This information is intended for performers setting up a show at the Strathearn Community Hall. We have a sweet AV system already in place to help you and your band put on a great show. Help us help you, by reading this guide.
Input
Channels
Our indoor mixer has up to 16 input channels. This means we can take feed from 16 different sources, mix it, and push it out to mains and monitors.
Our outdoor mixer has up to 8 input channels and four flexible channels, which can be used either as input or as output. For example: if you need only one monitor mix, then we can take feed from 11 different sources. See ‘Output Channels’ below for more information.
Use the following band as an example:
Sara sings lead vocals and plays bass. Adam plays guitar and does background vocals, Michelle has a full drum kit, Dan has a keyboard and sometimes plays castanets.
Sara - 1 channel for her mic, 1 channel from our DI box connected to her bass
Adam - 1 channel for his mic, 1 channel from our DI box connected to his guitar
Michelle - 3 channels for her drum mics
Dan - 1 channel for his keyboard, 1 channel for a mic for his castanets
Sara’s band needs 9 input channels.
Once we know how many input channels you need, we can plan streaming, speakers, monitors and so on.
Both our indoor and outdoor mixers have dedicated left & right main speaker feeds.
Our indoor mixer has up to 6 different monitor mixes. This means we can feed up to 6 monitors with their own unique mix: If you have 6 performers and each performer wants different instruments or vocals in their monitors, we can do this. Alternatively, we can take one or more of these channels for other outputs, for example:
When streaming, we may need 2 channels for the stream during a live show. We’ll confirm this before your show.
Instruments that typically plug in to an onstage amp / speaker, can instead plug into our mix, then we’ll feed a specific mix out to the onstage speaker. This gives us more control when mixing, and is helpful during streaming or recording.
Our outdoor mixer has four flexible channels, meaning we can use them either as input or output. For example:
You have 12 inputs (8 input + 4 flex) and don’t need monitors
You have 11 inputs and need 1 monitor mix (8 input + 3 flex, 1 flex as monitor)
One monitor mix can go out to more than one monitor speaker. For example, you could have just one monitor mix feeding out to four monitors on stage.
From the example above; Sara’s band could have 9 input channels and up to 3 monitor mixes, in addition to the main mix.
If using more than one monitor mix, a technical rehearsal is required (see below)
Output Channels
We have some equipment already available on site:
Our mixing board
Digital audio processor (for livestreaming)
Wired mics (2)
Small monitors and stands (2)
A selection of cables:
Power cables & power bars
XLR cables
TRS cables
DI boxes (4)
Compact condenser mics (2) (Rode NT5)
Wireless mic (Shure, requires 2 - AA batteries)
Equipment
Streaming
We can livestream your performance to our YouTube channel. We can also record the raw audio / video footage for your own use.
If we’re streaming or recording, all instruments and vocals must come directly into our mixer - no exceptions. You cannot, for example, plug a bass into an amp directly. To get a similar effect, the bass player must plug into a DI box leading into our mixer, then one of the monitor mixes can be set up behind the bass player.
This is because we need to be 100% in control of the sound coming out of both the stage itself (for the live audience) and for the audience watching your stream. This allows us to make sure both audiences get the best sound quality.
Sound Check
We need the following minimum time to do a sound check before a show:
Not livestreamed / recorded:
Indoor
6 or fewer channels: 1 hour
More than 6 channels: 2 hours
Outdoor
4 or fewer channels: 1 hour
More than 4 channels: 2 hours
Livestreamed:
Indoor
6 or fewer channels: 2 hours
More than 6 channels: 3 hours
Outdoor
4 or fewer channels: 2 hours
More than 4 channels: 3 hours
The quality of your show will be best if we do a technical rehearsal the day before your show. This allows us to:
Become familiar with your show program / set list, producing better sound during the show itself
Apply more precise tweaking to your sound
Get the monitor mixes exactly how you want them
Solve problems in advance
Determine camera positioning and multiple camera angles for streaming
Set up any lighting
Please discuss this with us when planning your show.
Technical Rehearsal
Shows inside the hall can take advantage of our show lights. Our 4 wash lights, 2 moving spots, and 4 ceiling wash lights will significantly enhance your show, see examples of them in our photo gallery and in our information about the hall.
To properly complete a lighting sequence for your show, a technical rehearsal the day before is required.
Lighting
Strathearn Hall is about 75’ back from the street. This makes it more difficult to load in or out any bulky or heavy instruments. We have a wagon and a small dolly in the hall, let us know if you need to borrow these, or need help loading in or out.