, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
34
July 2017
WorshipMusician.com