EBS_freak

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1483694973' post='3209275'] I don't get it. Even the most prepared technical crews can get it wrong, or have failures that happen out of their control. You must know this if, like me you have worked in pro audio. How do you know the wedges were working, to a point where they were useable? I too would always defend my fellow professionals when I can, but to say they are blameless, I think is wrong. I'll sum it up like this (like EBS_Freak has been doing). From the clips I've seen, she walks on stage and moans that her in-ears aren't working. She pulls them out to see if she can hear the track from out front or wedges but either she can't or it is too confusing with echo/acoustics etc. She walks to the front of the stage and tries to listen to the monitors, but doesn't seem to like that either. This doesn't smack to me as someone who has always had it perfect and has never dealt with tech issues before. She was trying. Whatever your opinions on the professionality of how she dealt with it, something obviously wasn't right. I have done shows for local cabaret acts who have had bigger diva strops than that, but it was usually because something wasn't working, or heaven forbid after an exhausting 11 hour day I'd missed a mute button somewhere in the chain. Not something I'd be proud of, but I'd resolve it and then hold my hands up and apologise afterwards. On the clip I saw, she did suffer it for a while (more than one song) before she walked off. If that was my crew, I'd have had someone on stage with a spare beltpack or with their ear to the wedges in minutes - I saw no evidence of that. I'd also say that if her version of events is true, then if she repeatedly said "they're not working" backstage, and her crew or whoever told her "they'll be fine when you get on stage" - then that person/persons needs a good kicking, IMHO. [/quote] That's exactly how I see it too... Mariah's actions seem to be entirely genuine and point to a technical balls up. I reread the list that Wiggybass posted and a number of things started to ring bells. I'm not having a go at anybody anywhere, just trying to provide a reasoned response to some of the statements that have been made. RF is not a static thing - just because the airwaves were clean at soundcheck, doesn't mean that they are going to remain clean. The additional lights, TV crews etc... will all have had an impact on the RF throughout the day. Just because the frequencies were booked out to them, doesn't mean that they weren't going be suffering with intermodulation issues when other RF sources came online. With regard to the monitors working and the IEMs working, the sound company can say what they want as they know full well that there is no way of anybody being able to validate this statement. Anybody tach side/onstage who would go against this story, is unlikely to ever be hired again and probably not even allowed to comment due to the the NDA that they apparently signed. How you react in a problem situation - as huge_hands states, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of reacting going on from the tech team. Standard response is to have a backup IEM pack going onstage to her. The different mixes... whatever mixes were being sent, that would appear to be a secondary problem - there was clearly something more fundamentally wrong with the transmission, rather than the content. "They'll be fine when you get on stage" - yeah, because 30mw/100mw (depending upon what system they were using) radio transmissions (e.g. pretty strong) is fussy about front and backstage. If they are using the Shure systems, it may even be as stupid as somebody not re-engaging the RF transmission switch... so the routing is all there... but no radio! I guess the real truth behind it all will be covered up in favour of making Mariah looking like a diva... or giving her a good kicking because she actually has more talent than most modern pop acts.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1483657636' post='3209165'] Well, she's made gazillions of quid out of doing it her way, but now it's bitten her on her the arse. [/quote] And that's a big bite. Still comes down to the fact she is more in a theatre role than the stuff the majority in here can relate to.

I agree with all of the above - but unless MC is very good at acting, there's defo something going on with the feed to those IEMs.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1483650948' post='3209069'] EBS_freak - is that because you're freakishly an expert on Every Bloody Subject? [/quote] I know nowt about football if that helps.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1483638715' post='3208958'] Putting aside the fact that there's probably nothing in those cabs, when your on-stage monitoring is at worst a combination of wedge monitors and side-fills and more likely in-ears and FoH is handled entirely by the PA, I don't think the dispersion characteristics of the bass rig are even remotely relevant. [/quote] I don't think he cares about that either.

Can't help you on the speaker front... but man, what an unsung hero of an amp. Had a LC15R for about 3 years. Still regret selling it.

Its all about the clay dots!

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1483631587' post='3208861'] OK, there are load of variables at play but given equivalent speakers/efficiency etc would 2 8 ohm 2x10 be louder than 1 8ohm 4x10? [/quote] Yes - but not likely to be perceivably so.

MD - You always have a real problem with me don't you? Here you go, have the thread if it makes you happy.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1483625927' post='3208777'] now who's fun at parties? [/quote] Your mum, apparently

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1483622736' post='3208730'] have you tried the M6s? Our drummer loves them [/quote] Yes - a drummer I work with uses them. They seem to be the go to inear whenever anybody asks a drummer about IEMs on Facebook. I think they are a tad bass light and not particularly comfortable... but great value for money. Trouble is, none of these guys have ever used anything with some serious clout... so yeah, they are good because they sound better than their reference - which is usually a set of ear buds that came free with their phone. Certainly not in the same ballpark (or planet) as the UE900s though. To be fair, most people know no better... but like for bass players, as a drummer, I would want a minimum of a quad balanced armature with a dual low.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1483622572' post='3208728'] Nah, comparing sound engineers to NASA can only lead to the afforementioned quip [/quote] Not really because if you were up on your NASA facts, you would be aware of the audio development lab, that you have to admit, does have more than a passing relevance to sound engineering.

I dont suppose that you bought your amp on a credit card did you? Let them deal with it.

I have a friend who glues sandpaper onto either side of his picks... just remember to alllow for the change in thickness when choosing picks.

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1483617074' post='3208670'] I don't have the technical knowledge to comment on this but I was thinking that if Mariah Carey could have performed she would have as she has been doing just that for a long time now. The fact that she had to abort the performance would suggest to me that things were well out of her control. She would surely know that there would be no point in continuing and producing a performance that she would later regret. An unfortunate set of circumstances here which led to her doing the only sensible thing. [/quote] ^ not a numbskull.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1483616788' post='3208662'] not always [url="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=NASA+staff+scandal&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=jTFuWIziD87O8gfDl7e4Aw#q=nasa+staff+mistakes"]https://www.google.c...+staff+mistakes[/url] [/quote] I think my point went over your head. NASA, like everybody else make mistakes... like sound engineers... [quote] and excuse me for being obvious, but putting on a gig is not rocket science! [/quote] Again, of course it isn't. It was a comparison between doing a job and getting it right. I bet you're fun at parties.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1483611606' post='3208615'] I've yet to view his personal custom bass but, even in his absence, I'm very excited about seeing it. I just wish he could have been there so I could hear him play it through his beloved Monique [/quote] I would like to see his personal bass - I know he was excited about it all, only got the tease shot of the packaging.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1483612229' post='3208621'] The suggestion is that she complained her ears weren't working just before going live, but she was assured all would be OK. That's only her side of the story, mind. [/quote] Until somebody in the audience with a radio pack that was recording the IEM feed releases the recorded audio.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1483611816' post='3208619'] numbskull here! No idea about the technicalities, but an educated guess concerning the money and companies involved would suggest the people involved are professionals at the top of their game, performer included, who would have planned; rehearsed; dress rehearsed; and sorted out any problems prior to going live? [/quote] NASA are professionals at the top of their game... but they still lost shuttles. Some times, sh1t just happens... but I am guessing there are a few engineers that are going to find it difficult finding work for a while. Mind you, having said that, I read last night that everybody involved had to sign NDAs (probably spurred on by the monitor recording leak she had) prior to work on the performance... so perhaps that may work in their favour.

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1483607898' post='3208570'] Oh, and EBS-Freak - I thought I read Mr Packer had sent her packing (badum-tish) so she might not be so comforted after all..... [/quote] It would appear you are right - I don't tend to keep up on Mariah activity! Although interestingly enough, I see that she gets to keep the $10million diamond ring and is looking for a $50million settlement agreement as she had to uproot to LA for him or something... So maybe there is still a bit of money in it for the old gal yet.

Ha! Yeah, it'll settle down soon for sure. I don't think her bank balance (and soon to be billionaire James Packer's wife) will be worrying too much, regardless.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1483574385' post='3208479'] I feel sympathy for her that her ears failed - that's a nightmare, and if it was only that, I'm sure Joe Public would be understanding. But...miming to the high bits? So long, sympathy. Only her & her management are to blame for getting her into that position. [/quote] For sure - miming is nothing new - that's kinda expected by any pop act nowadays, right or wrong. Madonna, Beyonce, Britney or <insert name>, they've all been caught doing it. Most of the time they get away with it. Even when they don't it's yesterday's news. What you have to remember, is that outside of the studio, these guys are primarily entertainers as opposed to singers... so it's as much about the clothes, the dancing, the stage, the lights... the singing is almost last on the list! (until it goes wrong that is!)

[quote name='roonjuice' timestamp='1483572954' post='3208470'] All very true, and again only playing devils, but rf licenses for frequencies in NYC [b]should[/b] be arranged and paid for in advance. We shall never know! [/quote] ^ Even with all the licenses, you can't ignore stray RF that is beyond your control. Of course, I'm not saying this happened... just trying to say what *could* have happened... and why Mariah doesn't deserve the panning that she seems to be unjustifiably getting. Hell, I'm not even particularly a Mariah fan... but theres too many numbskulls with no idea about the technicalities of such a show to judge her on that performance. It's clear that her performance is dogged with technical issues, not her ability to sing or not.

[quote name='OmeDunk' timestamp='1483560496' post='3208308'] Thx, I cancelled the order, removed the link and going to order the HD's. [/quote] Cool - would be very interested to hear your thoughts on them... as they could prove to be a very good introductory unit that would challenge the 215s and MEE M6s that people seem to go for.

After reading this - [url="http://ew.com/tv/2017/01/02/mariah-carey-nye-what-really-happened/"]http://ew.com/tv/201...eally-happened/[/url] It does suggest that the monitor engineer/RF technician (radio) are defo to blame. With all the TV crews and the like in the area, it wouldn't surprise me if it was damn near impossible to get a reliable RF stood up for even two channels (the ears and the mic - let alone what other RF was in use). Without having a RF scan for that area at that time, we will never know for sure... but I would wager that the environment was pretty savage. If it's a case that the packs where changed over (and not rerouted), I would wager that they were transmitting on the wrong frequencies...