Tag: music

Parallel Compression in Live Mixing (Compression Part 2)

Updated: July 20, 2018

TL;DR: Parallel compression is a common studio mixing technique. Why I use it live. Latency and digital mixers. The Story: Parallel compression was introduced to me when I was mixing a project in Protools (thanks to Greg Giorgio, the same guy who taught me about versioning (https://www.rocktzar.com/visions-for-your-versions/). For those who need to google that, it’s …

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Category: Tutorials

Tags: audio, live production, music, recording studio, sound design, sound engineer, sound engineering, stage, tutorial

Multiple Compressors in Live Audio (Compression Part 1)

by talkingtobrian

Updated: July 20, 2018

TL;DR: How to use multiple compressors in a live mix, when your digital desk only has one compression plugin per channel. The Story: A lot of starting live engineers work vertically, adding EQ and compression on each channel individually, and then use groups/bussing for mixing and routing control. This is fine, but I often rely …

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Category: Tutorials

Tags: audio, live production, music, recording studio, sound design, sound engineer, sound engineering, stage, tutorial

Audio Acronyms: DCA, VCA, Groups, and why the nuances matter

by talkingtobrian

Updated: July 23, 2018

TL;DR: A look into DCAs and VCAs – seemingly strange and esoteric acronyms – how they can help you mix, and how they differ from groups. The Story: As audio mixers got bigger, it made sense to have the controls for outputs, submixes, and other master knobs and faders in the center of the desk. …

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Category: Tutorials

Tags: audio, live production, music, production, sound engineer, tutorial, workflow

Visions for your Versions

by talkingtobrian

Updated: March 12, 2018

TL;DR: Cover your assets by working with versions The Story: I talk a lot about Qlab on this blog, but today’s installment applies to working in any application. I’ve always been pretty organized, even before I started using computers. (You know, before entering college in 1994…) Keeping things straight is critical to knowing where you …

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Category: Qlab, Tutorials

Tags: audio, live production, music, production, programming, qlab, recording studio, sound design, technical director, theatre, tutorial, video, video design, video editing, workflow

Aggregate Audio Interfaces in OSX (to use in Qlab, of course!)

by talkingtobrian

Updated: March 6, 2018

TLDR: Combine audio hardware interfaces into a singular virtual device. The Story: As the head of sound and video for the theatre department at NVCC, I often will bring my own gear in for use in the show. It’s a learning-and-sharing thing for everyone involved, including myself. But it can also be a bad habit, …

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Category: Qlab, Tutorials

Tags: audio, live production, music, qlab, sound design, sound engineer, sound engineering, theatre, tutorial, workflow

How long is this Qlab Playlist?

by talkingtobrian

Updated: March 26, 2018

TL;DR: Calculate how long a list of songs is in Qlab. The Story: In my early days of sound design, I would play my house music in iTunes. What could be easier? It was a drag and drop interface I knew well, and people who weren’t me could also control/change it. Of course, as I …

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Category: Qlab, Tutorials

Tags: applescript, audio, music, programming, qlab, sound design, sound engineering, theatre

Qlab tutorials are coming!

by talkingtobrian

Updated: November 22, 2017

Good morning! Starting next week, we are going to host a series here on Rocktzar.com, all about using Qlab in your show (with a couple of other production tips and topics thrown in along the way). Over the course of the next year or so, there will be weekly posts on how you can better program your …

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Category: News, Qlab, Tutorials

Tags: applescript, live production, music, news, programming, qlab, theatre, touring, tutorials, workflow

Welcome to the Rocktzar Life Blog!

by mpauldesigns@gmail.com

Updated: November 20, 2017

Technology is complicated. Putting on a show doesn’t have to be. This is where we’ll be sharing our how-to’s, Qlab tips and tricks, and Apple Scripts that make your life so much easier! Can’t wait for you to join us here on the Rocktzar life.

Category: News

Tags: blog, live production, music, news, stage, theatre, touring

It’s the Power of Love

by talkingtobrian

Updated: November 20, 2017

Happy New Year! Sadly, I still haven’t gotten to rest. But I just did an awesome gig last night with the Power of Love, a Huey Lewis and the News tribute act, at the Sinclair in Cambridge, MA. My job was directing the lighting while I mixed a video wall on the fly. We had …

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Category: News

Tags: Boston, Huey Lewis and the News, live production, music, news, Power of Love, projection, video design

Surprise! It’s holiday time!

by talkingtobrian

Updated: November 20, 2017

As posted last time, Fall has been a constant flow and no days off. I figured I would finally get to have a break just after Thanksgiving – finish my corporate gig, come back to Fairfield U for the second show of the season for a week and a half, and then rest. 70 days …

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Category: News

Tags: lighting design, live production, music, news, OSC, projection, qlab, theatre, VDMX, video design