Theater Live Sound - Fade vs Mute

[renigadecrew]

More of an opinionated question. If you were doing a musical and had to bring up body mics after a scene change would you use the mute button to turn it on or use the fader to bring it up

 

[Ralston18]

Just "un-muting is likely to catch something "unexpected" being said by an actor.

I would use a fader and bring it up as the actors are notified accordingly.

That process gives you the option to hold a bit if there is some background chatter that the audience should not hear.

 

[renigadecrew]

Exactly my point!

My sound director made me do it the mute way and I never do it that way. He's also the guy who thinks when a mic "red zones" that you don't have to turn down the gain and that "gain is a way to get it to aim around a certain fader level"

His reasoning is what happens if you forget to bring the volume up. I said if I miss a cue its not obvious and he said "well don't miss your cues" lol thank god I don't have to go through this again

I have another play in a week and I am going back to my way.

Just "un-muting is likely to catch something "unexpected" being said by an actor.

I would use a fader and bring it up as the actors are notified accordingly.

That process gives you the option to hold a bit if there is some background chatter that the audience should not hear.

 

[Ralston18]

Some day he may learn the hard way......

Break a leg.

 

[renigadecrew]

I think he just didn't want to overcomplicate the kid who was working with me. It was his first show and we ran half and half so he got some expierence. I have much more than him. The funny thing is the director had to lecture the kids about not talking backstage because mics can be live. The reason that happened is I have to unmute 1 or 2 lines ahead so it wont sound stupid vs I can just fade as they go on stage.

Some day he may learn the hard way......

Break a leg.