Tech Rider - The Creaking Tree String Quartet

The Creaking Tree String Quartet: Tech Info
e-mail: mail@creakingtree.com phone: brian: 416-456-3425
front of stage
1 x ATM-35
Audio Technica
Clip-on Condenser
Provided by band
requires phantom
Bass Amp
with built in DI
Aguilar AG500SC
provided by band
or house amp
2 x km184
Neumann
XY Condensers
Provided by band
require phantom
5 x XLR cables and
1 x mic stand with
boom to be provided
by venue
DI for IBeam
Guitar pickup
DI Must be
provided by venue
The CTSQ plays instrumental music. Andrew plays mandolin and mandola, Brad plays acoustic guitar, Brian plays
upright and electric bass, and John plays violin.
We use the Centre stage mics (Km184's) to pick up the mandolin, fiddle and guitar. We'll also use these mics for any
speaking between songs. We use a clip on condenser mic on the upright bass and have a guitar DI to help the guitar's
rhythm when he is off of the main mics. We generally use no monitors, and just a hair of reverb on the mains.
We realize the challenges invovled with micing an acoustic group in a live situation. This set up has been helpful in getting
the volume up while limiting feedback and allow us to easily control our dynamics.
Soundcheck:
To limit confusion in soundcheck, we've come up with an order of operations that will quickly address any feedback
issues. Since the guitar is the most difficult of our instruments to mic, we like to start with getting a good guitar sound
out of the main mics. It will probably take a minute or two to keep the low mids from feeding back, without the guitar
sounding too bright, but if we can get the guitar good and loud, there will be no trouble in hearing the mandolin or fiddle.
Once the guitar sounds good, we'll quickly check to make sure that the mandolin and/or fiddle don't sound to bright and
harsh. Sometimes we need to compromise just a bit to ensure that the mando and fiddle don't make people's ears bleed.
We'll then check the upright bass. While getting the upright bass sound, please leave on the main mics so that we can
address any low end feedback that may happen with the mains. We'll get a good balanced sound with him playing pizz
first and then he'll play with the bow to make sure that it's not too bright.
After the bass we move to the guitar DI. The pickup on the guitar is used mainly to boost him while he is off the microphone. Therefore, he will play off the microphone until you've got sound.
At this point we will play a song all together and take turns taking short solos to make sure everything is audible and everyone is happy.
Thanks!