In this blog, I will be discussing my Black Box tech training.
I had this training session because me and my band, for this project, will be having a gig in which we will have to choose what instruments we want to use. For example, amplifiers, DI boxes, different microphones, various instruments for each member and, of course, different effects on the instruments we use.
For our performance we will be needing various different equipment:
- 2 Korg keyboards with 1 DI box each if seperated on stage
- 1 complete drum set with different microphone set up (on kick drum AKG D112, snare SM57 and possibly hi hat also SM57)
- 1 electric bass with a DI set up and a bass amp
- 1 electric guitar (guitarist will bring his own), a guitar amp and pedals for effects (guitarist will also be bringing his own pedals)
- 2 SM58 microphones with a microphone stand each set up next to the keyboards
- We will be needing monitors playing back sound next to the drummer and possibly 2/3 more at the front for the singers/keyboadists, guitarista and bass player
Examples of DI boxes plugged into both an amp and a bass into the mixing desk, using jack leads.
The reason that some instruments are plugged into a DI box and not straight into a mixing desk is because the DI gives it a much clearer and warmer sound on stage, plus since the sound is clearer it’s easier to add effects on to it if needed, using the mixing desk. Example: EQ, compressor and reverb.
For the mixing desk channels each instrument will be put into it’s own one, drums being first occupying about 3/4 channels which will be put into a group after sound check for easy use when performing, bass is second, followed by the guitar then keyboards and lastly the vocals which will have some reverb effect on it.
Mixing desk that we will be using.
Mariana Bagulho 