Monitor Mix

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:00 am

Can anyone share with me how a monitor mix on a large scale is done? It's look like I might be doing Monitors for a really large Concert theatre and I have never done more than 4 monitors.

I'm assuming that I'll get up to 8 sends from the console then have to mix that for each person on stage, but part of me thinks thats not it at all.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:52 am

Holy Cow.

Monitors are mixed in "Monitor World". All signals are split, arrive at the monitor console, are mixed by the engineer, then sent to umpteen discrete personal monitors, wedges, etc through DSP.

Is that what you want?

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:17 pm

So Monitor world is an exact clone (or close to; all same inputs: kik snr hats toms bass vox....) FOH. Then the ME will use the consoles send to output to the DSP or direct ch outs?

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:50 pm

Yes. It used to be that manufacturers-even Peavey and Yamaha- built application-specific monitor mixers. These typically had more pre-fader Aux mixes than a "standard" FOH mixer, and possibly lacked channel faders. But these days, there are relatively few monitor desks on the market, and the ones that are still around are big bucks. Check out the ATI Paragon II some time, or the Cadac line.
Nowadays, with large-scale integration, manufacturers like Crest and Midas can add more Aux mixes to their desks, plus "fader flip" features, etc. The result is a board that can do either job- monitors or FOH- with the flick of a few switches. The same holds true with the digital boards on the market, maybe even more so. They're very easily configured to whatever application the operator needs.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:17 pm

Well put, guys!

Quote:

It's look like I might be doing Monitors for a really large Concert theatre

How large, and how soon?

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:13 pm

32-48 channel board in a $7.3 million CDN Conference facility. Within the next month. I was in looking for work and was told I'll be getting a phone call for sure because skilled labour (in AV) is rare in this area. The last guy that got a job did a monitor mix on the first shift. I want to be prepared just incase. This Facility is intense, they have a crestron remote wired into the building for full control of house music , screen, etc.. Even though I may get thrown right in to the Mix, the facility has all the good tools to help.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:26 pm

moonbaby wrote:

Yes. It used to be that manufacturers-even Peavey and Yamaha- built application-specific monitor mixers. These typically had more pre-fader Aux mixes than a "standard" FOH mixer, and possibly lacked channel faders. But these days, there are relatively few monitor desks on the market, and the ones that are still around are big bucks. Check out the ATI Paragon II some time, or the Cadac line.
Nowadays, with large-scale integration, manufacturers like Crest and Midas can add more Aux mixes to their desks, plus "fader flip" features, etc. The result is a board that can do either job- monitors or FOH- with the flick of a few switches. The same holds true with the digital boards on the market, maybe even more so. They're very easily configured to whatever application the operator needs.

There aren't many analog consoles period. The reason that there aren't many desks is because digital consoles are configurable. There are hords of people using Midas and other industry standard monitor consoles until the drop.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:28 pm

Halifaxsoundguy wrote:

32-48 channel board in a $7.3 million CDN Conference facility. Within the next month. I was in looking for work and was told I'll be getting a phone call for sure because skilled labour (in AV) is rare in this area. The last guy that got a job did a monitor mix on the first shift. I want to be prepared just incase. This Facility is intense, they have a crestron remote wired into the building for full control of house music , screen, etc.. Even though I may get thrown right in to the Mix, the facility has all the good tools to help.

Ahhh. An A/V system, not a concert system. Gotcha.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:05 pm

Actually, its an events centre; from large conferences to Major Music Acts. The monitor mix would be for a large music concert. I believe their console is a soundcraft of Allen and Heath.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:10 pm

Can you find out exactly which one it is?
I'd be happy to give you a run down of the board before your gig, I have a few flavors of both at work.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:41 am

I'll try to find out, I'm 90% sure its a soundcraft but thats 100% guessing.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:01 am

Well, find out the make / model and we'll discuss it some more.

'Til then...

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:47 am

Halifaxsoundguy wrote:

I'll try to find out, I'm 90% sure its a soundcraft but thats 100% guessing.

good one.

i heard that 54% of statistics are made up, but only 11% of people know it.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:57 pm

Theres also a 50/50 chance of rain tomorrow but only a 10% chance of that!

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:28 am

Mixing monitors is a really intense subject - and bad monitor mixes are one of the first reasons cited for a bad show! As a live sound engineer, mixing monitors is something you'll undoubtedly come across. Let's take a look at the easiest way to make sure your performers are happy.

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