Jessie Hoggett Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 The other day my other half asked me 'why do you have to have so many knobs on a desk?' My stock response was that it shows how important you are, but on the off chance he might prefer a sensible answer, I thought you might enjoy the challenge of explaining in sound-for-dummies terminology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James C Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 It's a test of Darwinian theory - to see if, over time, sound engineers adapt to their environment by growing extra fingers to operate the desk with. Those that do, keep their jobs and therefore survive. Those that don't, lose their jobs and starve. It's just like Cabbage-White Butterflies. With knobs on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 Not sure I understand the question - they all do something, so you need them all.... I guess the overall answer is that you need instantly acessible control over a large number of variables. Which are then repeated for each channel. Menus and things aren't the ideal solution. (Prepares to be shot down by a digital enthusiast...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 they all do something, so you need them all.... Does this include the infamous DFA knob? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Need Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 It's surely a little the same as asking "why does a piano have so many keys"? You may not use them all everytime you sit down to play - but they are THERE if you need them!! :** laughs out loud **: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 DFA knob is the most important of them all.......it's the one the engineer uses most during the show! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Foster Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 My stock response was that it shows how important you are True I get a little 1/2 a channel desk but when the real technicians come they have nice big desks that I don't get to play with :** laughs out loud **: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Of course the best way to answer the original question is to get the member of the public to watch you take a cue - particularly if this SFX cue has associated desk automation and LX triggers. The look on someone's face when all the faders on the sound desk start moving by themselves... :** laughs out loud **: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark b Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 [the more nobs you have the more important you are.]This responce always makes the vidiots angry as they seem to have fewer nobs and buttons an fewer vu's than me. They do have fewer controls than the Lampies though, but do have more monitors. (sort of makes em feel better). Recentley started playing with smaart live. looks dead flash running nicley on a laptop sat on a well populated play back rack. :** laughs out loud **: Got some big shows going out soon will send a photo in. maybe we could start a competition. most complex FOH position wins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Surely it's the ratio of controls to audience members that's the winner? Anyone can have a lot of kit in Wembley Arena... So - I'll post later a pic of "the Submarine" a tiny little room into which we crammed: 24 channel A&H GL3Full FOH and Monitor RackStrand 4304xpreview monitor2 video switchersVision mixerVideo projector (for on-wall show monitor) (we'd run out of monitors - there were 12-odd on the set.) All for about 40 audience members. Picture to follow when I get home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Apologies for the pics, dial-up peasants... http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/240095/Image(47).jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/240095/Image(45).jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Nice :** laughs out loud **: I love the in vision monitoring infront of the 430... Nokia camera phone I presume? Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Foster Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Bet it was nice and warm in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Bet it was nice and warm in there And rather...fragrant...with 3 ops in there. Lucky old me was calling the show from another room (ie- the room with the show in it...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 This responce always makes the vidiots angry as they seem to have fewer nobs and buttons an fewer vu's than me. Hmm - depends on the video rig - I mean most video knobs are all hidden but when you are in the analog domain with tbc's on every source and eq on each da then you end with a huge number... But it should realy be set and leave though... Is video this decade's sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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