At this time, on this level of instruction in Full Sail university, someone could think that we knows everything about the most basic knowledge in audio. After reading some articles, similar to this, I realized that we never end to learn everything, including the most basic audio principles. For example, a simple step as check the set-screw on the XLR cable when we have hum during touching a mic, it could be a easy step to forget during a show. In my so little experience, mixing for friends, this kind of tips are easy to ignore. And it could drive crazy to any engineer.
Another example, electric-guitar players receiving an electric shock when they touch their guitar and a microphone at the same time. I could look as an ignorant but I have no idea that it could be caused when "the guitar amp is plugged into an electrical outlet on stage, and the mixing console (to which the mic is grounded) is plugged into a separate outlet across the room" (copied from the article). An easy solution, plug the instrument amps and audio gear to the same outlet coming from the same AC distributor.
To me, the main issue on stage is deal with feedback and hum. I cannot imaging a PA running with a mass of disorganized cables at full noise.
The writer of this article closes it with an interesting story about a Korg M-1 synthesizer mounted inside the upright piano during a Lenny Kravitz concert. And his last remark says that"you just never know everything, and there’s something new to be learned every day". Pure truth.
http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/not_as_simple_as_they_look_identifying_solving_microphone_problems/P1
The XLR cable and the electic guitar im so going to keep that in mind when something like that happens and probably check it before it happens as well. I never would of thought that with the XLR.
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