Brad Paisley

mcp6453

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Jun 9, 2013, 12:52:55 AM6/9/13

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This is a live reinforcement question, but has anyone here been to a Brad
Paisley concert lately? The opening acts were Lee Brice and Chris Young. The
venue sound was excellent. It was surprising how good it was. However, when
Paisley came out, the (same) mics had the bass rolled off at what must have been
200 Hz or higher. The SM58s sounded like Astatic D104s. At first, I thought the
mic had failed, but as he moved to other mics, the EQ curve followed him.

Why would he do that? He moves around a lot, and maybe he has a problem with FOH
feedback, but the vocal quality was horrible. It totally ruined the concert. Of
course, 98% of the people there couldn't tell the difference.

On a side note, it was also distressing to learn that Brad apparently loves
AutoTune. The first two songs were so pitchy that my daughter even noticed.

The venue level was dangerously loud. If I had not taken ear plugs, I would have
had to leave. I feel so much concern for the young people there who have no clue
how much damage they're doing to their hearing.

At several points during the concert, we heard Brad's guitar from the stage amps
or the floor monitors. They were not adequately mixed in the FOH like the other
guitars and the drums.

It was an enlightening and disappointing evening. Does anyone here have any
inside information or intelligent guesses what was going on? This guy is a SUPER
star.

HIO

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Jun 9, 2013, 3:11:38 PM6/9/13

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I can attest to the fact that singers cannot always sing for a variety
of reasons. Over use, sickness, emotion or lack there of, road burn out,
and just plain sick of singing the same songs night after night so FOH
engineers will sometimes make adjustments that might help or make worse.
The show has to go on because there is so much money to lose and the
fans have made plans.

Why his guitar was not properly seated in the overall mix is weird
though. Maybe you were in a bad seat in this venue. Doesn't sound like
it though and no pun intended.

--
Here In Oregon

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mik...@hotmail.com

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Jun 13, 2013, 1:51:59 PM6/13/13

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Any possibility it was the autotune processing that ruined the vocal quality? I've heard examples that sound much like what you're describing....and it was the stupid autotune settings at the root of the problem.

It probably won't make you feel any better....but I've often heard that country singers use autotune as much....or even more....than "pop" or rock style singers.

I can't vouch for that based on my own experience, however....but some of the folks who've commented to me about it, are pretty knowledgeable.

Autotune--especially when used for the effect, is one "fad" I wish would just go away! For me, it's an instant "yuck!"

Mike

mcp6453

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Jun 13, 2013, 1:59:15 PM6/13/13

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I'm not any closer to an answer now than I was when I posted this. It still
makes absolutely no sense to me why they would narrowband his microphones. If
the problem was AutoTune, there is a lot wrong because his first two songs were
as bad as Taylor Swift. He would have been voted off of American Idol for either
of those songs.

After going back and listening to his CDs a little, I'm still convinced that he
is an extraordinary artist deserving of his superstar status. However, I'm at a
total loss for an answer to this audio question.

mik...@hotmail.com

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Jun 13, 2013, 3:45:52 PM6/13/13

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Probably too many unknowns to be sure of anything. I understand your frustration! I too have been to concerts featuring outstandingly talented folks...and the sound in the venue was awful.

Is it the venue? The system? The sound tech? Maybe all 3?

<grin>

Mike

Les Cargill

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Jun 13, 2013, 6:33:47 PM6/13/13

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His live show has some issues at times - he uses little Voxey dr. Z
amps that have absolutely no clean. His records feature what sounds
exactly like a Deluxe Reverb on 3-4,and those are very different
things.

He has a good live guitar sound, but it's nothing like the records.
Since he's covering his own CDs...

> After going back and listening to his CDs a little, I'm still convinced that he
> is an extraordinary artist deserving of his superstar status. However, I'm at a
> total loss for an answer to this audio question.
>

Beats me. SFA Autotune in country goes, WSM means We Shield Millions,
the motto of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company.

Country may sound hokey at times, but it's always been a
serious *commercial* form.

--
Les Cargill

mcp6453

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Jun 14, 2013, 4:34:41 PM6/14/13

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On 6/13/2013 3:45 PM, mik...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> Probably too many unknowns to be sure of anything. I understand your frustration! I too have been to concerts featuring outstandingly talented folks...and the sound in the venue was awful.
>
> Is it the venue? The system? The sound tech? Maybe all 3?
>
> <grin>

The sound was great as far as the venue was concerned. Paisley's mic EQ was the
problem (other than some of his guitar mixing.)

James Perrett

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Jun 17, 2013, 11:28:40 AM6/17/13

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On Sun, 09 Jun 2013 05:52:55 +0100, mcp6453 <mcp...@gmail.com> wrote:

> The SM58s sounded like Astatic D104s. At first, I thought the
> mic had failed, but as he moved to other mics, the EQ curve followed him.
>

Maybe he's mistaken the sound of Astatic D104's for somethiing cool and
vintage...

James.
--
http://www.jrpmusic.net