BASS
BETTER IEM MIX? | Gary Lunn
I recently had the honor of playing for a great some of the things that I ask for that you might wonderful, CD-sounding mix, with the bass,
conference. The conference was hosted by a want to consider. kick, hat, and click louder than everything else.
the conference was SO exciting (amazing First of all, in a stereo capable listening In order for you to accurately follow your
speakers, worship leaders, special panels, world, panning is the key. Having clarity and worship leader and play well with your band,
etc.). The event had been sold out for months! perspective you have to be able to hear correctly. You can't
wonderful world evangelist. Everything about
between
the
many
different
The amount of expectation was immense! afford to let anything get in the way of that! I
Sounds perfect? Yes… until sound check. I know that bass players are typically a quieter
shall elaborate.
For the last several years, with the advent of
personal headphone mixers, I have grown
way too accustomed to dialing in my own
mix. But now I was on a stage in a situation
where there was no instrument level checking
in any kind of organized fashion. There was
new music to be learned, many instruments
sort, but I digress. We sometimes encounter
...in a stereo
personality types that do not take instruction/
capable listening
world, panning is
the key.
requests well, and unfortunately, sometimes
they’re monitor mixers. When that happens,
we still must speak up. It might be a good idea
to run your requests through your band leader
first. I know it can be difficult, but be patient!
So…on to the fun stuff! What bass did I take?
to be sorted out, sounds to be tweaked, etc.
My Alien Audio Constellation Five, of course!
Many people were talking at once. Everyone
It has a tight, focused bottom end, and it
was becoming frustrated not having their instruments, the lead vocal, and the click can sound like several different basses (a
needs met. Instrument monitor levels were is paramount to finding the groove. My P-Bass, a Spector, and a Jaco style Fender
constantly changing in our ear monitors. ear monitor mix preferences are: acoustic Jazz bass). It also has built in distortion that is
instruments panned discreetly to 8 o’clock very handy for accentuating “up” sections of
It was all quite chaotic until the very last and 5 o'clock, electric guitar panned to 10 songs without overpowering. It also has a very
minute. At that point the only thing I could o'clock, the piano panned to 3 o’clock, the musical feeling, three-band EQ that doesn’t
assume was that something really significant BGV’s panned off center at 11 o’clock and 1 do too much all at once (I have always been
was going to happen that week (I have found o’clock, the aux keys panned (leaning) to the a fan of small moves when it comes to EQ’ing
that if there is something that the enemy can right, the click panned to 2 o'clock, the hi-hat anything). Find Alien Audio on Facebook and
do to mess things up, he will typically find it)! panned to 10 o'clock, the overheads hard left check them out!
We did finally play but, as the saying goes, it and right, the kick and snare at 12 o'clock (the was by the skin of our teeth. We never really snare is set substantially lower in volume than My conference experience was fantastic! It
properly heard each other in the way that we the kick), and the bass at 12 o'clock. The kick, could’ve been technically better, but it certainly
were accustomed to. Even still, God showed bass, and click are the loudest elements in was a spiritual high of a lifetime…so far! I hope
up. A great time in worship was had. Lives my mix. that sharing my perspective and my process
were changed.
for achieving a (hopefully) complementary
As you can see, everything has its place in my musical position in this situation will be of
We are almost always in situations where personal stereo spectrum. This allows me to help to you. May God truly bless the work of
hearing each other correctly is of major be aware of who is rushing, who is dragging, your hands!
importance! A bad monitoring situation can and who's right in the zone (that’s what I want greatly affect everything in a negative way. to hear the most of). I never turn anyone else Having a clear, open line of communication off, but I do turn some more "drifting" elements with your monitor mixer is a must. Here are down a little. Overall, my desire is to hear a
July 2018
Gary Lunn
Gary is a session player/producer/writer in Nashville,
TN. He records sessions at home, plays for many
recording session accounts, and attends Grace
Church (gracechurchnashville.com) in Franklin, TN.
Email him at garylunn@me.com for questions or
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