Some thoughts on solo performance...?

[ernstinen]

Mar 21, 2009, 12:19pm, sgs4u wrote:My friend Rachel did her first gig as a solo act last night. She says it didn't go all well. She took some video and I think all of us solo performers could all learn from it. HaHaHa! LOVE the sleeping scenes!Hey, Rachel is VERY good, though. Good singer, good player, good performer! Plus, pretty to boot!I've played "ship" gigs with a band around the L.A. harbor. When we were underway, sometimes the boat's generator's voltage would drop, and so would the key of my keyboards. Not cool! Back to Rachel, and all women vocalists: Her voice sounded fine on the video, but which microphone female vocalists choose for live gigs makes a BIG difference. I've played multiple gigs with "chick" vocalists using SM-58s, and the upper midrange blows people's ears out. As a matter of fact, I worked in the studio with a lady that insisted on using an old SM-59 mic which doesn't have that presence peak. She was right. It was perfect for her voice. Nice and warm without that piercing cut that makes old people move to the back of the room. Anyway, great video Steve! Tell Rachel she's a very talented performer ---Best Regards,Ern

[ernstinen]

P.S. We've all used the industry standard Shure SM 57/58 mics for years. Why not the SM 59 for female vocals? It's a GREAT live mic!Here's a listing on eBay:http://cgi.ebay.com/Shure-Model-SM59-Ha ... hostingI'm sure there are other 'live' mics that are good for female vocals, but this one is as flat as a billiard table.But first, after re-reading this listing, it says "untested." Why wouldn't the seller "test" the mic? There are others on eBay, so I'd contact the seller of this one and tell him "TEST IT, for godsakes!" I he/she won't, buy another one.Ern

[rachaelpachel]

Steve you are so nice to share my first solo gig video. I made it as a keepsake, like a store might keep its first 20 dollar bill.I had such a big breakthrough recently. I did a single solo set for a memorial, and I kept wanting to apologize for it because I was not used to hearing myself play alone. I was waiting for everyone to be missing hearing the electric guitar parts like I was ( I normally play in a duo or full band), eventually, I realized it was only me who missed the other instrumentation, and I had better get over it, and learn to concentrate on what I CAN deliver, not what I can't.I have a long way to go yet, but at least I know I have the right approach, which is, knowing I have nothing to apologize for. A big lesson for me, but I do grow leaps and bounds when I have those little 'ping' moments.....http://rachaelpachel.blogspot.com/

[rachaelpachel]

Ern, I use an AKG condensor mic, I would have to dig it out of my gig bag to give you the model number, but I wont because I don't think you really want it that badly, LOL, but it was in the 3 hundred dollar range, and I do love it. I chose it by testing all the mics right there in the store through a PA the same as my own.

[ernstinen]

Mar 21, 2009, 7:15pm, rachaelpachel wrote:Ern, I use an AKG condensor mic, I would have to dig it out of my gig bag to give you the model number, but I wont because I don't think you really want it that badly, LOL, but it was in the 3 hundred dollar range, and I do love it. I chose it by testing all the mics right there in the store through a PA the same as my own.Great idea, Rachel! That's the way to do it. Your AKG sounded really good to me on the video. I just wanted to give a heads-up to less experienced performers about how mics that are tailored to a male voice may not sound as flattering on a female voice --- believe me, I know, working with so many female singers that used SM-58s. Ouch! Anyway, great video and performance!BTW, how did you get it edited so fast and on YouTube, or is Steve pulling our leg? Ern

[mojobone]

Not everybody on ebay can test one, Ern; sometimes people scoop 'em up at yard sales and auctions for a few bucks, and it's the only piece of audio gear in their house.

[rachaelpachel]

Nope, Steve is not pulling your leg. I gigged on Friday, and my video was up hours later. This was unusual though.....It was an early night (boat pulled in at 11) and I had a video shoot the next day, so I had no choice but to download the footage onto my computer as soon as I got home.I was so jazzed about the sleeping thing, that I just got into editing right away.......I stayed up till 3 editing it. Normally it takes me a few days to do one, but I didn't have very much footage to go through so I just plowed though it and got er done.Thanks by the way!

[rlcmusic]

Mar 21, 2009, 12:19pm, sgs4u wrote:My friend Rachel did her first gig as a solo act last night. She says it didn't go all well. She took some video and I think all of us solo performers could all learn from it. Rachael,Really enjoyed watching this Great voice and overall performance. And what a good name too!All the best,Rachel

[ernstinen]

Mar 21, 2009, 10:37pm, mojobone wrote:Not everybody on ebay can test one, Ern; sometimes people scoop 'em up at yard sales and auctions for a few bucks, and it's the only piece of audio gear in their house.True, Mojo, just like me picking up my $500+ Sennheiser K2-U at a garage sale for $5! It's my "go to" mic for a lot of things, including vocals (at least until I get my Gauge ). --- I'm just sayin' that if you buy a NEW one in a store, A-B 'em until you find the one that's right for your voice.BTW, I'll bet Rachael's mic is an AKG C 535 EB. A $300 handheld condenser mic --- WOW!Ern

[devin]

Great video Rachel! I'm guessing you had to arrange the PA yourself? That's a bit more lifting, but at least you know what you're going to be dealing with.How far do the rest of the folks process your signal before giving the sound person a feed?I realize my situation may be different from yourselves. The last 4 times I played out solo, I managed to keep most of the decision making with me on the stage, and just sent a stereo feed for the FOH mains.I basically carted this rig into the situation, and told the sound person "I'm so new, this is the only way I know how to do it":- acoustic guitar, no pickups installed- Octava 012 condensor mic, chest high, pointing down around the 18th fret, hypercardiod capsule- SM-58 for vox- twin pre-amp with compression and eq (Joe Meek), one channel per mic- a TC Electronics M300 for reverb and effects- a MOTU 828MKII to route and mix everything - this adds up to a 4 space rack, btw- a hardwired set of in-ear monitors THAT I CONTROL. I can't type that loud enough...giving control of in-ear stuff to someone else gives me the shakes...I know it's overkill for a pub situation, but seeing as this gear is part of my studio set-up, I already have it. Plus I need the help It lets me blend the guitar and voice, use some known reverb on my voice, and let's me dial in the earpiece volume I need. Keeps the stage wash down by turning off the monitors. (I tell the sound person I don't want the condensor mic to feedback, but truth is that mic rejects pretty well unless I'm getting a very straight reflection off the face of the guitar).My guess is, if Southpaw is planning on bringing some really nifty technology into his set (as he's hinted at ...can't wait to hear the result! ), having control over the mix would be helpful.Just my $0.02. One sound person was suspicious at first, but loved the setup once they heard it. They basically push a FOH fader up and down all night, with some eq on their channel to compensate for the room. Of course, I'm usually the sound guy too, so it's not a problem when all the venue provides is a live extension cord to set up "the band" I'm sure this might not work in a "4 bands in a row" set-up, where the sound person has to crank people through the same system. The time pressure doesn't lend itself to my custom approach....although, if I were part of a rotation, I'd be the guy who goes first. Even if I did all 12 of my solo songs , the other groups are never on time anyway, so I don't see the problem with me taking 10 extra minutes to tear down.