Rehearsal Session Checklist

SET UP COMPUTER

    • Flip Switch on Power Conditioner at Bottom of Left Rack

    • Push Right-most Button on Computer at top of Right Rack

    • Log in to Widget Staff account [mccartney80]

    • Open MOTU PCI Audio Setup

    • Click FILE>LOAD CONFIGURATION or type ⌘O

    • Select MOTU PCI Config.mcfg

    • Click Open

    • Open Cuemix FX

    • Click CONFIGURATIONS>32 Tracks

    • Open REHEARSAL SESSIONS drive

    • Duplicate “New Session” folder

      • Right Click on “New Session” folder

      • Click Duplicate

    • Rename “New Session Copy” folder to “YYMMDD Band Name”

    • Open Session Files folder in “YYMMDD Band Name” folder

    • Double-click “16 Track Session.cpr”

      • Select PCI-424 driver if prompted

      • Click Okay

    • Turn On Cycle

    • Hit Play

SET UP CONSOLE

    • MOTU Analog Out channels 1-16 should be at -6dB

    • Console channels 1-16 should be at 3dB

    • Double-check that each channel is properly reset (zeroed)

    • Turn on MIX bus on Console channels 1-16

    • Set MIX Fader to 0dB

    • Turn on MIX Monitor (may already be selected)

    • Turn Red Monitor knob to around 5

    • Turn Black Matrix 2 knob to around 5

    • Attach Console Tape to Scribble Strip

    • Write Names of Channels

    • Grab a fresh set of recall sheets and begin filling in session and track list info

SET UP STUDIO

    • Set Mic Splitter Rack on floor next to PA Stand

    • Plug Short Snake Ends into PA Channels 1-8

    • Set Long Snake Ends on floor next to Studio Snake Box

    • Drums (Box Channels 1-6) - B52 (Kick), SM57 (Snare & Overheads), E604 (Toms)

    • Bass (Box Channel 7) - Direct Box (Bass into DI and DI into Amp)

    • Guitar amps (Box Channels 8-10) - 1 mic each (E609, N/D408, SM57)

    • Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards - Direct Box (Instrument into DI and DI into splitter)

    • Vocal Mics - SM58 or B58 into splitter

    • Plug Long Snake Ends into remaining inputs on Studio Snake Box

WELCOME BAND

    • As folks show up, give them a Warm Welcome. We’re so glad they’re here.

    • Make sure they all know where the Bathroom/Bathroom Key is located.

    • Before we get too far, let’s get the Money squared away.

    • Venmo $50 to @widgetstudios (last 4 are 3145)

    • Let the band know you need to make adjustments before we get rolling.

    • Invite them to begin warming up by playing a song

CHECK LINES

    • Set Fader to 0dB

    • Turn Red Knob up until the signal is hitting ~3dB

    • Double-check that the input is not clipping

      • Look at MOTU meters

      • Look at Cubase meters

        • If Red bar appears, click to clear it

        • Reduce Gain until there is no longer clipping

    • Use only on High Frequency signals where excessive Low end might cause problems

    • Press HPF button to engage Filter

    • Turn Black Frequency Knob to desired setting

    • Only make quick necessary adjustments here. You can tune to taste later.

    • Turn Grey High and Low Knobs to adjust 12kHz and 80Hz respectively

    • Turn Black Frequency Knobs to select High Mid and Low Mid Frequencies

    • Turn Grey High Mid and Low Mid Knobs to adjust selected frequency

    • Press the Arm button

    • Press the Record button

SET UP MASTER

    • Record Pause Mode allows for input monitoring on Master Deck

    • Turn Threshold Knob until Gain Reduction is ~5-7dB

    • Ratio, Attack, and Release can be set at 12 o’clock as a safe setting.

    • Leave all 4 buttons pressed “On”

    • Level should be between 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock.

      • If the meters glow Red, the level is too high.

    • L.F. Frequency - 250Hz

    • Level ~5

    • H.F. Frequency - 4kHz

    • Level ~5

    • Turn Mix Knob to “Wet” (all the way to the left)

    • Turn Gain Knob until peaks on Master Deck are no more than -1dB

    • If there are clips, reduce level until there are no clips.

LIVE MIX/MASTER

    • Hit the Play button (as the band begins counting in)

    • Slide Faders in small increments to compensate for louder or quieter parts

    • Specifically ride the Main Vocal fader and watch for instrumental solos

    • Gradually slide the Mix fader down after the song ends and the last chord is ringing out.

    • Press the Pause Button to end the current track (the next track is automatically cued)

COPY FILES

    • Push Menu Button on Master Deck

    • Scroll down to “Copy”

    • Push Jog Wheel to Select “Copy”

    • Scroll down to “CF—>USB”

    • Push Jog Wheel to Select “CF—>USB”

    • Plug Client Drive into Open USB port on Computer

    • Copy “Client Drive” folder from Rehearsal Sessions Drive to Client Drive

    • Rename “Client Drive” folder to “YYMMDD Band Name”

    • Open “REHEARSAL SESSIONS > YYMMDD Band Name > Session Files > Audio”

    • Select All Audio Tracks

    • Drag files to “Client Drive > YYMMDD Band Name > Multitrack Files”

    • Remove Thumb Drive from Master Deck

    • Plug into Open USB port on Remote Controller

    • Open “DM-3000” Drive

    • Select All Audio Tracks

    • Drag files to “REHEARSAL SESSIONS > YYMMDD Band Name > Masters > MP3”

    • Select All Master Recordings in MP3 folder (WAV files)

    • Open with Compressor

      • Right Click highlighted Files

      • Click “Open With”

      • Click “Compressor”

    • Drag “MP3” setting onto first file in batch list

    • Click “Start Batch”

    • Drag highlighted WAV files into “WAV” folder

    • Drag “Masters” folder into “Client Drive > YYMMDD Band Name”