darkandrew Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) I'm sitting in a park where they are currently setting up for a mini-festival and just noticed that they appear to be playing Tears for Fears' Songs from the Big Chair through the PA to check it. This reminded me of an interview that I saw on MTV once with Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy) where he mentioned that they used to play Talk Talk's Colour of Spring through the PA for this purpose, and wondered what songs / albums other people have used as a reference either while setting up for a live show or mixing in the studio? Edited August 28, 2020 by darkandrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Hell freezes over version of Hotel California. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 The 'Toy Matinee' album - incredible production & sonic bliss Steely Dan - Aja. As above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 I used "Fragments of Time" from Daft Punk's Random Access Memories for a while. Then I realised that album is so fantastically well recorded and produced you can play it on a phone in a bucket and it sounds awesome. So no use at all for test and diagnostics! So I went back to my mix CD of selected bits from Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn, Queen's The Works, Madonna's Music, and Bat out of Hell. Stuff I know that covers all the bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 When I was working, this was my 'go to' sound check - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 49 minutes ago, cetera said: The 'Toy Matinee' album - incredible production & sonic bliss Steely Dan - Aja. As above. Have to agree with Aja but would add most of Sade's Diamond Life album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 5 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said: Have to agree with Aja but would add most of Sade's Diamond Life album. That's so you can gaze at the cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 36 minutes ago, Richard R said: I used "Fragments of Time" from Daft Punk's Random Access Memories for a while. Then I realised that album is so fantastically well recorded and produced you can play it on a phone in a bucket and it sounds awesome. So no use at all for test and diagnostics! So I went back to my mix CD of selected bits from Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn, Queen's The Works, Madonna's Music, and Bat out of Hell. Stuff I know that covers all the bases. I've found Madonna's Greatest Hits useful. It takes a well balanced system to get the voice right and you should be able to differentiate clearly between the different bass instruments used on the different tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 My band does not currently do this...... but sounds like it could be a good idea! I'll be watching the thread with interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 5 minutes ago, Steve Browning said: That's so you can gaze at the cover. Busted 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Tears for fears mentioned: Oleta Adams - Circle of one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTimesBass Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 1 hour ago, EBS_freak said: Hell freezes over version of Hotel California. +1 for this. Plus: Steely Dan - Everything Must Go John Martyn's cover of Glory Box James Taylor - Line 'Em Up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsampson Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 For PA setup, Tower of Power's "Direct Plus" album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 For a long time everyone always seemed to use 'The Nightfly' album by Donald Fagen. Although this only partly explains why I find it so painful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Peter Gabriel - So Leftfield - Leftism Leftfield - Rhythm and Stealth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 11 minutes ago, casapete said: For a long time everyone always seemed to use 'The Nightfly' album by Donald Fagen. Although this only partly explains why I find it so painful... It was used because it was well recorded. IGY in particular was a favourite of hi-fi shops because it made the gear sound good. Hell Freezes Over was another hi-fi shop favourite a decade later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 5 hours ago, stevie said: It was used because it was well recorded. IGY in particular was a favourite of hi-fi shops because it made the gear sound good. Hell Freezes Over was another hi-fi shop favourite a decade later. And Trans-Island Skyway. There was a phase where Eric Clapton Unplugged was going its bit selling hifi and surround set ups... and one of the live Pete Gabriel DVDs (forget which one) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankai Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Showing my (younger) age, I use Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World for PA setups when I’m engineering. At first glance, it may seem an odd choice but for modern rock gigs it’s a very well mixed/mastered single that’ll test things just right. Plus, having now heard it through so many different systems I can hear very quickly if something is wrong or absent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 5 hours ago, Bankai said: Plus, having now heard it through so many different systems I can hear very quickly if something is wrong or absent. The key deciding factor. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 September by Earth Wind and Fire. Nice build up of highs, miss then pumping lows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 The Rising by Bruce Springsteen, a wonderfully mixed and balanced song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Pull Me Under by Dream Theater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 So it doesn't seem like people are choosing the music to match their band's own genre or sound......... is that right? Or are some of you doing it with music which roughly matches your sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 3 minutes ago, Nail Soup said: So it doesn't seem like people are choosing the music to match their band's own genre or sound......... is that right? Or are some of you doing it with music which roughly matches your sound? The idea is to have a track that covers the whole spectrum mof frequencies/dynamics. However I would not use a Metal track at a Reggae gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 17 hours ago, casapete said: For a long time everyone always seemed to use 'The Nightfly' album by Donald Fagen. Although this only partly explains why I find it so painful... Nightfly is good - well recorded with variety of textures. May not do the job if you don't like the Dan. Speaking of which, I like to use FM, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.