Have you ever been surprised by something you thought you didn't like?
And...
Then you spent some time with it and realized that it was interesting, unique, and even fun?
I'm laughing right now thinking of all the scenarios that sentiment applies to!
What I'm specifically referring to here is GEAR.
A lot of folks with a "technology mindset" have very strong opinions about the gear they love and hate, and why they feel that way...
And...
Then you spent some time with it and realized that it was interesting, unique, and even fun?
I'm laughing right now thinking of all the scenarios that sentiment applies to!
What I'm specifically referring to here is GEAR.
A lot of folks with a "technology mindset" have very strong opinions about the gear they love and hate, and why they feel that way...
Honestly, I've always tried to keep an open mind when it comes to the gear I use, why I use it, and if it's worth recommending to others.
A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to work with a mixing console that I hadn't spent much time with in the past.
It's a product that I've known about for years, but I've consistently dismissed it as a really great mixer for live sound.
Well, I spent some time with it. Four days to be exact.
And...
Well, I had to humbly change my opinion about this mixing console.
It actually worked quite well. And it had some cool features that surprised me.
But the thing that caused me to change my opinion about this mixer was seeing others interact with it and have their own "ah-ha" moment with live sound.
That speaks louder than any marketing hype, flashy video promo, or celebrity endorsement.
If a piece of gear can provide a novice sound tech with an "I get this now!" moment, it has value.
OK, so you're probably wondering what mixing console I'm talking about.
Before I tell you...
The point is that it's not about the gear - it's about the experience.
If a piece of gear can help you experience live sound in a meaningful way, it is useful – not because it's an "XYZ widget from ABC company", but because it helps YOU deliver a REAL experience.
Alright. The mixer that changed my mind was... the PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2AI
There, I've said it.
That just hurt my tech pride a little bit. But self-satisfied pride always deserves to be hurt from time to time! :)
While the StudioLive might not be the best mixer for some churches, it can be the perfect solution for others. It just depends on who is using it, how they use it, and if it can help them deliver a higher quality audio experience.
The moral of the story: if you're considering new gear, be sure to keep an open mind and think about the experience the product helps deliver, not the product itself.
Do you have any gear that surprised you and changed your mind after using it?
One more thing: The "Great Gear for Great Sound" page just got some new products added this week. It's not a comprehensive list (that would be realllllly loooonnnnnnggggg), but it does feature some great gear that I've found useful for church sound.
You can find some of my recommendations for board tape, adapters, direct boxes, microphones, headphones, and even some mixing consoles (analog & digital).
A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to work with a mixing console that I hadn't spent much time with in the past.
It's a product that I've known about for years, but I've consistently dismissed it as a really great mixer for live sound.
Well, I spent some time with it. Four days to be exact.
And...
Well, I had to humbly change my opinion about this mixing console.
It actually worked quite well. And it had some cool features that surprised me.
But the thing that caused me to change my opinion about this mixer was seeing others interact with it and have their own "ah-ha" moment with live sound.
That speaks louder than any marketing hype, flashy video promo, or celebrity endorsement.
If a piece of gear can provide a novice sound tech with an "I get this now!" moment, it has value.
OK, so you're probably wondering what mixing console I'm talking about.
Before I tell you...
The point is that it's not about the gear - it's about the experience.
If a piece of gear can help you experience live sound in a meaningful way, it is useful – not because it's an "XYZ widget from ABC company", but because it helps YOU deliver a REAL experience.
Alright. The mixer that changed my mind was... the PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2AI
There, I've said it.
That just hurt my tech pride a little bit. But self-satisfied pride always deserves to be hurt from time to time! :)
While the StudioLive might not be the best mixer for some churches, it can be the perfect solution for others. It just depends on who is using it, how they use it, and if it can help them deliver a higher quality audio experience.
The moral of the story: if you're considering new gear, be sure to keep an open mind and think about the experience the product helps deliver, not the product itself.
Do you have any gear that surprised you and changed your mind after using it?
One more thing: The "Great Gear for Great Sound" page just got some new products added this week. It's not a comprehensive list (that would be realllllly loooonnnnnnggggg), but it does feature some great gear that I've found useful for church sound.
You can find some of my recommendations for board tape, adapters, direct boxes, microphones, headphones, and even some mixing consoles (analog & digital).
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