Tuning In with Michael Curtis Michael Curtis

Getting crystal clear dialog in a live environment is notoriously hard (not to mention getting it right on broadcast and records as well).

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We search for the perfect balance between intelligibility, stability, and naturalness. Sometimes with minimal work we have headroom for days, while others we paint ourselves into a corner with filter after filter and hang on the edge of feedback the entire show.

Should we err on the side of “less is more” or hack away clinging to the mantra “if it sounds good it is good”? Will the phase gremlins cause my console to spontaneously combust if I use too much EQ?

Today we can find some middle ground in a three part method I’ve been using for almost a decade in high pressure corporate environments like Fortune 500 earnings broadcasts, presidential campaign announcements, and the Capitol Building proceedings.

We’ll learn:

- Why phase isn’t nearly as scary as you think- Where you should use EQ first (and it’s not on your channel strip)- What starting point EQ settings I use on every dialog channel

⚒️ Get over 20 free audio tools: https://www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - https://www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop

🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi

💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - https://www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme

🔊 Subwoofer Videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX

“How can I find a spouse?” - BAD QUESTION

“How can I make myself the most dateable person ever?” - Better Question : )

We can draw the same analogy in the question, “How can I get better gigs?” How about a better question - “How can I make myself the *best* engineer for the gig?”

I’ve distilled the top characteristics of the very best in the field down to three core characteristics.

Do you have them?

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⚒️ Get over 20 free audio tools: https://www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - https://www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop

🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi

💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - https://www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme

🔊 Subwoofer Videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX

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This is the exact 90 game plan I would hand to any new live audio engineer starting in the industry. It’s not near as scary as you think.

I posted this poll last week and the results disheartened me:

Out of almost 500 votes 60% of you wonderful people doubt you could make a reasonable living in the live event industry!

You might be telling yourself:

1. There’s not enough gigs to go around where I live2. I’m simply not talented or skilled enough to get enough gigs3. The market is oversaturated4. I’ll probably screw up and lose all my opportunities5. How could I possibly “jump” from this nice, stable job to such a volatile industry?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

No matter if you’re fresh out of high school or nearing retirement I want to tell that *there’s room for you. The industry desperately needs more talented, generous, and dependable engineers.

To be clear, I’m not asking you to do anything drastic. In fact, I want you to do the opposite.

Don’t jump, take one small step. Then another. Then another.

Today I want to share with step-by-step a 90 day experiment you can run to move towards the freedom and opportunity you’re craving with a live audio freelance career. To be fair, there’s plenty of upsides working for an employer, but if you’ve been wanting to test the freelance waters, here’s your chance.

We’ll cover:

- How to creatively assess your local and national gig opportunities and start generating income fast (there’s more out there than you think)- Why you should start small and build up momentum vs taking a giant leap of faith (but- How to keep your business lean so you’re not sweating about making ends meet- What new business bank accounts you should open and exactly how to manage the money you bring

⚒️ Get over 20 free audio tools: https://www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - https://www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop

🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi

💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - https://www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme

🔊 Subwoofer Videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX

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It’s hard to think of a worse feeling than knowing the value of what you’ve purchased doesn’t live up to the dollars you traded for it.

Most of us simply want a quality, reliable, and pleasing sounding set of speakers that get the job we’re asking them to do done well. That job may be your Kindergartner’s school play, your weekend warrior country band, or a packed out arena.

We’re bombarded in all directions with sly marketing promises and pseudoscience - how can we sift through the noise and make decisions using pertinent, foundational metrics?

Today I unpack 10 key categories that help you make informed, conscientoius decisions when selecting the right speaker for *your* gig (regardless of budget).

We’ll cover:

1. What speaker specs and features *actually* matter?2. Do expensive speakers really sound better?3. How do I know this product will serve me and my clients well?

🔗 Links:

🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - https://www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop

⚒️ Audio Toolkit - https://www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi

💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - https://www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme

🔊 Subwoofer Videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX

In this episode we walk through seven key things that change as you move throughout your audience and how to listen and evaluate them.

►► Ask a question for future podcasts: https://www.producedbymkc.com/question

⚒️ Get over 20 free audio tools: https://www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit

🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - https://www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop

🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi

💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - https://www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme

🔊 Subwoofer Videos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX