Sound checks

maltingsaudio

Just in from another multi band show and really want to know why bands sound so different between the sound check, where they sound barely adequate, to the show when they ace it?

 

pintspiller

I hold back during soundcheck somewhat. It can take a while for my fingers and mind to warm up for maximum performance too.

Roland

During a soundcheck I’m interested in the sound. During a performance I’m interested in the energy.

Musicwolf

Adrenalin

ICBM

Beer

maltingsaudio

Roland said:

During a soundcheck I’m interested in the sound. During a performance I’m interested in the energy.

Yeah problem is all that energy can push the mix/sound over the edge into chaos

vasselmeyer

Adrenaline and beer.

ESBlonde

No wriggly chicks in your eyeline during sound check!

Danny1969

I kinda understand why they don't put too much effort in soundcheck but it annoys me when they can't give you a realistic vocal PFL. You have to set wedges and ears up with some indistinct mumble and then boom, show time comes and the vocal channels are peaking, peoples IEM's are distorting with level. Then they are whinging there's too much vocal in everything and you think well Duh ..... if you soundchecked like an actual pro your monitoring would reflect that. 

If you feel embarrassed singing full on in front of a FOH and monitor engineer then don't be a singer  

kennedydream1980

Danny1969 said:

I kinda understand why they don't put too much effort in soundcheck but it annoys me when they can't give you a realistic vocal PFL. You have to set wedges and ears up with some indistinct mumble and then boom, show time comes and the vocal channels are peaking, peoples IEM's are distorting with level. Then they are whinging there's too much vocal in everything and you think well Duh ..... if you soundchecked like an actual pro your monitoring would reflect that. 

If you feel embarrassed singing full on in front of a FOH and monitor engineer then don't be a singer  

The best one for me is I’ll soundcheck our lead vocalist and get it sounding great out front. Then showtime comes, he puts his iem’s in and sings at half the volume. 

I’ve had discussions with him about it and he denies doing it!! Bloody singers 

mudslide73

I think the lack of adrenaline at souncheck makes me very self conscious. When we start proper I'm well up for it.. there's en even bigger difference by the time my co guitarist has gone dead at the end.

Edit: deaf.

edenfield99

ESBlonde said:

No wriggly chicks in your eyeline during sound check!

I'm in the wrong band, there's no wriggly chicks during the performance either

uncledick

ESBlonde said:

No wriggly chicks in your eyeline during sound check!

Had exactly that at last week's gig,  Hit a cracking Ab when the rest of the band were expecting a G.  It was 80s fancy dress and the girl parading in a very high cut leotard from Fame was pulling some very artistic moves.