LIVE SOUND
Blair Francey joined his first band as a guitarist and vocalist while attending the University of Western Ontario in 1975 , and is still gigging with all of the founding members . His lifelong love of music combined with his desire to understand the equipment and technology needed for music performance , production , recording , and reproduction is an important and ongoing part of his life . He is currently providing audio production and recording services in southern Ontario ; making acoustic treatments , cables , and studio furniture ; and volunteering with the AES
Toronto Chapter Executive Committee and Cambridge Third Age Learning Group .
By Blair Francey
What ’ s In Your Tool Kit ?
One of the best ways to prepare for a gig is to put together a tool kit that covers as many technical issues as you think prudent . Of course , what you decide to put in will depend on the types of gigs you ’ re working and the types of venues you ’ re working in , but there are some general tools that are good to have on you in any live sound situation .
I ’ ve put mine together over 40 years of troubleshooting audio system issues . This is the list of the tools that I take to every show :
Test & Measurement Tools :
• AudioJog Pro8 cable tester
• AC outlet polarity tester
• Battery-powered multimeter
• Galaxy CM130 SPL meter
• Petersen StroboStomp 2 instrument tuner
• Leica Distro Classic 80 M laser distance meter
• 10-ft . Imperial / Metric measuring tape
AC Distribution :
• SurgeX SA966 Advanced Series Mode surge eliminator
• Furman AR1215 voltage regulator
• AC extension cords , IEC power cables , power bars , and AC stage boxes
• Sennheiser EW100 Series AC adaptor
Tools , Adaptors , Spare Parts & Misc . Supplies :
• Screwdriver with interchangeable bits
• Combination wire cutter / stripper / crimping tool
• Small locking pliers , hole reaming tool , and fuse removal tool
• Miniature screwdriver , nut driver set , and miniature awl
• Allen wrench set up to 3 / 8-in ., Torx bits , right-angle Phillips screw driver
• Metric and imperial socket set with ratchet driver and extension
• LED flashlights , Sharpies , pens , and pencils
• Drum keys
• Guitar maintenance toolkit
• Assorted XLR , 1 / 4-in ., 1 / 8-in ., and banana plug connectors and adapters
• Nylon cable ties , cable shrink wrap , and tape head cleaning swabs
• 10 / 32-in . rack screws and miscellaneous fasteners and washers
• Assorted picks , fuses , guitar hardware , pots , strap pins , etc .
• Vacuum tubes : 2 x 6L6GC , 3 x 12AX7 , 1 x 12 AT7 , 1 x ECC83
• Co-axial and Cat-5 inline couplers and USB to PS / 2 keyboard adapter
• Video adapters : DVI-F to VGA-M , DVI-M to VGA-F , and DVI-M to HDMI
• 45-watt pencil soldering iron
• AA , AAA , and 9V batteries
Administrative Supplies :
• Clipboard , paper , input list , stage plot , tech rider , and contact list for performers and venue
• Masking , gaffers , and coloured electrical tape
• 8 GB USB memory stick
Audio Hardware :
• Closed-ear headphones
• Sony PCM M10 digital recorder
• Countryman 10S active stereo DI
• Radial JDI Duplex Mk 3 passive stereo DI
• Spare microphones , stands , and analog audio cables
• FireWire , USB , and assorted digital audio cables
• QSC TouchMix-30 Pro console with LaCie 500GB SSD
Road Cases :
• Gator GX-20 rolling cable & accessory storage case
• Gator GX-42 molded case for mics & stands
• Audio Hardware custom stand & equipment case
• 2 x Gator G-Shock 4L rack cases
• A Milwaukee waterproof part / tool case and assorted microphone cases
Customize , upgrade , and maintain your tool kit to fit your needs . While the above-listed road cases have served me well for the past decade , I ’ m currently designing a pair of custom road cases on wheels to serve as the new rolling home for all of the above . I plan to build these myself out of Baltic birch plywood to minimize the footprint and organize my road kit for ease of use and deployment .
Finally , remember that this is a small community ; if you ’ re honest , dependable , work hard , keep up with the technologies we use , and rise to the challenge , you will earn a reputation as a “ go to ” live sound professional . When that happens , you will succeed .
60 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN