Last month, we had the opportunity to sponsor an event called “Band Together NOLA” for a virtual, live-streamed festival with more than 20 acts!
PJ Morton, Tank and the Bangas, Jon Cleary and more New Orleans’ musical heavy hitters played an online benefit festival to raise relief funds for the city’s musicians who have been out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, over $40,000 has been raised!
The Band Together virtual festival also featured Ivan Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Galactic’s Stanton Moore, Nigel Hall, Cupid, Dawn Richard, Water Seed, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Sean Ardoin, Flow Tribe, Glen David Andrews, Hasizzle, Shane Theriot, Elizabeth Lyons, Fermin Ceballo, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Kelly Love Jones, LeTrainiump, and Caren Green.
Our friend, Steve Himelfarb, was the engineer for six of the acts using a StudioLive 32 and Studio One Professional. We took some time to talk about his experience with the live stream and his career.
Our interview with Steve follows.
Tell us about Band Together NOLA. How did it come to be? What was your role?
New Orleans is known for its tourism, food, and of course live music. The pandemic has put much of that to a halt which has left musicians our of work. The Band Together Online Benefit Concert took place on April 25 and helped New Orleans musicians whose livelihoods have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am a part of multiple non-profits, and serving the community has always been something that I strive to do no matter where I live or what job I have. I was approached with the opportunity to participate with Lou Hill and Kermit Ruffins, it was a no-brainer. I was in!
Sounds like a huge undertaking. Did you know what you were getting into before you got started?
Yes and no. I had taken a break from the audio industry to focus on several other projects. Three years ago, my childhood friend, Tori Amos, had a show in New Orleans. From the stage, she says, “I’d like to thank the person responsible for me being here… Thank you Steve!” From that moment on, I knew I wanted to get back into recording and producing music and saying “Yes” to whatever opportunities came my way. Getting back into audio after a 20-year hiatus was like learning a whole new language that sounded familiar. Everything was the same but what changed was the technology. So, yes, it did seem like a huge undertaking but I was up and willing for the challenge.
We used a PreSonus StudioLive 32, multiple PX-1 mics and Studio One Professional, of course.
After watching the live stream, it looks like you recorded in multiple locations. How challenging was it recording in multiple locations?
We recorded six bands, all on the fly. Each band did a few songs, then we had a soundcheck for the next band all while doing our best to keep social distance guidelines. It was super hectic and everything was happening so fast. The onboard EQ and limiters on the 32 were AMAZING! We had no problem at all. This was very important and there was no room for a hiccup because everything was moving so fast. Once one band left, we had to wash down the stage and all the cables and mics to get ready for the next band to arrive. With the StudioLive 32, it was really a best-case scenario. Set up was easy, no distortion at all, the mixes sounded great.
What’s something you learned about live streaming?
With these harsh conditions and because everything is happening so fast, you have to be able to trust the gear you’re using. Be prepared, make sure the equipment is working, and use PreSonus.
What was the first 8 track, cassette, CD or digital download you purchased?
My first record was the first self-titled Kiss album in 1976. A few years later I got the first Van Halen album. I was around 8 or 9 years old and my parents scheduled a family vacation where we drove from Baton Rouge to Niagara Falls. I had a Sony Walkman back then. The only tape I had with me was Van Halen 1, and I listened to it for 42 hours straight (2,628 miles.)
Who’s your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?
MUTEMATH!
Everyone has a side gig, what’s yours?
I play with a funk band called Phat Hat.
Got any tips for working with the Rack Mixer/StageBox?
Spend some money and get an awesome wireless router. They are not that much money for a great one and you will be happy. Here’s a link to the one I use with my band.
But if we had the option, doing what we love at the beach is high on our wish list. Somehow that’s just what Cory Davis, with 30A company based in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, has figured out how to do in his work at 30A Radio.
30A is a highway along Florida’s gulf coast offering visitors more than just a beach vacation. Fine dining, prefect sandy beaches, weekend farmers markets, bike trails… you’re not going to want to leave. It’s also where the Truman Show was filmed. You may have seen a bright blue bumper sticker when driving around town–it looks like this:
Davis is the Director of Sales for The 30A Company advertising department, and programs and manages 30A Radio. Davis recently got his hands on one of our AR12 Mixers and we wanted to hear how it was treating him and improving his workflow.
Learn more about our StudioLive AR Hybrid Mixers here!
State | City | Dealer | Address | Zip | Phone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Birmingham | EatMyBeats | 4755 Jug Factory Road | 35404 | 205.758.9119 |
Alabama | Montgomery | Bailey Brothers Music Company | 231 East Jefferson | 36104 | 334.262.7827 |
Alabama | Birmingham | Bailey Brothers Music Company | 1006 20th Street South | 35205 | 205.714.7827 |
Arizona | Sedona | MIDI Store | 40 W. Cortez Dr #3 | 86351 | 928.284.1619 |
California | Sacramento | Skip’s Music | 2740 Auburn Blvd. | 95821 | 916.484.7575 |
California | Elk Grove | Skip’s Music | 9660 Elk Grove.Florin Rd | 95624 | 916.686.5666 |
California | San Diego | Pitbull Audio | 300 W. 28th Street Suite: 101 | 91950 | 619.434.3121 |
California | Santa Rosa | Bananas At Large | 531 College Ave | 95404 | 888.900.1959 |
California | San Rafael | Bananas At Large | 1504 4th Street | 94901 | 888.900.1959 |
Colorado | Colorado Springs | Pro Sound Music Center | 2235 Academy Place | 80909 | 866.539.2680 |
Florida | Panama City | Leitz Music | 508 Harrison Ave | 32401 | 850.769.0111 |
Florida | Fort Walton Beach | Leitz Music | 650 North Beal Parkway | 32547 | 850.863.1099 |
Florida | Jacksonville | George’s Music | 8151 Blanding Blvd. | 32244 | 904.270.2220 |
Florida | Jacksonville Beach | George’s Music | 912 S. 3rd Street | 32250 | 904.270.2220 |
Georgia | Augusta | Portman’s Music | 4020 Washington Rd | 30907 | 706.738.1651 |
Georgia | Savannah | Portman’s Music | 7650 Abercorn St. | 31406 | 912.354.1500 |
Hawaii | Honolulu | Easy Music Center | 1314 S King St | 96814 | 808.591.0999 |
Hawaii | Kapolei | Easy Music Center | 563 Farrington Hwy | 96814 | 808.356.3840 |
Illinois | Moline | West Music | 4305 44th Ave | 61265 | 309.764.9300 |
Indiana | Fort Wayne | Sweetwater | 5501 US Highway 30 W | 46818 | 800.222.4700 |
Iowa | Coralville | West Music | 1212 5th St. | 52241 | 319.351.2000 |
Iowa | Marion | West Music | 1398 Twixt Town Rd. | 52302 | 319.377.9100 |
Iowa | Cedar Falls | West Music | 6322 University Ave | 50613 | 319.277.1000 |
Iowa | Des Moines | Rieman Music Unlimited | 4420 E Broadway | 50317 | 515.262.0365 |
Iowa | Des Moines | UpTempo Music | 2114 Beaver Ave | 50310 | 515.277.0145 |
Iowa | Clinton | Tegeler Music | 101 S. 2nd St | 52732 | 563.242.1234 |
Maryland | Wheaton | Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center | 11151 Viers Mill Road | 20902 | 301.946.2300 |
Missouri | Lebanon | Morgan Music | 689 N Washington Ave | 65536 | 417.588.1970 |
Montana | Bozeman | Music Villa | 539 E. Main | 59715 | 406.587.4761 |
Nebraska | Omaha | Dietze Music House | 13015 W Center Rd Ste A.1B | 68144 | 402.333.1535 |
Nebraska | Lincoln | Dietze Music House | 5555 S. 48th St. | 68516 | 402.333.1535 |
New Hampshire | Manchester | Manchester Music Mill | 329 Elm Street | 03101 | 603.623.8022 |
New Jersey | Pleasantville | Pleasantville Music Shoppe | 15 E Black Horse Pike | 08232 | 609.641.4600 |
New York | Middletown | Alto Music | 180 Carpenter Ave. | 10940 | 845.692.6922 |
New York | Wappingers Falls | Alto Music | 1176 US RT 9 | 12590 | 845.297.0011 |
New York | Airmont | Alto Music | 329 Route 59 | 10952 | 845.352.6717 |
North Carolina | Washington | PC Sound | 1826 West 5th Street | 27889 | 252.946.6100 |
North Carolina | Greenville | PC Sound | 420 E. Arlington Blvd., Ste E | 27858 | 252.353.6101 |
Pennsylvania | North Wales | George’s Music | 1218 Welsh Rd. Suite H | 19454 | 215.412.4400 |
Pennsylvania | Williamsport | Robert M. Sides Family Music Center | 201 Mullberry Street | 17701 | 570.326.2094 |
Texas | Dallas | ChurchPlant.com | 607.542.9156 | ||
Tennesse | Memphis | Yarbrough’s Music | 6122 Macon Rd | 38134 | 901.761.0414 |
Texas | Longview | Mundt Music | 2312 Judson Road | 75605 | 903.758.8872 |
Texas | Tyler | Mundt Music | 3532 South Broadway Ave | 75701 | 903.561.8828 |
Utah | Salt Lake City | Performance Audio | 2456 S. West Temple | 84115 | 800.771.8330 |
Virginia | Gloucester | Winter Sound | 1714 George Washington Memorial Hwy. | 23062 | 804.642.6434 |
Washington | Richland | Ted Brown Music | 2600 N. Columbia Center Blvd Ste 102 | 99352 | 509.783.3481 |
Washington | Silverdale | Ted Brown Music | 3276 NW Plaza Rd #103 | 98383 | 360.692.4199 |
Washington | Yakima | Ted Brown Music | 2612.B W Nob Hill Blvd | 98902 | 509.248.6015 |
Washington | Tacoma | Ted Brown Music | 6228 Tacoma Mall Blvd | 98409 | 253.272.3211 |
Wisconsin | Madison | Full Compass Systems | 9770 Silicon Prairie Pkwy | 53593 | 800.356.5844 |
Wisconsin | Franklin | Kraft Music | 4659A W. Basswood Drive Docks 3-4 | 53132 | 414.858.4002 |
Wisconsin | Appleton | Pixel Pro Audio | 601 W COLLEGE AVE | 54911 | 855.269.0474 |
Versatile, customizable, and easy to transport. Oh, and the sound? It will blow you away.
Compact and lightweight, PreSonus AIR active loudspeakers provide a rich, extended low-end and natural high-frequency extension in an enclosure that will easily fit in the back seat of a small car. Backed by 1,200W of Class D/Class AB power and enhanced with easy-to-use digital tuning functions, AIR full-range systems give you all the power and tools you need for both mobile and installed sound. The series includes AIR10, AIR12, and AIR15 full-range systems and AIR15s and AIR18s subwoofers.
Here’s a look at the new AIR speakers from InfoComm!
For those of you in the USA wondering what Musikmesse is, think NAMM—but in Germany.
“Musikmesse in Frankfurt is the international trade fair for instruments, sheet music, production, and marketing.” It all starts this Thursday, April 7 and runs to Sunday, April 10.
The PreSonus team will be there. Visit our booth and be one of the first in Europe to see the new Studio 192 Mobile and ULT Speakers in person! Find the PreSonus booth located at Hall 9.1 Booth F41.
At our booth, participants are invited to check out the gear, connect with us on social media, and enter to win one of five copies of Studio One Pro we’ll be giving away every day of Messe! To enter, participants must:
The brand-new ULT Loudspeakers are currently on the shelves of select dealers in the USA! American Musical Supply, Full Compass, ZZounds, and Sweetwater have received portions of the initial shipment. If you want to be among the first to own a set of ULTs, click the links below to get a hold of them!
ULT means Ultra-Long Throw—these loudspeakers boast a tremendously focused vertical dispertion that projects your sound to the back of the hall for maximum intelligibility throughout. Designed with our partners from WorxAudio, the ULTs feature the Pivot X110 horn, a rotatable driver that allows you to get the best out of the ULTs in both horizontal and vertical configurations. The ULTs strike a balance that champions versatility; they’re sturdy but not unreasonably heavy, so they’re ideal for either permenent installations or mobile rigs. Generous I/O and convenient DSP presets round out the offering.
Interested? Contact a dealer by clicking below!
PreSonus ULT-series active loudspeakers combine the widest horizontal dispersion of any loudspeaker in their class with a focused vertical dispersion for an ultra-long throw. The result is even coverage throughout the space, enabling the audience to hear clearly wherever they are. Featuring PreSonus’ proprietary Pivot X110 horn and plenty of Class D power in a lightweight design, ULT full-range loudspeakers deliver first-rate speech intelligibility and natural music reproduction. A companion ULT18 active subwoofer delivers a powerful, clear, and accurate low-end punch in a compact design, making ULT-series systems ideal for both mobile use and permanent installations.
Click here for more info on the ULT speakers.