Those of us who grew up watching television in the late 80's and early 90's will remember MacGyver, the ever-resourceful agent who could weasel his way out of any situation, often with just a Swiss army knife and other objects he found laying around. MacGyver was the envy of every man (young and old). But was he a hero with superior intelligence, or did he simply choose an original, unconventional way of problem solving to accomplish each mission?
Too often, when presented with a problem, we look only at the obvious choices–the by-the-book solutions we have learned to trust and simply accept at face value. Then comes the struggle and confusion.
It's time for a fresh mindset for mixing audio. In the pursuit of a specific sound or feel we need to look beyond the obvious and embrace a spirit of experimentation–and little bit of MacGyver instinct along the way.
The Microphone Carousel
Few topics in the audio world cause more spirited discussion than microphone use. Each of us has his own set of preferences based on past experience, limited knowledge, or simply an inventory of what's available. And while yes, many products in this category are tailored and marketed for specific applications, who ever said that's the only use for them?
Take our old trusty friend, the Shure SM58, for example. A bullet-proof staple of many mic cabinets, I recently saw two A-List artists using that mic for both guitar amps and snare drum. The first reaction is to think, “Well that's strange…”. But if that's the method that achieves the sound the band and engineer want, then why not?
In another scenario, a local church needed additional drum microphones but did not have the budget at the time for purchasing additional equipment. Yet sitting in their mic cabinet were three, unused Sennheiser 609s. While typically seen on guitar cabinets, it never occurred to them that these mics could be employed on extra toms–and with pleasing results too. Problem solved.
When's the last time you did a shakeup of your microphone choices? No, this doesn't mean wiping out what works or cleaning house. But really, when did you last try a new approach to various instruments? I'm willing to bet this would potentially unlock an exciting world of tones, mix possibilities, and much more.
Finding Clarity
The ultimate goal for the mix engineer is finding space in the mix for each instrument and voice on stage, working hand in hand with the band to create a cohesive mix --- a mix that allows each source to achieve balance and clarity. For many church sound engineers, it's a goal that remains elusive.
The relationship between drums and bass guitar is an extremely crucial aspect of the mix, but one that is often left without due attention. As many know, the kick drum and bass guitar occupy a huge chunk of the frequency spectrum, and they constantly fight for attention. Here's where a little distortion on the bass can actually help matters. If we need more clarity, then distortion seems to go against the grain, right? But adding a bit of harmonic distortion emphasizes those tones, helping our ears better distinguish between sources, especially those in the same spectrum area.
A trusty favorite for this is the Tech21 Sans Amp Bass Driver–one that is used by many professionals across a wide genre of musical styles. If you listen to modern worship albums, take a close listen to the bass guitar. Almost all of them employ some type of distortion, from light to heavy. Sounds a bit counterintuitive, but brings a unique and unifying sound to the low end of any band.
Another trick for getting better clarity is employing the use of a low-pass filter. It might be the least-used feature on many modern audio consoles. We all hear the preaching regarding high-pass filters and cleaning out the low-end muck. The same works with removing unneeded high end as well. While each situation warrants your own discretion, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and even bass guitars will benefit from a low-pass filter. This gives much more space for the sizzle and air of vocals to shine. Although this filter option is rarely seen on analog consoles, it just might be your new saving grace for quickly gaining vocal clarity and warmth in your mix.
Keep Experimenting
Each of our worship situations is unique and different. Challenges such as acoustics, equipment, and resources all have an effect. But like MacGyver, we can use our limitations to expand our mind. Instead of seeing a potential lack of resources as a problem, look for what you do have, challenge the obvious, and pursue a new solution. In the end, this is what keeps us growing and expanding in the tech world. And the best part? This thinking can be applied in just about every area of life.
