Amps suck!

[Cru4you]

yes they do

[bariphonium]

Ah, the age-old electronic debate. Let me be the first to argue, and yet ask that no one flame for no apparent reason. I'm for electronics, as long as they are used as instruments in their own right, or when they give sounds that could normally not be produced by other instruments, like a piano. What I'm against is when they are used to cover a band's bad sound, or provide support from the pit where the band is lacking.

 

Good example: When electronics are used to create a piano sound when a real piano could not be used. This usually takes place during ballads. Also, when a soloist needs to be miked, I'm OK with that.

 

Bad example: When a bass sound is produced from a synth to cover for weak tubas. Also, voice-overs are bad. Very bad. Band is for just that: the band. Let the instruments make the music, not a narration.

[Skippy]

  Cru4you said:

yes they do

Thanks for that truly insightful argument.

 

I think amps are ok for boosting the volume of the pit some, and for increasing the volume of soloists. I never enjoy voiceovers, although singing is sometimes allright. Example: The section of Crown 2003 where they sang wasn't bad.

[Cru4you]

  Skippy said:

Thanks for that truly insightful argument.

 

I think amps are ok for boosting the volume of the pit some, and for increasing the volume of soloists. I never enjoy voiceovers, although singing is sometimes allright. Example: The section of Crown 2003 where they sang wasn't bad.

i thought long about that one

[TX Suh-nare]

As a guy that was rescued from alternate heck via sound equip, I have to love it. I agree with the argument posted by the other guy (Bariphonium). Amping pit is sometimes needed and appropriate. But when used for voice-overs, speeches, and even pits that are too loud, don't waste the green.

 

One example of good amping is SCV in 2004. The pit is just loud enough to be heard and to make a powerful impact on the show, withOUT coming off too strong. Brilliant.

[Cru4you]

yes i am starting to compromise with pit amping, but voice overs sound stupid, IMO.

[bariphonium]

  bariphonium said:

Band is for just that: the band. Let the instruments make the music, not a narration.

[TX Suh-nare]

Indeed.

[davidpowell]

I'm for micing the pit so they can use good technique and not have to bang away to be heard. Micing woodwind soloists too. Otherwise, yeah, kill it.

[maverick]

I'm all for amps. Those in the Drum Corp know why some corps don't use them and why others do. First off, every corp can afford them, so don't think that they are too poor. Even corps like Esperanza and Revolution have them. The only thing is that they don't use them because they don't want to amp up a pit that isn't too good. Madison uses them to amp the pit so they don't have to destroy their mallets just to be heard. Also we use them to amp up soloists because there are sections when we are all playing as loud as possible and the soloist still needs to be heard.

[Skippy]

  maverick said:

First off, every corp can afford them, so don't think that they are too poor.

Right...

[TX Suh-nare]

Yeah, Not every corps is sponsered by YEA! and the Village of Rosemont.

Money is not something every non-profit organization has

[mbui]

  maverick said:

First off, every corp can afford them, so don't think that they are too poor.

So....

 

Why do some drum corps still fold? How can an organization afford electronics if they can't even field a corps anymore?

[Cru4you]

thats ridiculous if u think everycorps can afford them