Signal To Noise Podcast

Willa Snow talks with the hosts about how she got her start in pro audio and what fuels her passion. Other topics include what house sound techs can expect from touring engineers coming through their venues, how mistakes can push us forward to the next level, where and how to find touring opportunities — and — worst catering stories!Based out of Austin, TX with a deep passion for the industry, Willa also serves as a chapter head for SoundGirls.Org, an organization dedicated to inspiring young women in the field of audio by providing educational and networking opportunities.A reminder — check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group. It’s a space for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments! Let’s build a great sound community with a place to learn, discuss and reminisce about the “good old days.”The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard

Tyler Walters joins us for a great discussion on the best practices and daily work of a system engineer. This past summer (2019) Tyler was on the road serving as system engineer for the Outlaw Music Festival, an event organized by the original outlaw himself, Willie Nelson. He wrote about the tour and his workflow approach in a ProSoundWeb article. "Staying Ahead Of The Game: System optimization For a Music Festival On Wheels"A reminder — check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group. It’s a space for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments! Let’s build a great sound community with a place to learn, discuss and reminisce about the “good old days.”The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard

We take a listener question today about console workflow. We dig into what that looks like when doing monitors from FOH. We also breakdown some monitor mixing best practices. We would love for you to join our Podcast Facebook group. We wanted to create a space for listeners of the podcast to create a conversation around the topics and people we talk to. We want feedback and questions. This podcast is just as much for you all as it is for us. So let’s build up a great sound community with a great place to learn, discuss and  reminisce of the good old days! https://www.facebook.com/groups/243833546641306/The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard 

Rooted in a passion for the industry, Jeff Hawley of Allen & Heath USA talks about his path in the "music business". It's not always what you dream of as a kid. In addition, Allen & Heath has a heavy presence in the house of worship market and that’s not by mistake. We discuss what influences that and how the A&H team is heavily focused on the training aspect of it all. And, Jeff also talks about his involvement with updating the consoles in the iconic Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in LA.If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? We close out our conversation with a short thought experiment on the philosophical side of audio and what Jeff is currently studying. We would love for you to join our Podcast Facebook group. We wanted to create a space for listeners of the podcast to create a conversation around the topics and people we talk to. We want feedback and questions. This podcast is just as much for you all as it is for us. So let’s build up a great sound community with a great place to learn, discuss and  reminisce of the good old days! https://www.facebook.com/groups/243833546641306/Episode Links:Church Sound Podcast http://churchsoundu.comThe Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard 

What we do in our downtime whether planned for or not, is very important. The recent flood of canceled shows due to the Coronavirus has left many with more of this time than expected. Instead of focusing on the recent developments and foreseeable future we discuss what to do during any time of the year that may be slow. Everything from budgeting, diversifying your income, attaining the next level of education, focusing on health and more. We would love for you to join our Podcast Facebook group. We wanted to create a space for listeners of the podcast to create a conversation around the topics and people we talk to. We want feedback and questions. This podcast is just as much for you all as it is for us. So let’s build up a great sound community with a great place to learn, discuss and  reminisce of the good old days! https://www.facebook.com/groups/243833546641306/Episode Links:Church Sound Podcast http://churchsoundu.comTop 10 Budgeting Tips for Independent ContractorsSmaart V8 User GuideThe Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).

Michael nearly misses the recording session in order to get free pancakes, and Kyle is reminded how old he is. Kyle and Michael chat with FOH engineer and tour manager Chad Olech to discuss his experience juggling both jobs. Chad has worked with a number of major artists, including Shinedown, Fallout boy, Demi Lovato, Alice in chains, Deftones, P.O.D. and others.Episode links:Mike Green music: https://mikegreen.bandcamp.com/The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrenceand pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).

We had a "boys night out" with just the hosts. We wanted to get a bonus episode out and a follow up to our previous "Art of Mixing" episode 17 conversation.Episode links:Mike Green music: https://mikegreen.bandcamp.com/The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrenceand pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).

Howard Page, senior director of engineering at Clair Global has served as front of house engineer for top artists such as Sting, Phil Collins, Van Halen, Paul Simon, James Taylor and many more. We spent most of our time talking about His approach on tuning and optimizing large-scale concert sound systems, a recent article on ProSoundWebJim Yakabuski joins us as well this week for the third time as this topic of system optimization is also something he cares about greatly.We also spend some time on Howards history of consoles, with his transition from analog to digital along with his work on the Studer Vista 5 SR.Episode links:Mike Green music: https://mikegreen.bandcamp.com/Tuning & Optimizing Large-Scale Concert Sound Systems: https://www.prosoundweb.com/tuning-optimizing-large-scale-concert-sound-systems/The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrenceand pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).

Ken "Pooch" Van Druten is one of the industry's most in-demand FOH engineers, having mixed for artists as successful and wide-ranging as Iron Maiden, Linkin Park, Michael McDonald, Katy Perry, Motley Crue, Seal, KISS, Jay-Z, and many more. Pooch is also a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, and has been voted FOH Engineer of the Year twice by the Parnelli Awards, and eight times by the Tourlink Top Dog Awards.He took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about his career and his approach to his work. Episode links:Mike Green music: https://mikegreen.bandcamp.com/System Tilt Viewpoints: https://www.prosoundweb.com/2019-top-20-7-the-right-tilt-a-discussion-of-system-tuning-approaches-preferences/The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrenceand pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).

Shannon Slaton, a prominent theater sound designer and mixer, joins us this week. We discuss topics like mixing workflow, understanding the dynamics of a show and bringing them to life through the mix, how system design goes hand in hand with the final mix and more.He has designed tours of Shrek, Hairspray, The Producers, The Full Monty, The Wizard Of Oz, The Drowsy Chaperone, and The Wedding Singer. On Broadway, he has mixed Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spring Awakening, Fela!, Anything Goes, Legally Blonde and more. He was also the Production Sound for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and the US national tour.Shannon is the author of Mixing a Musical: Broadway Theatrical Sound Techniques. This comprehensive book encompasses every position from shop crew labor to assistant designer to sound board operator and everything in between. Written in a clear and easy to read style, and illustrated with real-world examples of personal experience and professional interviews, Slaton shows you how to mix live theatre shows from the basics of equipment and set ups, using sound levels to creating atmosphere, emotion and tension to ensure a first rate performance every time.The Signal To Noise podcast series on ProSoundWeb, sponsored by Shure and hosted by Live Sound/PSW technical editor Michael Lawrence and pro audio veterans Kyle Chirnside / Chris Leonard (the hosts utilize Shure SM7B mics for the podcasts).