Audio Advice for a large Music Festival

S

Smifis

Well-known member
Hi there,
We are starting to plan a local music festival in the east of England and is seeking some advice on a couple of factors.

Overview
A Weeks worth of music entertainment, a different genre each night. We Plan to have a multi-camera setup, that part, we do on a regular basis (no problems), but this time, we want to broadcast live via the internet,it should be HD (720p) and record the output to go straight to DVD or Blu-Ray. We plan to do no editing, but this might change. Hopefully it will happen in about July/August Next year

I am going to have to organize everything from the ground up so here are a few questions on the audio part of it.Question Six - What audio mixers?
We will probably have to get three/four mixers, two for the live show (FOH and Monitors) and two for the broadcasted video (Video audio, and Talkback) Can you recommend any mixers?
I've had my eye on this one http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/42312-behringer-xenyx-xl3200.html paired with something else for monitors, or just one of these http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/5345-yamaha-mg24-14fx.html .
Do you think i should just take a feed out of the FOH mixer or let video have its own dedicated mixer?
Any suggestions?
​
Question Seven - What Microphones?
Kindof a blank area, i need mics for vocals, drums, guitar, bass and audience.
​
Question Eight - What Speakers? -
Another blank area but they should be loud enough to do outside concerts, so most likely going to end up with a stack
​
Question Nine - What Amplifiers?
My audio experience is for video so another blank area, no idea with this one :cry:
​
I have split up this post and put it into appropriate places around the forum and would like it if you would post in the main thread, http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1838136

Thanks in advanced

P.S - 3 Free tickets for anyone that helps
 
I would highly recommend that you find a local company that is experienced in doing live sound and sub contract out that part of the gig. Setting up a multi day outdoor festival is a pretty big undertaking and I would think it would be too much to take on if you've never run a live sound gig before.

When you interview companies to run the live sound setup, tell them what you are trying to do. If they do any recording of their shows (I think most do), then ask if you can hear some of the recordings they have made of their shows. The recording is more to give an idea of what the internet and DVD feeds will sound like.

Good luck!
 
Brad S. said:
I would highly recommend that you find a local company that is experienced in doing live sound and sub contract out that part of the gig. Setting up a multi day outdoor festival is a pretty big undertaking and I would think it would be too much to take on if you've never run a live sound gig before.
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Absolutely! It takes years to learn any craft properly; you don't have the time to absorb even the basics. Live audio is real time - no chance for corrections or retakes. There will be problems that you will not have a clue how to correct; if you don't even know what tools you need how will you know how to fix things on the fly? You definitely need some professionals to handle that aspect of the project for you.
 
Let me clarify, I've done lots of shows before, but we've decided to bump it up a notch and while we're at it, upgrade the equipment
 
Hire Someone. Seriously.

Sorry, but If you've got to ask what gear you need for this (and are considering behringer for even a split second), there is no way you should be handling the sound for the festival. Live sound and production sound are two completely different worlds. A festival with a bunch of acts is a major undertaking for even an experienced live engineer. Find a good live sound company and hire them.

That company should be able to recommend someone qualified to do your remote recording. There's a chance they'll even have someone decent in-house.

You're basically looking at three interconnected kits. One for live FOH, one for monitors, and one for recording. Each of these has to be managed by a competent engineer.

You might even need another guy to mix for the stream so it sounds ok over limited bandwidth and on computer speakers.

Basically, you need to focus on the multi-cam shoot and hire a qualified team to do the sound. Finding someone experienced to deal with the technical details of the streaming isn't a bad idea either.
 
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Smifis said:
......Do you think i should just take a feed out of the FOH mixer or let video have its own dedicated mixer?
Click to expand...

The micing and mix requirements for FOH are usually very different from the mix for video and recording. You might share some common mics via spiltters but the broadcast mix might need other mics that would not be used for the FOH PA. IMHO, you need dedicated mixers for each function.
 
To reinforce the above comments - HIRE A PROFESSIONAL!

Just by reading the questions you posted you are in way over your head. I spent 25+ years as a session player and on the road as a touring musician (including venues like Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theatre, the Meadowlands and similar venues across the country & Europe), lots of experience as a music recording engineer, and now eight plus years in audio post with some production sound work thrown in for good measure. I'm not bragging, just letting you know that I know my way around audio. You've done "Lots of shows" eh? Well I've done literally thousands (300 gigs a year for 20+ years) and have worked with some of the finest sound companies in the world. It's nowhere near as simple or easy as you may think.

There is MUCH more than some mics, a couple of mixers, and some amps & speakers needed for a project of this scope. Are you supplying the stage gear or are the bands bringing their own? Let's see, what else... graphic EQs, FX units, feedback control, wireless systems, snakes, approved speaker array towers/rigging, etc. Are you using a bi-amp, tri-amp or four-way speaker system. How about speaker delay compensations? How many channels are you going to need? Stage lighting? Adequate power for all of the above? Got the stage hands lined up?

I know that I'm being harsh, but you don't even know the right questions to ask; hire a professional.
 
Hmm.. taking all that on board, i think i shall hire someone more professional. :)

Basicvally my background has always been production sound and as one of you mentioned above, it is quite different and i like the rush.

The reason why i'm asking about mixers and that is because the person who bought all of our current equipment has moved onto "bigger and better things".

So we have graphic equalisers, snakes, compressers etc just asking about stuff we need to upgrade.

The mixer we have at the moment is a Soundcraft.
 
It's always a good idea to give model numbers when talking about gear. When you say 'we have a soundcraft' you could be talking about this, or this, or anything in between. There's a much wider range than saying 'we have a sound devices mixer'.

Soundcraft mixers are generally very good, but when you hire someone, they're generally bringing all their own gear. Personally, I rarely trust random gear that a client has laying around. You just never know if it's been properly maintained.
 
I will look for a model number the next time we use the gear (Tuesday).

I honestly can't remember it off the top of my head
 
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