Live mixers for digital sound

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

.... no -- wait...yeah, well

This is neither an endorsement of the specific product, nor
a cheer for the techniques employed, but a simple recounting
of the experience.

I've just finished a run of "Joseph and The Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat". Southern California outdoor venue.
Including dress rehearsal, played to about 15,000 people.
10-players in the orchestra.

I elected to use the Behringer DDX3216 just to see how it
would hold up in the heat (126 degrees on stage) and
humidity we've been experiencing. I also used four ADA8000
as preamps for four PZMs across the stage, four A-T wireless
with Countryman B3s, and orchestra (three DIs and 13 mics.)

Rather than go into detail about complete setup (foldbacks
for stage, conductor monitor, etc.) I'll just say that the
setup was pretty routine, and quite similar to any other
setup I've used for this type of show.

I did, however, also use the Crest XR-20, both as a
potential backup, and to drive the house system. The latter
role was employed only as a consequence of the DDX not
having the routing capabilities I need for this venue. The
DDX has only a "stereo" master, and the busses are not
assignable to either left or right as a submix. In this
case, there was not a way to control the orchestra/stage mix
balance as individual submixes to the mono house feed. I
just sent the stage mix to right master, the orchestra to
left master, out to two Crest inputs, assign to mono, Voila!

Everything sat outside (under EZ-Ups) for a week. Nearly got
rained on, lots of dust, and abundant sun.

Final analysis: all worked flawlessly. No glitches, no
software hiccups. Only trouble through the whole thing was a
drop of sweat taking out a B3 right after "Potiphar". No
problem, changed element at intermission, on with the show.

There you go. Another trial of a digital mixer in a live
sound situation. Seemed to come through pretty well. Of
course, when I turn it on again, some of the smoke may come
out. I don't know how much smoke is required for these
things to operate correctly, but I'd sure hate to lose any.


TM