Sound Reinforcement

Thanks for the nomination. I will work hard to do what’s best for the organization and its sound reinforcement needs. For a resume, I’ve been mixing sound professionally since 1976, working then for the Lakeland Community Concerts series that used the auditorium at Dover High School. In that first season the bookings included Dizzy Gillespie, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, The King Family, ballets and opera. In the 1980s I was a working bass player and a partner in a sound equipment rental company, while interning and recording at the House of Music studio in West Orange. The music and sound work took a back seat to a photography / writing / railroad career path, but somehow music has come full circle in the 2000s. In addition to being a Minstrel volunteer, since 2007 I’ve been the producer and technical director at The Sanctuary Concerts dealing with all of the technical needs of more than 20 touring acts and openers each season.

The sound reinforcement committee in 2013 thus far includes:

Mike Agranoff

Greg More

Larry Flannigan

There will be additions throughout the year as the committee gets more organized and its members take on roles.

Goal summary for 2013

To modestly upgrade the Folk Project sound systems (Minstrel, Festival, Swing ‘n Tern).

To maintain and evaluate the equipment in the Folk Project collection.

To recruite and train additional sound techs.

To arrange workshops to enlighten both performers and listeners on the use of sound reinforcement.

To work with MUUF on sound and acoustic improvements to The Minstrel’s stage.

To work with the Festival committee on its sound needs.

To work with the Board and Budget committees on funding issues relating to sound needs.

News and dates of the workshops will be announced when ready. Some newer and upgraded equipment is already in the works, some of which will be detailed once budgetary considerations are known.

The Sanctuary Concerts is upgrading its sound system. Its retired Mix-Wizard console has more features than the current Minstrel Mix-Wizard system. The Sanctuary will give that console to The Folk Project, allowing the current Minstrel board to be a spare for either series should it be needed.

Exciting sound news at MUUF, involving The Folk Project

The Unitarian Fellowship has invited The Folk Project to participate in discussions about improvements it wishes to make to its Sanctuary where The Minstrel holds its shows. During the past two years a MUUF committee has been evaluating the Mansion and looking at other locations for the future of its congregation. In the past few months that committee recommended that MUUF keep the mansion and to improve it. Many scenarios had been discussed, including one that would have built a new Sanctuary and demolished the current one. It’s certain that MUUF would prefer to improve the current Sanctuary rather than to build a new one.

On December 9^th a first meeting was held at MUUF. Attending from the Folk Project were Mike Agranoff, Kevin Redden (2012 Sound Chair) and myself. Representing MUUF was Ed Ng and Gabor Kiss, who Horses… volunteers know as a volunteer there. As future meetings are held, additional Folk Project people may be asked to participate as needed.

The discussion was productive. MUUF realizes that acoustic and technical improvements to the room will help both organizations, MUUF expressing some of the technical difficulties it has with its own services and events. MUUF was receptive to every Folk Project suggestion, which included:

Acoustic curtains behind the altar

Permanent speakers (a digital line-array system that would act as a valence ahead of the flood lights)

Permanent snake and mix console installations.

Among the changes its own people suggested (previous to the meeting) was to raise the lowest portion of the floor to the level of the first step. This will permit more seating at one level and reduce some handicap issues. The framework for this new floor will provide a conduit for the stage snake and amplifier lines. MUUF may want to add cabling for its own needs, such as video. Both groups one day may wish to webcast events, which will also need to be considered in the design. MUUF also expressed an interest in permanent theatrical lighting, which would also help Minstrel performances by eliminating the nose and chin shadows on the performers

MUUF is looking for a decision from its Board about raising the floor within about six months, as well as its feelings about the improvements in general. It has some skilled labor among its ranks that it plans to enlist for the floor construction. Folk Project members are welcome to help.

It is understood by both groups that with this permanent installation that the mixing console will be shared, and possibly the microphones. The MUUF microphone collection is of quality and quantity similar to that of The Minstrel, with some wireless capability that could be useful.

What’s needed from the Folk Project Board on the MUUF improvements:

Does the Board support such involvement?

Is the Board willing to finance a portion of the improvements?

Is the Board willing to finance the improvements outright, or would it prefer a fund drive and grant writing?

MUUF understands that The Folk Project is willing to contribute to the work in which it is interested. The split between the groups has yet to be determined, though 50/50 did come up as a starting point. Certainly, Folk Project participation with MUUF will help the relationship greatly, further cementing our home there. It is a great venue, one of the best in the folk world.

Remember, however, that The Folk Project does not own the building. Our financial participation should include some form of guarantee or contract that will keep us at that location for a term we feel is worth the amount of money we contributed. In other words, it’s good business to make sure that after we shell out ~$10k that some other difference of opinion has us removed from the facility without the ~$10k in benefits. In addition, the ~$10k improvements also improves the value of the space for other rentals from which The Folk Project may not benefit. Again, business considerations.

I've invited Jimmy Ferrante of Stirling Audio to meet with us at MUUF at a future date to provide an estimate; Stirling is one of the largest sound reinforcement companies in New Jersey. They rent and sell acoustic curtains.

The acoustic improvements to MUUF will make a world of difference to the ears of the customers who come to hear live music, and to the performers on that stage. The octagon shape of that room has inherent pockets where resonant frequencies gather, the worst of which is on the altar. Sound waves from the musicians and the monitor speakers gather between those two 40-degree angles and the back wall. The microphones hear that, combined with the sound from the monitor speakers bouncing off of that back wall into the audience giving many mixes a "plastic" or "chamber" sound. The item we want most out of these discussions are the acoustic curtains behind the altar. These will absorb and disperse the stage sounds allowing the Front of House speakers to properly complement the performers.