I Don't Understand Dave Rat - Rat Responds to Reddit Episode 1

[@John_Kealiinohomoku]

As a person that's just starting out in live sound / FOH engineering, I'm so glad Dave Rat exists and is posting him gems of explanation and process. Sooo damn good Dave!

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@sTVG2]

I think you are giving sound theory and philosophy that has a much greater impact to the community than many people realize. Like a great teacher you are helping people UNDERSTAND sound and audio, but sadly some can’t see the big picture.

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍 🎤

[@cartergreeves9302]

Don’t want to ruin the perfect number of thumbs up, so I’ll just say that I agree!

[@DaveRat]

Ruin away!

[@notforuse3001]

I’ve been a sound engineer for 18 years and watching your methodology has helped me step passed what I thought was a mastery level, truth is no one knows it all and the only thing that holds people from reaching a higher level is their own inability to listen to advice! Your doing great things for the community Dave! Much love

[@DaveRat]

Excellent and keep learning and testing new ideas!

[@thatspsychotic]

"The people who know the least, have the most to say, and are the most upset about it" is timeless wisdom right there 12:13

[@DaveRat]

Fun! And when people truly understand there's no need to smokescreen with emotions Great to meet ya!

[@samdelfavero]

The other day, I was talking to my boss (owns the sound/stage company I was recently hired by) about the differences between the m and x32 mixers, and halfway through the conversation, he said "I bet you watched the same Dave Rat video I saw the other night". This guy is in his 60s and I'm 22. That really put it into perspective to me. Other people have commented how impactful your videos are to this community. You're never better off not knowing something. You are such a great teacher, and the concepts you explain can be appreciated and applied at every level, from my fellow ameture engineers doing bar gigs to the touring pros. THANK YOU!

[@DaveRat]

Sooo cool and thank you! This makes me happy!

[@freelance_commie]

Same thing happened to me! At my house gig yesterday an engineer came through and we got on the subject of getting sucked in visually to screens when mixing and we both were quick to reference a Dave video talking about having the console off to the side and forcing ourselves to not use our eyes. ✌🏻

[@DaveRat]

Oh my, good stuff! And thank you

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

I can't believe nobody in the comments is talking about the Grateful Dead's wall of sound, they had separate amps and PAs for each instrument/person so that you got more of a raw sound of each person's sound mixing in the venue rather than the unwanted problems Dave mentioned that I'm sure lots of venues didn't understand yet back then. This was a great video. Thanks Dave

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and will cover a bit more in upcoming vids.

[@pauldykes8267]

Dave, what a privilege to have someone of your vast experience and practical knowledge be willing to share what you've learnt with others. I love learning about how to improve my amateur mixing. It makes me want to get the gear out and test straight away. So much more to learn! Thank you!!

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@NotMyName78]

He is a king. I've just recently discovered this channel and I'm so thankful I did. He reinforces the basics while delving into some very technical and complex ideas. He's fascinating to listen to.

[@DaveRat]

Appreciated!!

[@FrancoContreras]

The fact that you dedicate your time and effort to share all your years of research and knowledge is simply invaluable. people who criticize only do so from a position that lacks empirical evidence and is only based on envy

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Franco. And yes, the attacks are unfounded but it offers an opportunity to have some fun and hopefully steer some away from the flawed angles

[@sancti-paprichio431]

I was touring for 5 years as a FOH engineer (around 1000-3000 ppl festivals), and I learned a lot from top engineers, but that IS ANOTHER DIMENSION, in 15 minutes I was so many times blown away, that knowledge is a true gold mine, I've can't even believe it's on youtube, thank you for all of my heart! LOVE YOU

[@DaveRat]

So cool and thank you!! 🤙👍🤙

[@11d12man]

I will never forget how great the sound was when I saw you mix the RHCP in the Twin Cities a few years ago. I think that was your last show with them as well. Had the cool overhead dynamic lighting grid. I think some of those commenters probably went through an audio training program/college and have that feeling that their education is complete and that they have all the answers from the singular way they were instructed. As you exemplify though, it’s important to always be learning, experimenting, and being open to new concepts. I’m always surprised by the rigidity of some engineers in an industry that is so full of creativity. Some of the most fun gigs I’ve worked have been in bars with really strange system setups. It’s always fun making it work in the room, with the band, and for the people enjoying the show.

[@DaveRat]

We are sound! Let's have fun with this wonderful invisible energy!

[@themadmallard]

@@DaveRat that belongs on a shirt

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙🔧🔧

[@greenpea9412]

Brilliant. When people ask me where I first learned to run sound I always say Dave Rat taught me. I'm serious too. I bought a 24 channel Yamaha analog board 9 years ago and found Dave here on KZbin showing gain structure and how the signal path was structured. I started plugging things in and practicing with a 58.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome!!

[@ke6gwf]

I had never thought about it that way before, but I guess I can say the same thing, Dave Rat taught me! Lol Now, I learned how to run sound the old fashioned way of just starting to push faders as a teenager at a tiny church, and then moving up as I got more experience, but it was when I discovered Dave's writings long ago that I actually started learning about how things actually worked, so he gets all the blame! Lol

[@johnqpublic2013]

Dave is the real deal!!!!! I've played 40 years. This is Phd level. I call him Dr. Rat.

[@DaveRat]

😯🔧🔧🔧

[@caracine]

I have always thought your ideas of other ways to mix and use live sound systems are clever and creative. If anything, I thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts with all us. I've learned so much from the videos you've posted- thank you. I'm always open to hear & consider other sound ideas and learn something from most everybody but especially from those who have your amazing experience. Thanks for sharing!

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Christopher, appreciation of my efforts makes this worthwhile! And thank you for being a member, we have troll free realm!

[@Lcuzz123]

Some of the best advice I have ever gotten was to always ask questions of yourself when someone is presenting something to you. I have done that many times watching your videos David really really appreciate your perspective and have implemented a lot of what you have said in the past in regards to these kinds of concepts. I’m better engineer because of the work that you put into things. I am very grateful for you.

[@DaveRat]

Hell yeah!

[@d.a.t.4699]

I've never joined any other KZbin channel other than Dave rat, and another fellow ( guitarist)...that's how good I felt about learning proper sound applications...I've been playing for 40 years now, and have enough time in to know, that Dave's the dude for me when it comes sound...thanks for sharing your knowledge Dave, it's helped a lot...keep on keeping on man!

[@neve2254e]

This is absolutely amazing. You are absolutely correct!!! I have struggled with PAs for years. After hearing a real orchestra in an amazing room with NO PA is amazing. It sounds 3d. No microphone or PA can really reproduce that experience.

[@DaveRat]

I agree and I believe we have set the standards way too low. People with high end esoteric hifi are still using stereo which is practically useless even if perfection is achieved for a single listening spot, as soon as 9ne moves even slightly the attempt at an illusion collapses. Not unlike a movie or a TV fails to convince us we are actually elsewhere. VR gets us closer and headphones with binaural sound does as well. But for speakers to recreate realism, stereo will always fail due to the limitatiins of two sound sources. Surround sound is an enhanced stereo. I will do a video of a sound source that gets closer to realism at some point.

[@ZadieBear]

When I was learning back in the early naughties, I absorbed all I could, but there was a point that I plateaued and became frustrated....frustrated enough that I stopped mixing. I love watching your videos! Thanks for teaching what I wish my mentor could have taught

[@bestkoreanjesus]

I'm speechless at how much I learned. Thank you! I'm really looking forward to these.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🎤🎤🎤

[@tomehCanada]

Excellent Dave. Before you comment people please; 1. Re--view the original video to extract as much as you can fromit. 2. Setup the experiments yourself and see for yourself the cause and effect. 3. Search for more info on the topic and read/watch it. Then formulate your questions.

[@DaveRat]

I do appreciate the questions and interactions and comments and also, asking a question without doing some research first often denies the asker valuable added info learned in researching the subject

[@freebeerirl]

Dave. Greetings from Ireland. I never comment usually but I found your channel late in my music career to my detriment. I love how you explain technically difficult concepts so effortlessly. Stay off Reddit! Keep up the great work. Love it!

[@DaveRat]

Great to meet you Daragh! And it's good for me to do some offroading occasionally. Keeps things interesting

[@benchdawn]

You are true sound and a person I wish I was friends with and could talk with about audio all day. Thankfully you share discussions that I can access at my leisure. Thanks for your amazing spirit. Love the content.

[@rashofbeatings]

To be honest, when i heard you mention a week or two ago "i don't like to have the same sound coming out of both sides".. i have pondered it at least 10 times since lol i'm glad you made this video to explain this

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@janedoe6350]

@@DaveRat yes me too. Nice one! I'm now trying to work a way of modding my stereo hi-fi in some way to improve the sound reproduction of my mono late 60's /early 70's vinyl LP's.... so that the sound is more even as i move around between the speakers in my listening area. I'm currently just disconnecting one speaker and turning up the volume a little and it sounds heaps better.

[@DaveRat]

That's a whole nother adventure there

[@janedoe6350]

@@DaveRat It was a video of yours you made six years ago that really got me thinking. "Problems With Mono Sound From Stereo Speakers" kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHnNlZtji9CUY8k

[@richardglobisch64]

"Usually the people that know the least, have the most to say and are the most upset about it." Well, ain't that the truth! Great video!

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@jthunderbass1]

I’ve done the panned kick thing. Simply amazing. Tremendous low and with so much space for guitars. I’ve done two different PA with vocals only in one. Simply amazing.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@justingarnell8355]

Dave you’re a f***king genius! I’m so glad to be living in this era & learn from your experiences & sharing. Simply mind blowing!

[@jeffdeprey6279]

I love your passion for audio Dave, can not thank you enough for sharing!

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Jeff

[@cjorg16]

Dave, great job describing the impacts of comb filter cancellations in space, not an easy thing to describe, but easy to demonstrate. Thanks for giving folks several ways to address this issue. You are appreciated.

[@DaveRat]

👍 awesome

[@vk3fbab]

Let's face it you can't please everyone all the time. From what I can see your views are firmly based on the physics of sound and the engineering of sound reproduction. So people who come from the black magic and Voodoo side of sound will take exception to science and the scientific method. So glad you enjoy sharing your craft for everyone to learn from even those that don't get it. Keep it up man.

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Bravo!!

[@wvcollenburg]

Hey Dave, you have triggered me into testing my own theories by explaining how you tested and proved yours. I take your videos (for which I am very grateful) more as inspiration and guidance than as a lore. I do not think you need to defend anything, especially not against those who claim capabilities without tangible proof of said knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

[@DaveRat]

I love that and yes, test! And as far as responding, my responses are not aimed at the person posting the comment as much as using the frictional post to help other see and sift through the junk out there. I think it's important to create some friction and backlash to posts that are founded in bias and fiction

[@sparks3019]

Phenomenal discussion Dave, thank you! Wish I had heard this 40 years ago. I also wish I could find younger techs interested in the art of mixing but after one night they are done. It takes physical work and mental work and takes practice and study. Not something many young people want to do for $100 a night. Now they whip out the credit card, spend $10k on a large new system, don’t care about the music, and produce a lifeless mix. We learned so much in the 70s, 80s and 90s about sound and mixing and music. Glad you are here sharing so much more with those of us that don’t have access to the latest gear or reps.

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Sparks!!

[@mennims]

Hey Dave. I stumbled upon your video where you made the unconventional speaker out of tubes and drivers you had lying around. You're a fresh perspective here on KZbin. I'm a technical guy but I aim to not be an audiophool. The reason you're different is because a lot of guys in the audiophile community have an engineering mindset like myself, and are a bit too stuck on the technicalities of recreation music. While in some ways you may not be as technically skilled as others, technicality is only one of the aspects of music recreation. What makes you more special is the fact that you're a good vibes surfer dude who successfully learned the technical and engineering aspect of music recreation. The engineering mindset can be a bit soulless, and you bring the soul back into the community. Sometimes music isn't always about perfectly recreating what the artists intended.

[@DaveRat]

Very cool to meet you! When adventuring into the audiophile world, it's important to remember that audiphiles tend to be more interested in the art and beauty of sound reproduction produts and create technical reasons why the art is important. I come from a live sound background where the focus is primarily on function rather than beauty. The way these two worlds clash and collide is wonderful

[@theacethree7943]

Hi! im actually the OP of that post! I appreciate the response. I don't fully understand the physics of sound as well as you do. Personally with the small events that i do, i never really had issues with phasing. Assuming what your saying is correct it does make sense that changing the volume, or using a separate mic would help with phasing. I would love to talk sometime if you are willing to help me understand and learn more exactly why it helps as i still have a few questions. Thank you!

[@conorm2524]

Try running an oscillator through the PA in your venue. Try an 80hz tone. Walk around and listen to where the nulls, peaks and maybe standing-waves of the frequency happen in the room. If you run pink noise through the PA and walk around you will hear comb-filtering happening at higher frequencies.

[@theacethree7943]

@@conorm2524 I’ll give it a try next time I can.

[@peniku8]

Stage bleed and reflections from venue walls can reduce the perceived impact of comb filtering. If you're on an outside gig, have a mono source with a lot of spectral content (like a distorted guitar, single mic, panned center) play while you walk from side to side, that will showcase the effects pretty well. The 80hz tone analysis won't show the same effect if the subs are set up in a line in front of the stage btw, plus room acoustics in smaller venues will have a big impact on bass distribution as well (and totally mess it up!).

[@acousticbutler]

Keep in mind that what we just got is a physics lesson. And it scales to any size venue. It's the medium of our art. Just like a painter needs to know how their paints mix and attach to a canvas, the more control they have over what they want to paint. The more we understand about the medium we use In our art the better we can art.

[@DaveRat]

Hey hey TheAceThree! Welcome. As far as questions, ask away and will respond as best I can. Especially if the questions are subjects I have not already covered in videos and articles. I prefer to discuss publically rather than call to ensure information is publically available.

[@mrwronggt13]

Great bit of info in this for me. Some of the concepts I have learned to use (at times without realizing exactly what I was doing) a long time ago. Also, the more I listen to you explain this stuff, the more I laugh at the people that have a need to try and shoot you down. Keep it coming Dave. I'm all ears!

[@DaveRat]

Awesome Christopher!!

[@MacAudio74]

A complete mind blow in 15mins. Very very interesting Dave.

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Sean!

[@MacAudio74]

​@@DaveRat If you ever in the UK and doing a masterclass on this kinda stuff, please would you be so kind make in a huge public announcment :-) Well not that BIG please LOL

[@DaveRat]

Ha! If I do, I will announce here and thank you

[@MacAudio74]

@@DaveRat Thank you Sir 🙂 Also enjoyed your mini ASS KICKER video, my goodness that thing is something else.

[@robertmaune8557]

I've been designing recording studios for over 20 years, and there is so much fascinating and fresh stuff here. Good brain tickling. Thanks.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome!

[@mycosys]

Ur killing me Dave, as soon as i saw the Q i was like 'thats genius, has to be for phase issues', then i'm sitting half way thru the video thinking '...... surely its phase too, is my audio theory that off' lol. I kinda love that its nearly exactly what you wouldn't do to prevent phase issues in a mono sum while recording. FWIW you kinda remind me of the guy hat introduced me to the industry, Roger Close/Roger Ramjet. Another mad genius, former Air Force Engineer. Passed last weekend, like you he inspired a lot of people.

[@DaveRat]

Sorry for the loss of a friend and thank you!! 🤙

[@MrAmiaffe]

I've been a freelancer for just slightly less than a year now in live audio and it's been going swimmingly. I just wanna say I fucking love you man!

[@anthonyanzalone]

Thanks Dave. Man, this is fantastic. After hearing your theory on sending different signals to L/R I too was wondering the best ways to do it. This definitely gives me some ideas. I've started implementing turning one sub off and it really does even out the bass coverage in a typical bar/restaurant room.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome Anthony!!

[@dlcarburetor]

Dave Rat, thanks, this is great stuff. You have helped open my eyes to so much I never even thought to try, just because I was told "thats not right" or "that's not the way". Wish I was closer to you, I would absolutely love to take one of your classes or just spend the day with you absorbing knowledge and exploring ideas. Thanks for sharing

[@DaveRat]

Great to meet ya DL Carb!

[@brycejones8367]

Awesome Dave, thanks for the explanation. Please keep the lessons coming. Cheers from NZ

[@DaveRat]

Cheers Bryce!! Cheers NZ!

[@snarlyharley6032]

Thanks Dave for responding in a really calm and intelligent way. I always appreciate hearing the reasoning behind your decisions regarding mixing and gear choices. I've learned so much from you over the years. Tremendously grateful for all that you have openly shared.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and thank you Snarly

[@Dimebag333x]

Even just panning my keys and guitars makes a huge difference. Even in small venues. Dave doesn’t lie.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@mjolles1976]

Just getting started as a sound tech but always listened to Dave’s advice as a DJ and it’s always solid. He will always be in my tool box!!

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@ankitcho]

best teacher of sound out there simple to the point and practical

[@DaveRat]

Fun stuff and thank you

[@ankitcho]

@@DaveRat literally

[@DaveRat]

🔧🎤🔧🎤

[@JacobWildrick]

Thank you so much Dave! Just worked my first summer as a monitor & FOH engineer for a decent little production company! Thanks so much for the information based off your experience. You’re the best! Love you!

[@DaveRat]

That is awesome!

[@linguafranca86]

Small differences make things come to life, it creates depth and colour. I'm not a live engineer but that's what you do in mixing recorded music.

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@Aio-Project]

its incredible just how much you prioritize projecting the magic thats happening on stage. so many young sound techs care way more about creating a textbook mix and forget to create a good audience experience

[@DaveRat]

🤙👍🤙 🎤🎤🎤

[@Bobby_Uterus]

My question to these clowns would be, have you heard a Rat Man mixed show live? This man does not need to explain his madness. Luckily for us, he is in fact cool enough to explain. The man is a wizard! Solid, thanks Dave!

[@DaveRat]

5hank you Bobby! And I really love the member area as it is an impassable barrier to trolls

[@Bobby_Uterus]

Agreed, don’t have to wade through a bunch of bummers to find helpful advice. Hey Dave, have you ever done sound at the Gorge amphitheatre in George Washington? Washington state?

[@DaveRat]

Agreed and yes, many times with many bands

[@Bobby_Uterus]

Very nice! I’ve had to see a few of your mixed shows then. I live about 3 miles from that venue and have seen some great shows there. Did you mix the rage show at the Gorge that they tried to incite a riot at? Lol We used to get a lot better selection of shows in the 90’s and 2000s. Now mostly county and EDM festivals.

[@DaveRat]

Ha, love that place! Fishing on site. Yes, mixed rage there 98 I believe

[@JDBodine]

I admit I don’t understand a lot of the things you talk about, but I’m a new subscriber who thought I knew a little about live sound. I’ve read books and I have some experience, but this is a whole new level for me and I wish I’d had access to this kind of information before, but everybody has to start somewhere. I’m going to go through your old videos and hopefully I’ll start to figure it out. Hopefully.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and welcome and I am sharing the info I wish people had shared with me and all the stuff I have figured out over the years

[@jimpemberton]

Fantastic discussion about sounds coming from different locations! I think the expectation is for the group to sound live like they do on the recording that was mixed, mastered, and distributed. I think it's an unreasonable expectation. In fact, I think it's a cheap expectation. If I see a group live, I want something that in some ways feels REAL, not prepackaged and identical to what everyone has. I think about this a lot. I know some of my fellow sound techs and engineers might take a keyboard with a left and right feed and feed the left tot he left and right to the right so when a low note is played, it sounds like it's coming from the left and when a high note is played it sounds like it's coming from the right. If you put a real piano on an acoustical stage and don't mic it, it will come from wherever it is on the stage and the acoustics of the room will deliver a beautiful sound that is different for each ear. If that experience or some similar kind of experience can be generated by the creative use of a sound system regardless of the venue, genre, or instrumentation, then I think we have achieved art.

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@haldorasgirson9463]

You are like a prophet of sonic purity. An old skater prophet😁 I am an EE and have never heard decorrelation explained more expressively. Thanks for the lesson.

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and thank you!

[@ChrisThomasBone]

Thank you for sharing your information, Dave! You certainly helped me to be a better sound engineer

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@johncostigan6160]

Fascinating! Haas effect in live sound and decorrelation in general. 40 years in live sound & these are new concepts for me. Thank-you Dave!

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and very cool John!

[@janedoe6350]

In venue installs with loud music, using cone filtering to your advantage can be real helpful. The use of an out of phase node to create a quieter area around the bar so that the staff can hear your order is a real must. Thanks Dave, you have a knack of explaining complexities in a simple and entertaining way. Keep on keeping on!

[@DaveRat]

👍🔧👍

[@Anvilshock]

comb* filtering

[@janedoe6350]

@@Anvilshock LOL.... cool, i love learning.

[@Lu_Woods]

AlphaSound put out a vid explaining how they set up the subs so that there is a null on stage where they can put instrumentalists that need sensitive mics. Love this next level stuff.

[@DaveRat]

A lot can be done with sub arrays. It's important balance function with sound quality

[@brianmoss5483]

Glad you take the time to answer questions. Like those who took time to answer mine when I was a young padawan learner.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🎤🎤

[@jimbrown6422]

I am so jealous of the bands he gets to do sound for…..a sound guy gets to play the whole band for the audience. He gets to do it for these great bands. And does it great!!!

[@DaveRat]

🤙👍🤙

[@chrisw5742]

@@DaveRat Bands anyway......... :-P

[@patrickfarley8036]

Dave, your a frickin guru bro! You make the most sense out of topics and scenarios others seem to go out of their way to complicate!! You used several words today that until now did not exist in my vocabulary and if you asked me for the definitions of those words I wouldn't have known. But your presentation explained in context what each word was WITHOUT saying "That means" and give the book definition AND I didn't have to go look it up!!!! I understood everything you said and learned to speak like a "sound guy"! You're one of a kind in my world, man! I'm very glad I found your channel!!! 🤘💀🤘

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Patrick! That rules!!!

[@christopheronald]

yeah that whole thread was dumb. people were saying you were mixing at 130 db (with no weight listed) and shit like that. telephone game on the internet is wild.

[@DaveRat]

I will have some fun responding to all those in future episodes

[@gunjabeans]

You've expounded greatly on a concept that I discovered in the studio by putting two 57's on the same cab and panned hard left and right. Thank you. This information has come at a very important time for me. Hope to hear one of your shows soon. Cheers

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Robby. Though I did move on from mixing shows to other adventures

[@MadayMaday]

I don't think the term "sound reinforcement" is used enough (part of why I like how you speak about the subject). It isn't just live sound. Mixing and reinforcing live sound is WAY different than recording and mixing in a studio in the way you need to think about it.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@StephenTack]

Great thoughts, Dave! I have never been a fan of the mostly monoral wall of sound. About 15 years ago I was running sound at a small outdoor festival for MxPx (3-piece punk band). It was the simplest rider, with basic drums, bass DI, and requesting a single 57 on the electric guitar cab. l noticed during sound check that when walking toward the stage, just off center the electric guitar sounded super thin and weak. It would have made the sound pretty bad for a couple hundred people.... So I added an Audix i5 as a second EG mic, hard panned, and EQd until they sounded good together. The comb-filtering/phase issues were almost gone! I've been making mono things stereo ever since. Cheers!

[@DaveRat]

Perfect!! And love the MxPx guys! Toured with them years ago oening for a band I was mixing, maybe offspring or Blink. I mixed them for a bit as well. They are super cool.

[@DavidtheSwarfer]

Well said Dave. Some years back I was in a church that had a speaker in each corner of the venue. Sounded alright but bass response varied greatly around the room. After the service I walked around and checked a few things. Found the right front box wires out of polarity, so they had a 4 box cardioid bass rig (-: but through error. Went and told the sound guy, an older man, and was met with deep disbelief and unwillingness to engage. Sigh.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@v12alpine]

I know the feeling. I have a ear for polarity issues and it drives me crazy.

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@mvilla36]

Dave you are spot on what a lot of people don’t understand is when you’re doing audio you’re painting a picture with your eyes closed just using your ears and the knowledge of the tools that you were using like I said before I can’t wait till one day to meet you whether it’ll be a big bear or at a venue

[@DaveRat]

Cool cool Michael!

[@Lu_Woods]

Thanks Dave, super vid.

[@DaveRat]

🤙👍🤙

[@rogersoucy3]

This was the first video of yours I watched through and loved how you approached and explained everything. I felt like we just hung out for a cup of coffee and geeked out over sound reproduction. I appreciate your effort and passion for this stuff and thank you for your generosity. Backstory : I'm not in the pro audio biz but do have a consumer audio background, so I completely understood all that you talked about. I was looking for videos on balanced armatures this AM and discovered you in your teardown of some IEMs. While I bailed on that video, I went and checked out your channel and watched this one. Rock on!

[@jttech44]

I don't think you're always right, or that you're somehow perfect, but, I know that you're always trying to be right, and you always present something interesting to chew on. Like alot of things, you present tools, ideas, things that most might not think about, it's up to us, the listeners, to determine how to use them. Am I going to drag another line out to the kick drum every time I run a show? Hell no, but, I do know that, if I'm hearing a problem down low, I've got ways to solve it on the fly, in part thanks to you. I will say though, that reddit thread had a pretty good split between folks saying Dave Rat is a quack, and folks saying "now hold on a minute, Dave has some real interesting ideas that are worth trying out", so make sure if you're extracting the bad out of something, that you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[@DaveRat]

Agreed, I go through and give an honest go, have some fun and share more if my observations along the way

[@rayonism]

Thank you Dave Rat for being so insanely generous with your time and information, it's really appreciated. Here's to Dave Rat!

[@DaveRat]

Thank you!

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

reddit is absolute garbage these days.

[@DaveRat]

Definitely strong on opinions and weak on facts. Not my stomping ground but an interesting stroll

[@jttech44]

If you walk into that forum knowing nothing, yeah, it can be worse than useless. If you know a thing or two though, it's fairly easy to sort out who knows something and who's just blowing hot air.

[@DaveRat]

Weed out the insults and anger and anyone who says they knows the only correct way and you end up with a pretty good group

[@anthywhite]

Wow I had never thought about this, super interesting stuff!! I'm curious how you might apply some of these strategies to a DJ setup at a festival or club. Are there any strategies to use to spread out the null spots in these scenarios, since the speakers are basically playing back a single stereo or mono signal?

[@DaveRat]

Ive done and am doing multiple vids covering that. Great to meet ya Anthony!

[@brenthandycts131]

Fantastic reply. Now Dave, could you please do a video series on the McRib?

[@DaveRat]

Ha!! Some things are beyond explanation

[@sotirisalevizos6812]

You are amazing for sharing all this knowledge with us, and for the fact that you explain all these things in such an understandable way. Thanks a lot!

[@rronzoo]

Hey Dave, really interesting insights here about sound design, making a lot of sense in my mind. I just discovered your channel and I'm really digging what you're saying. Still exploring you vids so excuse me if you've discussed my question previously - I'd be interested in your thoughts about how the ideas you're discussing here translate from the live sound venues to the recording venues, particularly for people (like me) that are recording in basements/attics/garages/bedrooms etc. Thanks for your openness and sharing your experience.

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

Absolutely fab. The thing about hearing in mono from two sources is so true too in a studio sense too. When referencing your mix in mono for checks, it needs to be heard from a single source - not the pair in mono - as you only have to move your head slightly and the comb filtering comes in. I really don't know why people get so angry either!

[@DaveRat]

Right? It's sound, it's fun, no anger!

[@ejpn]

Dave seems like a cool / chill guy to hang out with and talk shop with! Beers are on me if you are ever passing through Iowa

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and thank you!!!

[@abcdxyz2]

I am thankful to have the opportunity to watch and learn from you Dave.

[@DaveRat]

Super cool Andreas! I appreciate you joining and hanging out with me and us!

[@Turacalp]

I attended to a workshop of yours in Istanbul years ago and it was really mind altering. Maybe all mixing tips didn't work for me but the idea of keeping exploring after so many years changed how I think about FOH mixing. Thank you..

[@DaveRat]

That's so cool and I remember! Thank you

[@okaudiopro7613]

Thanks for sharing Mr. Rat…YOU ROCK !!

[@DaveRat]

🤙👍🤙

[@Edwin-van-der-Putten]

Wow, Dave! This video is so great! I certainly learned some great stuff from you. (and from others) When someone shares some knowledge I try it for myself. Sometimes it works for me... sometimes it doesn't. Sharing knowledge is a great thing. People shouldn't be negative about that... maybe ask why or what you mean, or something like that. Or be helpful by adding more info or knowledge. But never should be negative. So I hope these kind of comments don't put you down and stop you from sharing your great knowledge! i think I speak for many people that I really, really enjoy your contribution very, very much! They help me be a better soundunderstanding human! 🙂

[@DaveRat]

All good, I have had many years of public exposure and the comments are worse when dealing with band fans than with sound humans. Thank you and yeah, the comments are great for diving into topics.

[@braugrau]

thanks dave, we are transducers and are many ways of do, and you share many of them, thanks again

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@SuperMcgenius]

Thanks Dave, years ago in a small club / 300. I ran a single cabinet centred just for the lead vocal, I am no mixing pro. Sounded good. I love the idea of double column pa.

[@DaveRat]

🔧👍🔧

[@bongoben23]

The 1st episode of 'Rat Responds to Reddit' 😆 Great info. Thanks!

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@steevidrums]

A fair amount of this, I have done by accident just trying to get better live mixes. But there were some others that were very facinating. I don't do much live sound these days outside my cover band (playing bars and club of a couple of hundred people) Sounchecks are a luxury I don't get most of the time, but next time we have an afternoon set up with a night gig, gonna try some of these ideas out. Thanks Dave!!!

[@juwbone]

It was good to hear you talking about this, I seem to remember you put out a video covering these ideas in detail some time ago. I welcomed the information because prior to your video all the information in regard to sound reinforcement systems seemed to be pointing in the direction of a mono-block stack , each side of the stage, ... for coverage reasons! I had been a free party system tech for many years and always ran a stereo rig, ...even though it was (and probably still is) deeply unfashionable in that scene ; ) While I can understand that once you scale up a stereo system new factors come into play due to the large distance between the individual stacks, dumping a stereo mix seems such a wasted opportunity. I guess back in the day when you weren't tied to a particular seat, ...anyone who was interested enough would move around the area and find their own sweet-spot. I kept doing research looking for something that reflected my own preference, ..the joy of stereo, and I eventually did find information about the subtle differences in level of individual elements of a stereo mix would reduce the unwanted combing between the stacks, now we're talking! The issue of the 'power alley' in the bass was also creatively addressed by good old Tony Andrews, this is what he was saying in an interview with TPI magazine at the Glade stage at Glastobollox 2016. "I’m calling what we’re doing ‘split-layering the bass’. You keep single sources by splitting the bass into two, with sub-sub on one side and ordinary bass on the other. They go over the top of each other, and they don’t do the same frequencies at all. So, for example, you do 25-45Hz on one side and then 45-90Hz on the other. That way you’ve only got one source. People in the audience get both things together, there’s no conflict. It’s amazing. This has been the first time we’ve been able to tr y it out." Hats off to you Dave for all the fab information you share with everybody, all for the simple reason that the people in the audience can be truly moved the the audio experience, even if they are completely unaware of it ;)

[@DaveRat]

Cool cool 🤙🤙🤙

[@carlstockmal]

I have always found your videos helpful, and interesting. They inspired me to want to start a program called "Fix My Band," because the local groups just don't seem to have the business sense to run a band, nor the equipment to make their band sound good. Don't give in to those who don't understand - musicians CAN make a living and sound great. Sometimes we need help, and you're helping.

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Carl!!

[@ThePlagueGameing]

Excellent discussion!! The double hung PA if possible is the way to go in my humble opinion. I took this one step further way back in the as a very young FOH guy. I had 3 separate Ampeg powered horn loaded cabs, 3 separate snakes, 3 separate Tapco mixers and a good crossover unit. One cab for vocals, one for drums and one for instruments. Was it electronically correct?. Probably not but it worked!. Experimentation when you can don't is fun and a great learning experience. Thanks Dave! 🤓

[@DaveRat]

So cool!

[@joelkulesha8284]

Oh this is fun! I'd like to see one of these videos every so often! Thank you for always sharing knowledge without gatekeeping!

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@sethwaltz8077]

I appreciate you providing all the info you do. I’ve learned a lot. Most people don’t get to work big venues like you do so they can’t even try some of it. I love techniques based on oddly applied acoustics.

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@joelmathejojo]

I tried applying this the first the i saw a video from Dave about it and it worked. I’m from a small church and I tried the method of doing different Eq on each speaker rig and I absolutely heard a difference, there was absolute clarity and less comb filtering …..so yeah…….the man knows what he’s talking about

[@DaveRat]

I love this. The experimenting and also that info may be of use

[@fr.rustymatheny7707]

Well stated and- true. We played with this in the studio back in the late 70's through the 80"s and still do at time- multiple mics , phase, distance, then combined /panned in mix. I started playing with it live in the late 80's . Muiltiple mics /phase control also helpful in monitor world ( Kick , Git etc.) Never tried delay though, but im going to!!

[@anthonyg44332]

Hi, Dave rat. I started watching your KZbin videos lately and you give a lot of show and tell with professional audio equipment. I'm a self taught audio engineer and producer. I certainly admire your work and enthusiasm. Keep up the good work on your videos would love to see more. Sincerely. Anthony Gloria

[@DaveRat]

Thank you Anthony!

[@dtroutmann]

They just wanted to say thanks for always keeping things for him explaining things in a simple way honestly if someone can't understand what you're saying it's cuz they're not listening

[@matheusmoraesm]

Yours contributions are huge to the sound community, thanks for all

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍

[@delsurmusic]

Dave you put so much information I can not catch up!!!, thank you very much!!. I have a quick question for you . Does the system have to be stereo or the same principles would apply if the system is mono? . Thank you much!!.

[@DaveRat]

With a mono system and only one speaker, you have no choice, with mono and left and right speakers, step one is to go stereo

[@andrewhowie6646]

The credible information is so elusive on these social spaces, your authenticity speaks in spades. I have so much to learn from people like you. Please don't waste your time with justifying yourself as we people who are hungry for your knowledge will lose some of your valuable time... will continue to shout your praise to whoever will listen!!

[@DaveRat]

I will use the friction as inspiration to offer even more useful info. Some people have trouble expressing their misunderstandings and let fears and adversarial statements instead. Also, letting mis information run amuck is not optimal.

[@andrewhowie6646]

@@DaveRat One thing I hooked on was the way you boiled down the technical to "our experience"... not an "empirical fact" offered up as the standard from a book. Being neurodiverse (whatevere that is) I believe your way of passing on highly technical and useful information from "your experience" is so very valuable... Can I work with you in some way?

[@DaveRat]

Cool cool Andrew. I pretty much work in non linear disorganized fits and starts. Find a project and binge.

[@covenantsound6774]

This was absolutely spectacular. Thanks Dave for taking the time to create video content that teaches and inspires learning. You rock sir.

[@DaveRat]

🤙👍🤙

[@calmartine9709]

Dave, I love that you’ve put all this knowledge out there. I’ll be going to school for sound design in a couple weeks, and being able to see and learn from people like you is tremendously helpful. 🤙🤙

[@DaveRat]

Awesome and hopefully the teachers remember to have fun are not too set in their ways.

[@FONFBand]

Honestly, your videos are by far, the best presentations of practical audio theory when it comes to live sound. Thank you for your work and diligence to offer clear, understandable and practical solutions to the problems faCED BY everyone who makes music.

[@DaveRat]

👍🤙👍 thank you

[@jackdeidolci]

I'm an absolute amateur and was immediately fascinated about the idea...Such a simple way to reduce standing waves and avoid some nodes.

[@DaveRat]

👍👍👍

[@tylerkeeton17]

Just want to take a sec and say thanks for all the time and effort you put into providing content. Always love to see what you come out with next!

[@DaveRat]

🔧👍🔧

[@gcam474]

Great stuff. Thanks. I used to use a couple of Roland VP70 returns in unison on various signals, even subs. Results were a spatial expansion to die for sometimes. Though I wasn’t exactly thinking in terms of de-correlation back then, seems like some.of the positive results could have been due to a pseudo de-correlation. Old 16 bit gear but it’s what we had.

[@DaveRat]

🤙🤙🤙

[@SoundSpeeds]

You philosophy on teaching is the same as mine. I don't claim to know everything but do believe in presenting real info demonstrated by real world testing. It's also great when someone catches one of our videos pointing out an outlier then assumes we're championing info. We pros love you Dave!

[@DaveRat]

So cool and thank you sound speeds!