The Behind the Mixer Podcast

Do you set the mix once for the band and never touch it again? What do you do when the skill level of the sound techs greatly varies? Chris and Brian have seen a lot of things done wrong and a lot done right regarding both questions. In this episode, they go deep as they answer these questions and even address the view of worship pastors who like to tell you how to mix - and why they feel that way.

Isn't running sound only about mixing and working with gear? Far from it! In a recent article, Karl Winkler discussed the seven habits (skills) every audio tech should have. In today's episode, Chris talks about Karl's article and digs into each of the seven areas.

At some point, someone in the band angered the tech team and things haven't been the same. Maybe the animosity felt between the groups is the fault of the tech team. Whatever the reason, it's time to admit there's a problem, get through it, and get back to working toward the same goal. Chris and Brian talk about why the division occurs between the two groups. They also talk about what can be done to get things back to the way they should be - where everyone works together and respects each other.

Move past the microphones and mixers and technical side of church audio production work and you'll find there's a whole lot more to learn. If you're lucky, you'll discover the six things that no one talks about - but they're so important. In this episode, Chris Huff details each of these. Out of all of them, the last one can make the difference between being happy or unhappy in your role as a church sound guy.

Your growth as an audio mixer might have stalled out because you've allowed yourself to put limits on how you mix. Chris covers ten tips that will help you take your mixing to the next level through, in many ways, by taking a fresh look at how you mix. He also covers a few simple tips he's learned over the years for easy mix improvements in just seconds.

Finding the ideal music volume for a congregation can be hard, especially when you're new to live audio production. On today's podcast, Chris Huff and Brian Gowing talk about all of the facets of volume, in live church audio production, and their tricks to find that perfect volume. They cover sound meter usage, the importance of measuring sound throughout a room, volume complaints, and share their methods for finding that right volume no matter the type of church.

Drum mixing is a complex topic which requires stage work, mix work, and working with the drummer. Episode 24 focused on much of the stage work - the work required before even thinking about stepping behind the mixer. This episode covers the mixing work, from mixing the kit pieces regarding volume balance to EQ adjustments and the use of effects including compression, reverb, and gating.

Drum mixing is a complex topic which requires stage work, mix work, and working with the drummer. Add on to that subjects like shielding and volume issues and the idea of mixing drums quickly becomes a heavy topic. Chris and Brian cover all of these subjects, including reverb, gating, and compression, in this two-part series. Part 1 focuses on much of the stage work - the work required before even thinking about stepping behind the mixer.

New audio products are coming to the market this year (2018) and Chris and Brian go to the NAMM trade show in Anaheim, California to check out the new products like speakers, audio mixers, microphones, and even find a few surprises along the way. Find out what's coming out this year, what's worth noting, and how you can take advantage of the training courses offered at NAMM.

How much does a pro audio company care about the church market? In the case of Sennheiser, quite a lot. In this episode, Chris Huff and Brian Gowing talk about being part of the Sennheiser House of Worship Advisory Council, what it means to you, and how suggestions from last year's meeting will impact you next year. They discuss this year's meeting and why it's good to know the people behind a company.

How does one EQ an acoustic guitar? It's not a simple one-step process but a process that begins on stage. Chris Huff walks you through every step, from determining the natural sound of the guitar to dealing with monitor feedback to the final EQ and effects work. He includes steps to avoid common pitfalls and details a method to give the acoustic guitar a percussive sound. No matter how big or small the band, there's plenty of tips to help everyone.

Are you hauling AVL equipment in and out of a venue each weekend because your church doesn't have it's own building? There is a lot that can go wrong. There's a lot that people do wrong. Chris and Brian want to help by talking about the ways in which you can streamline your load-in/load-out process, work with volunteers, and how you should transport equipment and ultimately keep it and everyone safe.

There's a world of other church audio techs out there and Chris interviews David Manners about how such a community benefits each member. Call them a flock, a tribe, or a world wide tech team, joining one might be the next step you need to talk. Chris also finds out how David got started in church audio production and his amazing journey.

Microphones, cables, projectors, and many other AVL components require annual maintenance (some more often). In today's episode, Chris Huff and Brian Gowing go over the areas of maintenance and give you tips on how to perform each one. Brian covers his ears as he lets Chris cover the disgusting process of cleaning in-ear headphones.

Floor monitors, personal mixing systems, and even small spot monitors are available for musicians to use on stage, but which type is the best? The answer lies in a number of factors and Chris Huff and Brian Gowing cover all of them. Did you know the quality of the headphones used with personal mixing systems contributes to the success of their use? The guys even talk about which in-ear headphones they recommend and those to avoid.