Setting Up My System Tuning Rig From Scratch In The Field

[@musicschoolfactoryceo]

I am a Nigerian and I have been really looking for how to learn about tuning a room. Your channel pops up in my feed and I have been stuck on it 😃 Already saving up money to purchase our course. Because I don't understand a lot of things yet. Hope when I purchase the course😊, I will understand 😉

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks for learning!

[@JonAnderhub]

Good stuff! Now everybody wants to know mic placement, and more importantly, what to do if things aren't right.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

It's coming, don't worry!

[@imdomtrotta]

Amazing work as always Michael! I have suggested your course to a couple of friends, I think that they will love it! I think at some point I will do it as well, to get another point of view and maybe learn something new. Be able to to see how others approch this, it's always amazing.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you so much!

[@gurudattabeura6738]

Please make second part.mic placement how to tune.time alinement.eq

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

It's coming!

[@jjjj9481]

Yessssss we need this video

[@itownmusicians]

Have you dropped it yet?

[@viktorzacik8988]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio I see that your coherence is set 0% or close to. How you deal with non "perfect" data?

[@4-11Sound]

Could you kindly make a video expalining how to use the EVO8 with SMAART? Specifically how to route all signals inside the EVO software, including the loopback feature. I have the EVO8 but can't use it for SMAART due to some type of user error regarding signal flow. Thanks! Love the videos!

[@peternelson4630]

If you look at the video he did about getting a system for a small concert, DJ, or mobile church service, he covers it in a bit there. A good start anyway!

[@DavidH2154]

Great video, really helpful. I was overthinking the colour coding for the mics. Was trying to find tape in a sequence of the resistor colour code, but GOPY works! One thing I didn’t hear you mention is to do the channel setup on the mixer before plugging in the OSC connection. At least check the phantom power is off. Not sure how tolerant the EVO8 is of phantom into its outputs.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

That's a great point about phantom power! I'm almost positive the EVO 8 outputs have DC blocking, but not all interfaces do.

[@christianskovengaard9909]

Is there a part 2 to this great video? Thanks

[@caseyroberts285]

Always enjoy your videos. It was awesome getting to work with you, and learn few things too.

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome, Casey!

[@libertychurchlive]

We are basically using this same setup for spl monitoring on Sunday mornings. How would you calibrate the gain on the mic so that is correct? We do have a mic calibrator but it always seems to be way Hotter than actual sound levels. Thank you for all your hard work. Loving all these videos!

[@ruslanbatkovich]

hi. please tell us more about setting up the reference signal. I have the same audio interface. thanks

[@renaldodavis7372]

Thanks Michael for sharing!

[@michael_b_drumming4856]

Love your videos! Question, do you have to calibrate your RTA every time you open smaart? Maybe you could do a video showing how you setup smaart rig and calibrate everything.

[@DaViDlEe93]

love this! excited for this series!

[@kevinwillis6291]

Always informative- thank you Michael!

[@micahsaldivar]

This information is so helpful! Question, do you recommend using something like Waves “Tract”? And if so, would you be willing to do a tutorial on it?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You're very welcome! I personally haven't used Waves TRACT yet, but am hoping to get a copy and try it out soon. The EQ within the plugin itself in and of itself is just fine, but the most common error when using the TRACT plugin is folks not carefully WHERE to put the mic for measurement data, as well as having a systematic workflow to work through different speaker zones.

[@micahsaldivar]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio I appreciate the response!!!

[@ZeeykRS]

really love these breakdowns

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thank you!

[@mez9518]

Nice video Michael! Waiting for a next lesson. In the second section you said that EQ is the last part of the process. But we should tune speakers timbre (EQ it) first, then align it, cause EQ-ing means (little but still) phase shift. Does it make sense?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Yes, that makes sense. You're right that EQ for each subsystem precedes alignment, but I almost always add some broad tonal shaping EQ to the rig once I'm hearing all PA elements at once.

[@michaelmayr5084]

Hey! Is there a reason, why you're not using the build in signal generator of the CL3? Loved the video!

[@jedi774]

I may be mistaken, but I believe it so that the software knows the source signal and can compare the source signal to the measured signal... if you used the generator from the console, the software would only be able to measure the signal in the room, but not compare that measured signal to the original to determine where it shifts.

[@donnycollins1797]

Dude! This is AMAZING!

[@gomerfranco3511]

Hi man,i've always enjoyed your videos,and your audio calculators are a really great help..just curious,what are the lenghts of your mic cables?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks, Gomer! They're 100ft cables. I also carry four 25ft extensions.

[@Roberorozco2003]

Hi Michael! Great and helpful video like always! Question; how do you send signal from your console back to smaart? Because you’re sending the pink noise to a channel in the console right? and need to send that noise back to smaart for reference right? How do you do it? Through a matrix? An aux? I,ve seen some videos where they loop back just in the audio interface and some others do the loop back for reference from the console! I hope you can guide me on this! Thank you!

[@danielafanuitanjeck6294]

good one...

[@JamesArthurHurley]

Can’t tell you how frustrating it is to get my rig setup while handling FOH setup, stage patch, wireless coordination, etc in the couple hours before rehearsal downbeat. Currently working on a way to make it way more efficient

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Yes, it's tough getting everything show ready in a hurry.

[@ngochai9658]

Hello sir. I see at minute 10:10 . you use analog loop back on Evo 8 and smaart suite. Can you give instructions on how to use it for other devices? I'm using Apogee duet 2 and smaart v8, that product of mine has 2 inputs and I also want to use those 2 inputs like your video. I look forward to your reply. Thank you

[@hrmny_]

was hoping this would include mic positioning

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

It's to come, don't worry.

[@hrmny_]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio nice, looking forward to it

[@jacinthpaul6629]

Really a good content

[@MichaelNatrin]

Great info!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Thanks!

[@douglasgrimm4173]

Hey Michael, great series of videos, I currently have the same setup as you, except with TM1 mics. Smaart works as it should on PC, however on my 2020 Mac Air, I can’t get any input to Smaart, RTA doesn’t show anything on any input. EVO mixer shows that my routing is correct. What am I missing, care to share your settings? Thanks

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Hey, Douglas. I've had the same issue with my EVO 8 rig with my 2020 MacBook Air as well. I usually end up having to unplug the interface, restart MacBook, log in, then reconnect the EVO 8, start up the EVO 8 Mixer software, THEN launch Smaart, all in that order. Give that a try.

[@douglasgrimm4173]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio mine was permission related to microphone for Smaart in privacy, Rational got me straight, now if I could get the iSEMcon mics, there’s no ETA per Rational Acoustics

[@curly_]

Hey Michael yre you using Waves Tract and if yes is it possible you dio a short rundown, videos about that are really rare and all of them show actually nothing

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

That's a good thought. I'll see if I can use it on an upcoming gig.

[@3danR]

What a cliffhanger!

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

More to come!

[@grayancyagra5334]

Is also possible to use The DBX driverRack PA2 and get the same result ?

[@phutran2006]

Hi, when doing the target trace for multiple matrix line, do you do each matrix line at a time? For example, my left and right running matrix 1&2, my mid fill running matrix3, if i do trace target for my left and right, then when i turn on my mid fill the trace target for L&R will be affected. Do you suggest to turn mid fill on while doing trace target for my L&R? If i turn mid fill on when doing trace target for L&R then when doing trace target for mid fill it will affect my previous setting for the L&R right. Can you please suggest what can i do for this case. Thanks in advance.

[@kennethcullens5036]

Not sure why I’m having trouble understanding the reason to loop back the reference noise… what am I missing by thinking you can just turn on pink noise and do your measurements? Where does the reference loop come into play? Thanks!

[@Roberorozco2003]

The way I understand it is that if smaart don’t have a reference signal, in this case the loop back, how is going to know the difference between a good flat frequency response and the frequency response coming fro your sound system? (Which for sure won’t be flat) the loop back is to tell smaart: here! This is pink noise, it has a flat frequency response (the goal), I want you to compare this signal with mine (the mic capturing the pink noise coming from your sound system) and show me the difference between the two, so I can try to match them through EQ… like I said, in the end the goal is a flat frequency as possible (or target curve of your choice) according to the room. I hope this help, and I hope you don’t mind me commenting… I was just going through the comments sections looking for answers too!

[@kevinwang7894]

Hi! You mentioned wireless, would it be a bad idea to use a wireless system for reference mics?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

As long as the system is LTI - linear and time invariant. Even nice stuff like Shure Axient has some amount of variance in the timing of how the signal is transmitted, so isn't suitable for tuning (although it's plenty great for wireless vocals and such). I'd like into the Lectrosonics TM400.

[@daveadu3563]

Hi Audio University, I have a question. Most of the time in live sound applications, the speakers sound distorted when the full band is playing. (Keys aren't hearable, bass sounds muddy, drums isn't clear) Do you know what causes this? When I test them alone it's fine and it sounds good. I also checked the amplifier and it's not clipping at all. My gain level on the digital mixer is always -18dbfs.

[@VIbraasa]

When you mesure your system PA Did you dou it with your mic on axe 0° or more like out axe 30° ?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I always start with the microphone directly ONAX with Main L or R (assuming it's a left/right setup).

[@ngochai9658]

Hello. Can you guide me through a quick shortcut to hide all information at time 9:25 in the video? I thank you

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

On a Mac it's (Shift + Command + H)

[@ngochai9658]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio thank you 🫶🏻

[@galaniz10]

hey quick question... I've seen your videos and i've tried to follow your instructions to tune a PA. I use a UA Arrow and i usually cant get the same results you get, should i buy a focusrite?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

Hey, Gabriel. You should be able to get great results with the UA Arrow. Have you measured a speaker in the near field and gone through each part of your signal chain just to make sure you're getting accurate data?

[@galaniz10]

@@MichaelCurtisAudio hey i see you usually answer to most of your comments thanks🙏 and yes i usually get as far as calibrating the mic and after that i can't get the right readings but i will try again and see if i can troubleshoot.

[@timeltdme4355]

keep in mind, this interface is quite noisy, but probably not a problem for this application

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

I’m not sure what your personal experience has been with it, but it’s been quiet as a mouse for me, even in studio applications.

[@broadcastedtube]

Thing are going down if the Pelican aint open at the beginning. 😀

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

You know it : )

[@jesusabrahamrengifosilva1343]

Where are you? is it your church?

[@MichaelCurtisAudio]

At Grace Point Church. It's not my home church, but I have several friends that their either work or attend Grace Point.