One of the best parts of the new PA…

On our old KF650 rig, I used to have to practically live by my SMAART computer for the spectrograph and dB meter. In order to just get over all of the reflections of the sound in the room and get the best response out of the PA, you had to usually mix as loud as you could get away with – usually 90+ dB(A). A rock and roll song in the mid-80′s would have so much room interaction that it would be so hard to get clarity and definition.

I’ve decided one of the best indicators of the improvements in the room is that now when I mix, the only time I switch over the SMAART is when we’re recording a message for campuses and I need the teachers to be loud enough to a certain dB (usually averaging 70) so that the balance of their mics to the room ambience will be correct for the recording.

I read a tweet a few weeks ago from the OwnTheMix guys that suggested putting away the SPL meter when you mix and instead mix the music so it feels right in the room, whatever that means for your space.  I must say, having mixed both ways on both kinds of systems, mixing on a PA that is right for your room so you can enjoy mixing music is MUCH more fun then being a slave to the SPL meter!

That’s all for today!