Harrison Brothers – Page 4

Like Lines On A Parking Lot

Properly marking a sound console with tape can often mean more than just giving a name to each input with paper labeling tape.

Use of large consoles can also be well served by adding some vertical tape lines between input sections to quickly draw your eye to the section of the console that needs attention.

Since each individual slider may have as many as a dozen vertical knobs associated with it (equalization, aux sends, monitor sends, attenuators, etc.), these vertical lines can make it much easier to quickly go to the set of inputs that you want to work on.

Putting different colored tape stripes between logical input sub groups (vocal, keyboards, drums, etc.) can make the sound person’s job much easier.

Our preference for this is to use very thin gaffers tape (1/2 inch), known as “spike tape” in the theatre.

This Synthetic Rubber Adhesive Is Not For Cable Wrapping

There are lots ways to secure coiled cable, including tape, but Shurtape 724 paper label tape is not one of them.

The adhesive on this tape can interact with the natural rubber jacket on some cables, leaving a residue when the tape is removed.

This residue is not a problem on surfaces like sound consoles and patch bays, but it can cause a sticky problem on some audio cables.

Instead of tape, we recommend Velcro One Wrap Straps for cable bundling and coiling. Those are adhesive free.

Flatback? That Just Means “Smooth”

One of the descriptive phrases used for console tape is “flatback”. There are a number of different types of paper tape that are described as flatback, and that phrase can mean different things, based on how the tape is to be used.

When it comes to consolet tape, flatback lets the user know that the tape provides a smooth surface which can easily be written on. For other users, flatback might mean that the tape can be printed on with a special type of printing press or can be used with specific kinds of ink.

For the sound or lighting tech with a Sharpie Marker in his or her pocket, it just means that writing on flatback tape is like writing on paper. That’s because it is paper.

Good Console Tape-It’s All About The Adhesive

No adhesive residue and no damage to equipment surfaces are the hallmarks of a good console labeling product.

Petroleum-based synthetic rubber adhesives are what gives good paper tape the ability to adhere firmly to console surfaces, yet be able to be removed cleanly with no adhesive residue and no equipment damage.

Avoid any product that uses an organic rubber (latex) adhesive, as it is more likely to leave residue and its aggressive holding ability is more likely to damage painted surfaces.

Console Tape- Is It the New Guitar Pick

Flipping a few guitar picks into the crowd is a time honored way for a concert performer to honor a few audience members with a prized souvenir.

After attending a recent concert, i happened to notice a couple of kids begging the sound man for the console tape used to label the mixer for that night’s set.

To each his own.

Console-Where Did That Word Come From?

The term “console” (as a noun) is used in lots of different ways, but the most common seems to refer to some sort of control surface. Whether operating computers, playing video games or mixing audio sources (microphones, tape playback, etc.), the area that these applications refer to have a common beginning.

The first use of the term “console” when relating to some sort of “remote” control was the pipe organ.

The housing for all the keyboards, stops and pedals for a large organ is called a “console” and this appears to be where the term got its start.

Use Standard Label Abbreviations Known To All Sound People

Multi-act shows mean that multiple sound people will be using the same mixer and will need to make set changes as quickly as possible.

Not having to completely re-label the mixer between acts can save lots of time and avoid confusion.

Use of standard abbreviations for inputs both lets the next sound person know what is where and also addresses the problem of limited space for labeling each input.

Here are some abbreviations known to all:

Vox Voices or vocals
Kik Bass Drum
Sn Snare Drum
Tom Rack Tom
Fl Floor Tom
OH Overhead Drum Mic
Perc Percussion
Gtr Guitar
Bs Bass
Key Keyboard
Tpt Trumpet
Bone Trombone

Labeling A Personal Mixer? You Might Need Narrower Tape

Personal monitor mixers, the ones that allow each performer to do their own monitor mix are popular, in part, because they are small.

Both in terms of how they appear on stage and their portability, the small size makes them a great solution for getting a personal mix just for you.

Because of their small format, they may not have enough space for a strip of regular label tape.

Shurtape 724 is now available in a half inch width, just right for a small format mixer.

Tapeless Studio? Maybe Not

Recording to computer hard drives has created an environment where only a few studios have actual tape recorders. Still, as long as there are consoles to be labeled, no studio will really be “tapeless”.

For The Best Label, Get The Most Context

Shurtape 724 is available in multiple colors, but for the most useful labeling, it is hard to beat black marker on white tape.

Being sure you are reaching for the right control in the dark is about making the label stand out.