Technology
has really come a long way in the live music industry. It is becoming easier to perform tasks
that would normally take a large amount of effort and time. Custom settings can be saved and
recalled instantly instead of having to write down every knob position on
paper. A guitarist’s entire
collection of effects pedals can all be replaced with a single digital effects
rig. Recording music “in the box”,
or using recording software through a computer, can have the same quality as a
recording coming from a multimillion dollar studio. As a user of Line 6 products, I recently discovered their
products for live mixing and its effectiveness for independent performing
musicians.
Line
6’s StageScape M20d is revolutionizing the way live sound mixing can be done.
I wish I could have the opportunity to use this product; it can really
benefit DRIP, a performance art show that I currently play for. We only just completed our first year
of operations and we don't have a lot of extra funding; our sound equipment could use an upgrade. Our mixer actually sits on-stage with
the musicians and we do not have a dedicated front-of-house engineer. It’s very difficult to getting the
right sounds for the band when you have to go back and forth between listening
from the audience’s perspective, jumping on stage to tweak levels, and
adjusting your own monitor levels with the barebones crew we currently
have.
First
of all, having a digital mixer for our show would be an improvement
already. With only our analog mixer,
we do not have compressors or noise gates that can really enhance our
sound. The StageScape M20d not
only has a myriad of effects already built in, but it also allows remote use
through an iPad! With its target
audience focusing on the independent musicians with their own sound system, the
M20d makes the whole process of live mixing more convenient with its easy-to-use
interface and processing power. It
even has a display where you can have a visualization of the different sound
sources being utilized. Because of
this product, musicians can focus on getting their sound just right without
having to worry about twisting individual knobs or hiring their own engineer;
the StageScape M20d makes every aspect of live mixing streamlined and efficient. Just wish we could use it at our own show…although
it is getting close to Christmas.
