Yes – a once in a lifetime experience, never to happen again – Eoin wants feedback! As most of you know, this blog is still in its infancy - even though it has been such a great success so far in the few short weeks it has been alive!
On a side note – thanks for all that support. Visitors have been piling on board. And it puts a smile on my face to know that you enjoyed the stuff I write so much that you even clicked the “Like” button! Thank you!
Yamaha’s studio manager has saved my bacon a few times at gigs. Most of our work can only be done once we reach the venue. Yes, it is possible to be organised and have all leads wrapped correctly and have a clear channel list made out, but thats about all you can do before you get into the thick of things at the gig. Now, along comes digital mixing desks, and along with those comes software to edit your shows offline. See it in action!
Every so often, you get a gig which isn’t terribly entertaining. Maybe cos it aint your type of music, or is just too easy and not a challenge. Now, it doesn’t happen much I have to say, but when it does you have to find some way to keep yourself occupied – and the saving grace is usually a digital mixing desk!
The video below shows the terrible effects of a bored sound engineer:
I luckily managed to clear a day off for myself in between all the other festival bookings – just enough time to nip out to Knockanstockan Festival in Co. Wicklow to mix one of my favourite bands to work with – The Eskies!
Friday of the Bray Festival 2010 was a bit of fun when I hopped into monitor land and mixed wedges on the bandstand for a couple of acts!
I replaced the audio on this video, as I have not yet got permission from the bands to use it, but the video should give you a quick overview of the buzz at the festival this year.
Monitors were D&B Max 12′s and the console was the Yamaha M7CL.
I had never heard about the “Kings of Concrete Festival” before. Maybe because I have never been interested in skateboarding. But the second I walked in the gate, I knew this was going to be a good gig! There was a great atmosphere, and it was a completely family friendly event.
The rig consisted of a Funktion One PA for FoH, a M7CL-32 at mix, and EV sxA250′s for wedges.
View the video below to see the place from our perspective!
I’m sure you underestimate the amount of work that goes on before you arrive at a show. Rather than write any more about it, I will attempt to show you this 20 hour day at the office using only pictures. I have taken the exact time stamp from the images to guide you through the day.
Enjoy! And don’t forget to click the Share button below if you know others who underestimate the work involved!!
On the 5th of May 2010, AMP Sound Systems was booked to provide the PA system and crew for a show by the Dublin Glee Choir in The Bank, Newry. I knew this would be a great gig, so decided to engineer it myself. My day went like this:
This time 2 years ago, I presumed that I would be mixing the gig on an analogue desk. How things have changed! Up to last week, I had not mixed on an analogue desk in nearly 8 months. That stint came to an end on Saturday – for charity!
I had the amazing pleasure of doing the sound for St. Brigid’s School’s production of Mary Poppins and Aladdin! It ran for 2 nights in the Greystones Theatre. Usually these kids’ show are very samey, but this one blew me away! Read more about it!
He is a very close friend of mine and it may seem like I am just blowing his trumpet for this reason, but just listen to his album and then try to contradict me! The young chap is good! His name is Doey Walsh. Continue reading “You need this album!” »
Eoin O'Grady is the lead sound engineer for AMP Sound Systems. His experience includes many outdoor festivals, large concerts, pantomimes, choir services, theatre productions and other major events.
He writes this blog about his adventures at gigs and his work at AMP Sound Systems.
Random Thoughts, Site Updates, Unrelated to Sound | Eoin O'Grady August 16, 2010 | 
Comments (3) 
I luckily managed to clear a day off for myself in between all the other festival bookings – just enough time to nip out to Knockanstockan Festival in Co. Wicklow to mix one of my favourite bands to work with – The Eskies!
