I don’t tend to go for New Year resolutions but the disruption and pause caused by UK habits around Christmas and New Year activities and holidays is a good point to take stock and sow some thoughts for the year ahead and that fits well for the concluding part of my series on what I’ve picked up from my first year of having a Soundcraft ui24R mixer at church. What do I want to do with it in the next twelve months?

I’ve mentioned how I’ve found the multitrack recording a real boon. I’d like to look at some ways to do more with that. For example, could I get some better quality recordings where I bring together people who’ve prepared as if they were heading to the studio rather than turning up for a Sunday morning? Could we build recording and listening into our rehearsal routines, perhaps listening back together to something we’ve just played and thinking about how to improve it or putting a rehearsal online to help people do more effective homework ready for the following Sunday?

I’d also like to dig more into the built in FX. One of the ways I do my audio production for the service videos is to apply a whole range of processing. Some is making up for what doesn’t get recorded on the raw input, like compression and EQ, and the settings in my DAW wouldn’t necessarily be ideal for the live environment. However, I think there is scope to do more with things like reverb and delay to enhance lead vocals and make backing parts sound fuller without swamping the lead ones.

Thirdly, I’d like to do some more on improving foldback for the band. At the moment, we have one channel of foldback that goes through a powerful 15″ wedge on stage. My analysis is that it puts too much volume on stage and there are times when you could pretty much turn the mains off and nobody would notice the difference. We’ve got ample auxiliary channels spare if I can work out how to route them back to the stage and what I’d like (since too many people are resistant to in-ear solutions) is to try several smaller speakers so those near to them can hear what they need without affecting those on the other side of the stage let alone the rest of the room.

I could keep going. With a box like this, there is so much to explore! Three ideas will do for now though. There are a whole bunch of other things to work on too which even a much fancier mixing solution would do nothing to help. Overall through, I’m very pleased with the Soundcraft ui24R and, thus far, would have no qualms about recommending others include it in their considerations.