I was checking out [="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRXnPcIK1V8&feature=fvw"]this[/]="http://www.youtube…"]this[/] interview with Dweezil Zappa and he said that his dad, Frank used to use a studio compressor in his live rig. I was thinking about adding a [[url=http://="http://www.manleyla…"]Manley Stereo Variable Mu[/]="http://www.manleyla…"]Manley Stereo Variable Mu[/] in my live rig. Any thoughts?
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Not all studio gear is suited to live performance, but most of i
Not all studio gear is suited to live performance, but most of it is probably fine to exceptional for live. The things I would avoid are mostly some mics; omni mics, ribbon mics, other fragile mics. Most other gear is going to be fine, they should be fairly well built for the price you're paying.
That said, I bring my recording set up to live shows, though for the capture, not the reinforcement. I did purchase some fairly high end live mics so my recordings would be better - they don't hurt the live show either. My recording gear includes a Great River MP2-NV and a Cranesong HEDD. My mics; MD421's, Shure KSM9, Beyerdynamic Opus 89, Beyerdynamic Opus 88's, Sennheiser e945.
The 2 easiest ways to improve your live sound as far as equipment goes (in my opinion) are mics and preamps (and by preamps I mean sound boards). So if you're going around to different places with their own sound rigs, get good mics suited to your instruments. If you're bringing your own rig around and it's not already got a really good board, then you can get a better board and/or get good mics. Obviously, a good board is going to be a large chunk of change up front, and you can get good live mics for 200-1000 each (arguably about 100 for SM57/58s, whiich are pretty decent for most anything - especially with good pres) - and can therefore upgrade a few at a time for a lot less.
I've used those pieces before for Bass Guitar but always felt un
I've used those pieces before for Bass Guitar but always felt uneasy...And did it anyway. At this point, I'm using a Universal Audio LA-610, Distressor Compressor, and Manley Enhanced Pultec EQ. It's in a regular SKB rack on wheels. I'm careful with it. NOTHING sounds like this stuff.... Live - it brings what I'm looking for. I've also used an API Channel Strip, Summit Tube Pre, Avalon, Focusrite, uhh and a lot of other stuff. And I've never had any problems. But it's all been me carrying it cause I'd NEVER trust anyone else with it and would not consider putting it on a plane or stuff like that so perhaps that doesn't even count as "road" work in the first place....
If you can afford to expose that gear to the rigors of the road,
If you can afford to expose that gear to the rigors of the road, go for it.