Something reminded me of a past memory tonight. I suddenly recalled the times when I was a kid where I would go on holidays for over a week to stay with my grandparents or other relatives and when I got home my house would seem strange, odd and a little bit out of place. It's like I suddenly forgot about my home while I was away on holidays and got used to the place I stayed at for the week or so. It's understandable if it were for prolonged stretches but one week and I forget my home?

It's a strange feeling. The older I got, the less it happened though. I suppose my memory developed as I grew older?

Did anyone ever feel that way?

Labels: Childhood

Over the past few years, although digital desks have become more readily available in gig venues, analogue desks still dominate the market. I mean, if the existing ones are still working, why change them?

New venues that get built will go for digital desks while they are at it but for these more established venues that have been around for a while, analogue was the way to go.

After all, these are great venues with well treated rooms and great analogue desks. There's nothing wrong with them. In fact, they're brilliant.

Welcome to The East Brunswick Club. Midas Verona desk. 40 channels of goodness.

I was still pretty sick when I was mixing this show but I must say, it was one of the best sounding shows I've mixed thanks to the high quality acts and extra effort to compensate for the sickness.

The PA in here is powerful and it made mixing really fulfiling. The best part is the staff here are so friendly. Had a blast. Can't wait to get back in there to mix Wakefield Festival.

Labels: Mixing, The East Brunswick Club

I had the awesome privilege of hanging out with Stu Marks, Tonight Alive's FOH engineer at their recent show at The Hifi. It has been a long time since I've been able to hang out with a top engineer to watch him work and learn. And boy did I learn heaps!

Stu is one of the nicest dudes in the industry and he is not afraid of sharing his ideas and methods because he has so many tips and tricks, you won't be able to learn them all anyway.

As I was growing up, my dad kept telling me that there is no end to learning in life and he couldn't have been more accurate. I've been mixing bands for eight years now and I feel as though I still have so much to learn and apply in my mixing. The best is yet to come! Thanks heaps Stu!

Labels: Tonight Alive

The wife and I had the most expensive curry ever last night. $33 for two meat, two veggies, two pieces of papadom, a bit of chutney, chilli flakes, a coconut side and rice.

We should have turned back when we saw that it was a table cloth kinda place but we thought it wouldn't be that bad seeing we've been to another branch of theirs in the city and it was cheap.

The service was good. One of the waiters was really nice and the food was definitely delicious. The price tag came with the location and real estate I suppose, something that I wasn't willing to pay for, seeing that I come from Malaysia where curries are abundant and dirt cheap.

Labels: Foodie

9th February 2011
Mixed Engine Three Seven @ The Espy Gershwin Room

It was heaps fun mixing Engine Three Seven as they played a very rare acoustic set compared to their usual heavy rock set. But don't be fooled, the band delivered a high energy performance despite being an acoustic set. The stage was fully decked out with couches and they really got the vibe going. I didn't get a chance to take any photos as it was quite a fast paced night. The boys didn't get a sound check and during the line check before their set, I discovered that the two DI's provided were faulty and they needed four all up. I had my two, but we had to get two more off the front bar's. I did get off to quite a rough start, trying to get the show on the road but all in all, the set went on well and it sounded great, thanks to the awesome E37 crew and James "Audio Wizard" Anderson for being such great help. The Gershwin Room is such a sweet room to mix in. You can put an acoustic band or a metal band in there and they will still sound suitable for the room.

10th February 2011
Mixed Preston Perche and Aluka @ Paris Cat

The desk was tiny but it did the job for the night seeing that the venue was small. The only problem was it was placed in the most inconvenient location! Next to the stage, next to the drummer! The speakers weren't well placed either because they were behind the vocal mics. I suppose Paris Cat doesn't require loud levels and the crowd usually don't talk anyway because it is a jazz venue. I also reckon, jazz bands usually just balance themselves on stage, therefore having the desk right beside them would be the most convenient thing to do. The setup may work for jazz but it wasn't the best conditions for what we were doing tonight, but we got the job done anyway and everyone had a great time.

Aluka opened the night with their awesome A Capella performance and Preston Perche took on the stage next with a full bad this time, with Jonathan on bass and Steph on drums.

Although, I must admit, my neck was hurting by the end of the night because of the awkward position of the desk.


It was a sit down type show, as you can see. This was the view from where I was, if this would give you any indication where the desk was.

11th February 2011
Mixed The Violet Flames, The Happy Endings and The Run Run @ The Evelyn

Tonight was a night to remember. The Violet Flames played their last show ever as a band and they also launched their highly anticipated album. I must admit, I was truly sad that this was the last time that I would get to see them play live. It has been an awesome journey and privilege working with the boys. Loved every moment of it and I am glad I was a part of this night. Epic!


Going from the tiny desk at Paris Cat back to the Midas Verona at The Evelyn was a relief. This was back to "normal" rock band mixing conditions. Although, I would have loved the desk to be raised a little higher for comfort. Not complaining though.


The preamp knobs seem very sensitive tonight. I had to do a few more touches than usual to get them to the sweet spots, but it was okay. No big deal. Just an observation. All the gear was in good condition and I was a happy mixer.


My view from FOH


The boys rockin' out!


From L-R: Clinton Weaver, Yours Truly, Matt Crute, James Forest & Jackson Proud. Post gig photo. One for the road! Thanks for the memories boys! It was an epic night! What a way to end the week. RAWK!

Side notes: Having mixed on digital desks and analogue desks equally as much lately, I find that my DBX 266XL sounds more musical than the digital compressors/gates on a digital desk. I wonder if it is a preference thing. But I suppose having everything in one digital desk is more convenient than having to lug a stack of outboard gear.

Labels: Live Mixing, Mixing Diary