Free? April 26, 2008
Posted by Chris in Uncategorized.2 comments
Kelli is the Queen of bargains. We were waiting at the automotive shop on Friday to get our oil changed and she was looking through a coupon book and came across this one. We are known to be weak for a DQ blizzard so this coupon caught our eye, but we read the fine print. It claims to give a blizzard for free….for only 99 cents. Is it free or is it 99 cents?
Either way, we’re about to leave and go and get a free 99 cent Blizzard!
Pants off Dance off April 25, 2008
Posted by Chris in Family.4 comments
While Mommy was taking a nap, I thaught I would capture some Daddy Daughter time.
This should explain…..
Hearing Fatigue? April 25, 2008
Posted by Chris in Audio.6 comments
I just got home from the Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood concert tonight. It really was an amazing show. The lights were really incredible. Keith’s set had a 60 ft wide High Def LED back drop. They put live camera shots up on it. It was really quite excellent! The shots were amazing, and in combination with the lights, it really added an amazing dynamic to the evening.
The band was unreal. I mean, what would you expect? He’s got Chris McHugh as a drummer. He alone is a freak of nature and everyone who knows me, knows I loves me some drums!
So the show was great….but what about the sound? Well, to be real honest. It hurt. I really try to go to concerts and enjoy them and not focus on what is wrong but this was quite offensive. The guy who sat in front of me had a face like the angry sound men I spoke of in my previous post. He turned around and said….”The acoustics suck! This just hurts!” I didn’t even know him but he was outgoing enough (or drunk enough) to share his opinion with me, a total stranger.
I, of course, had my trusty ear plugs with me in my concert survival kit, complete with binoculars and a point and shoot digital camera. So I shoved them right in, and all was ok. But here is one thing my analytical mind started to process….
The guy behind the console was really talented. It really was an incredible mix. There was amazing detail, I could hear all the parts, and it really sounded like the record. But it really hurts. I think these guys have been mixing every night on this tour and they are used to this. It wouldn’t surprise me if they think their mix doesn’t hurt because they are not as sensitive to the upper mids as the average audience member.
I went to a U2 concert last year and I experienced the same thing. The mix was good but the upper mids were just unbearable. The only way somebody gets to mix for U2 is if they’ve been mixing live for years (since 1978 to be exact)…which means he is probably experienced some hearing loss. Man, this can not be a good scenario for attenders who pay no less that $60 per seat!
I am a sound guy, if my hearing is not the same as my audience….I’m really messed up.
Does anybody else share my opinion about live concerts? Or am I just “hyper-sensitive” about the upper mids?
Sound Man’s Curse April 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Audio, Production.5 comments
I’m pretty sure if you think about all your dealings with most sound people, the general consensus will be negative. I’ve heard so many musicians tell their stories of these guys who claim to be “Stewards of the Human Ear.” Just think of being a sound guy and dealing with sound guys. My thoughts of most sound guys are probably worse than yours.
If you think back to all the sound guys in your past, get a visual of these individuals. In the midst of their job, their facial expressions are usually one of frustration and irritation. They probably look mean. They play the martyr in the whole production, having to deal with not so ideal situations…oh and musicians. Their job is just full of compromises they had to make.
I was just mixing the other day and I kind of had this epiphany. When you are mixing, you are constantly looking for what is the problem. You ask yourself “What’s not right?” and try to fix it. If something is right….you move on and look for problems…always focusing on the negative. In the course of one sound check you are making hundreds, if not thousands of criticisms and reacting. Once your problem is fixed you move on to the next, and next, and so on.
As I scanned the console and listened intently, I realized I had a scowl on my face. Probably like one of the sound guys you imagined earlier.
My problem is, I often times try to deal with other areas of my work in the same fashion, even people. I am always focusing on what is the problem and never enjoying the good parts. I’m afraid if I don’t change my view. I will become a mean person, one that people try to avoid.
For those of you who are around me, I’m sorry. I’m a victim of the Sound Man’s curse.
Faders, T-bars & Lenses April 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Audio, God, Lighting, Me, Production, Video.6 comments
Oh…good ol’ production stuff. Why does this interest me so? I think it’s because it’s the first place I feel like I got to be used by God.
When I was in 7th grade, our youth group had a Wednesday night event called Quest. I was always there early. My parents were heavily involved in the church. Some older youth kids started a praise band. They were cutting edge. They could sing “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”……… with drums! It was amazing.
In the back of that tacky teal and pink chapel sat an 8 channel TOA console. The one above is the closest i could find online, and it is way more advanced than the one we had. Ours was complete with a high and a low eq……on each channel!
So I sat, and learned, and analyzed. I served, and gave God what I had. It’s amazing when I think back to that. It was like my two loaves and five fish.
Are there miracles that have happened in your life that you have missed?
Trust yourself. April 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Uncategorized.add a comment
Uh….for some reason the Holy Spirit perks up and says, “That’s a lie.”
I read this today in Galatians 6.
“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions.”
Our team is reading a book called Leadership and Self Deception.
It’s totally a secular business leadership book, but it has some amazing biblical truth to it. I think this world is completely telling you a lie when you are told to trust yourself. I don’t think I’m a liar cause I don’t tell others lies…..but I tell my self lies all the time.
Isn’t this concept big? Just think, there are so many people in this world that walk around with thier guards up, trusting nobody but themselves. And the truth is, they could be the one doing the most harm.
Any thoughts?
Are you kidding me? April 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Family.2 comments
So here’s the most beautiful girls on the planet! I can’t believe what God has blessed me with. If only words could describe how amazing my wife is.
If you would like to see more pics and read stories about my family, check out Kelli’s blog here.
I couldn’t sleep tonight so I snuck into Eva’s room. Watched her sleep for about 5 minutes. She’s funny. She sleeps on her back with her hands behind her head. She just looks like she’s chillin’.
I’ve got a miniture version of my wife. Are you kidding me? How cool is that?
OK! I Give Up! Alright Already! April 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in Me.3 comments
So, I’ve held out the longest. I guess I get some kind of prize or something? Well, those of you who know me, you know I have to analyze everything. You know, it’s in my personality profile they gave me at work. Chris = Analyzer. After thinking about it and analyzing it…….i agree. 
So after laying in bed analyzing, “why do people blog?” It came to me. It’s like a digital journal. No rules on the random content. No due date to have it written. Just write down what your thinking. Maybe somebody will see it or maybe not. Who cares?
This seems healthy to some extent. I feel like there are things bouncing around in my head sometimes and there needs to be some outlet. So here is my feeble attempt. Forgive my spelling and typos. Sometimes, even when my perfectionist analyzing brain oozes, it’s not always perfect.
