IDR32 and PL10 arrived

Today the IDR32 and PL10 arrived!

The tablet and IDR32 work!

First test is connecting the tablet to the IDR32 with a network cable. The process is fairly simple: connect the tablet to the IDR32 with the network cable, set the IP address of the tablet to 192.168.1.10 (netmask 255.255.255.0) and run the ilive editor.

Some problems did occur. First, I had to update the firmware of the IDR32 to match the editor (V1.70). Second, when I connected the system said something about a connection error. There were no problems at the next try, but this is something to keep an eye on in the future. Finally, it seems that the pad is turned on default for the input channels. When connecting my SM58, I had to turn up the gain significantly to get any signal and the resulting background-noise was terrible. Of course, when I figured out the pad was turned on the problem was solved.

Now we have a nice system and can start playing with wireless, the PL10, multitrack, etc!

The firmware needs updating

Updating the firmware is simple

First connection attempt failed

Second attempt succeeded

Don't forget to turn of the PAD!

IDR32 and PL10 are on its way

We have ordered the IDR32 and PL10 @ TMaudio, and they will arrive tomorrow or the day after! We are really looking forward to testing this system, the tablet is already in place and we also have some poor-mans multi-track playback system.

Dell Latitude XT tablet

This weekend, we bought a second hand Dell Latitude XT tablet! We will be using this as primary device for running the ilive editor. The tablet has a intel core2duo 1.33ghz processor and 3 gigs of ram. The screen is 12.1" with a resolution of 1280x800. The idea is to run linux with the editor on this.

So the first thing I did was install Ubuntu 10.4 (Lucid) on this, by using UNetbootin. I created a LVM partition of 40 gig with 32 gig for root and 6 gig swap (the complete hard disk is 120 gig). A minimal installation was chosen, so I could add only the packages we really need, keeping it nice and clean.

To install the X server, I install the following packages: xserver-xorg-input-wacom xinit lxde chromium-browser cellwriter. However, there are some additional things we need, for example some support for wireless lan. For this I installed the network-manager, bcmwl-modaliases and bcmwl-kernel-source packages. Then, there is a bug in the wpa_supplicant (version 0.6.9), so I installed the debian packages for 0.6.10 using gdebi and the AMD64 .deb files from http://packages.debian.org/sid/wpasupplicant http://packages.debian.org/sid/libpcsclite1 and http://packages.debian.org/sid/libssl0.9.8.
wireless-tools.

To install the ilive editor, I first installed libc-i386 and default-jre. Next, the editor is downloaded from the ilive-digital site and installed. Now we have a working ilive editor on a minimal linux configuration. But, it turns out that the linux version only supports online with surfaces!

So in the end, I installed windows 7 on the remaining disk space and it works like a charm. Hopefully, linux support for only mix racks will be added, so I can switch back to the linux version.

ilive IDR32, tablet, ipad, T112 demo

On Wednesday, Gijs and me traveled to Utrecht to meet Martijn from TMAudio. He responded to my e-mails inquiring about the possibilities of using a mixrack and tablet by inviting us over to play with the system. In three hours time, we learned a lot about the system and the possibilities.

Martijn is showing Gijs the ipad app

I must say, the ilive system sounds incredible and has real good potential. Martijn started of by showing us the T112 surface in combination with the IDR32 mixrack. All processing is handled by the mixrack and the surface is just one very big remote with many nice and shiny buttons and faders. Another way to control the mixrack is using a laptop or tablet using the ilive editor software. Also, there is an app for the iphone (iTweak) that has the ability to change basic channel levels and EQ. Finally, there will be a nice ipad application that has the ability to perform many of the editor functions. You want to use the ipad over the tablet because it has multi-input, which allows you to change the levels of multiple channels simultaneously. Martijn is working closely with Allen & Heath of the development of this app and therefor has a beta version of this app, allowing us to actually try it out. When the app is released (in 2 month time), it will be a really nice way of controlling the mixrack!

T112

The control of the mixrack is performed using a computer network connection. This means that you can also use a wireless router that connects to the mixrack and use your ipad and tablet from anywhere in the room or stage. The ilive surfaces are also connected using a cat5 network cable to the mixrack, but use a different protocol (ACE) which combines the control with some channels of audio. These audio channels allow the surface to receive the PFL and allows some local input/output (at the back of the surface). These audio channels are not possible when using the ipad or tablet.

In three hours time, Martijn showed us a lot about the system and we were able to make a basic mix on the T112, the tablet and the ipad using the multitrack we brought with us. It is a bit slower to build a mix from scratch then using a normal surface with faders and such. However, when the basic mix is made, the control is more then adequate to mix the rest of the show. In our case, we will need to perform a sound-check once (and spend much time on that to make it right), save it, and recall it whenever we need it.

We ordered the IDR32 with the PL10, which is a small controller you can connect directly to the mixrack. This controller gives us direct access to all channel levels and aux sends, in case something goes wrong.

I'll write much more information when we receive the IDR32!

New mixing desk and multicore

For some time now, we've been thinking about the best option for a new mixing desk and multicore. Our requirement is simple: increase our fun in playing. Since fun is a bit vague, I can break this down into smaller requirements:

• we like each instrument to be amplified, so we need at least 24 inputs (preferable 32).
• we like to have at least 4 monitor groups
• we like to have compressors and full 4-band PEQ available on each channel
• we like to have some nice effects (at least short reverb, long reverb and tap-delay)
• we like to have a tablet control option, so Frank and Gijs can walk around changing things
• we do not like to spend much time setting up the system (building the FOH, running the snake)
• we do not like to spend much time non-quality time on the soundcheck (for example by spending minutes tweaking the setting of one violin, this is really no fun)
• we do not like to bring extra cars or vans for all the new gear we like to buy
• we do not like to claim much space on the dancing floor for our FOH
• we like computers, but do not like windows
• we like a reliable system 
• we do not like to go to a renting company every time we want to use the system, this wastes time and probably a lot of space (renting companies make sure their systems are protected by very big flightcases
• we like a digital system with complete recall of every setting (also gains)

 There are some things we decided we do not care about

• we do not care about rider compatibility. We are not a renting company, we do not provide sound for festivals, etc. When we do decide to provide sound (because we like the festival, or the bands playing there), the people hiring us will know exactly what we'll bring and how we work.
• we do not care enough about having a very big mixing desk. Of course we would like one that has 48 faders, dedicated knobs for each function and still be fully digital. But we do not like the bring an extra van, we do not like to spend time setting it up, we do not like to run a multicore from stage to the mixer (even when it is just one cat5 cable). 
• we do not care for Return Of Investment. We will use the system perhaps 15 times a year, so this will no way be a sound investment when comparing this to renting. As long as we are having fun, and the costs are not too much, it will be ok.

In our budget (up to around 7000 euro), there are three brands that offer digital systems that are recalling all settings (including gains): Roland, Allen & Heath and Yamaha. I've spend much time contemplating mixing using only a tablet, inspired by the videos of Steve Pattison (part 1, part 2). This would be a very nice solution, as it would bring down the amount of stuff to fit in the cars and would bring down the time to set everything up.

About us

photo by Martin Bosker / Slightly-tilted

This blog will document our journey in the wonderful world of sound engineering. We are a folk band name The Gonnagles and are with 12 people playing (current count) cajons, other percussion, bass, cello, guitar, harp, accordion, button accordion, clarinet, trumpet, flugelhorn, saxophone, flute, violins, alto-violin and four vocals. We only play for fun, since there is no real money to be made with so many people. This means that we spend the money we make on things that increase our fun.

Sound engineering is an important aspect of our fun. With good sound, we have nice gigs and everybody is happy. Also, Gijs, Edwin, Jan and Frank are (part-time) sound engineers, which gives us many options. First, Gijs and Frank will be doing Front of House sound by alternating each other, so they also get to play some songs wit the band. Second, we have the ability to invest in sound equipment that allows us to play gigs we think are fun to do without any problems with the equipment that is or is not available.




We've recently invested in many nice microphones (the violins now play with DPA 4099 for example), and invested in a very cool speaker system (I'll write about this some other time). However, the cabling, multicore, mixer and outboard are of bad quality and can no longer meet our expectations. This means that we are now thinking really hard on a quality replacement that gives us the most fun in playing and using. We are also thinking really hard on new cabling for the stage, using a mixture of stage snakes and new XLR cables.

This blog will document our attempts, failures and successes in our journey to good sound and fun gigs. It might contain some information that is useful to other bands and engineers. It will certainly help us to keep track of what we are trying to do.