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Live Audio Gear That Let Me Stop Worrying At Gigs

Silver Creek Audio

68,718 views

Doing live sound solo, there's nobody to back you up when things go wrong. So over the years I got picky about what rides in the van. These are the pieces that earned a permanent spot, the gear that let me stop hoping a setup would work and just know it would.

Disclosure: RF Venue provided the PA Extension Kit featured in this video. They didn't pay me to make it, and nothing I said about it was scripted or approved by them, all opinions are my own. Here's a link to check it out: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WOEmDA

Gear links below:
◆ Cat5 & PowerCon couplers
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k4AB0M
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/X4EDY5
◆ K&M Round Microphone Stand
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/e16EVD
◆ Triad-Orbit Quick-Change Coupler
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/7aZMW3
◆ Rhode Stereo Bar
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QY6XB9
◆ PowerCon drop boxes
https://amzn.to/4bXScd7
◆ RF Venue PA Extension Kit
https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WOEmDA
◆ $40 headset mic
https://amzn.to/4xeCVgE (mic)
https://amzn.to/4g8FCtV (case)
◆ SmallRig clamp
https://amzn.to/4qr4Cjt
https://amzn.to/4irb7kh (need this too)
◆ Sound Bullet
no link :(

Got a piece you swear by that I missed? Drop it in the comments, I'm always looking.

(The links in this description may be affiliate links that allow me to earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) that keeps this channel going. Thanks for your support!)

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Cat5 & PowerCon couplers
1:37 - K&M round-base stands
2:58 - Triad Orbit connectors
4:06 - PowerCon drop boxes
5:38 - Sunglasses
5:54 - RF Venue PA Extension Kit
8:50 - Budget headset mic
10:46 - SmallRig clamp
11:53 - Sound Bullet

20 Comments

@BassDawStew 1 month ago

Commenting for the algorithm. As a full time bassist, I have learned that having equipment that makes life easy on stage is like having a super power.

Keep it up, sir! Also, feel better!

@ScottUhlMusic 1 month ago

Great video man! I had 3 of these items in my cart before I saw the shoutout 😅 Appreciate it, and glad you got the RF PA Extension Kit, that thing is awesome 🤘

@georgealdredge2806 1 month ago

Former Dallas area sound guy here…………Those cast base mic stands are fine and dandy in most cases, until you get to a gig that you already scouted two days earlier with plywood stage and show up the day of the gig and find that headliner has their gear on the stage and the opening five piece act has to play on the GROUND (read it: dirt & weeds) in front of the stage. The shortcomings of those Atlas cast base stands become very apparent at that point. I had ten tripod base mic stands sitting in my warehouse 50 miles away, so three lids from rack cases and a folded tshirt had to level the cast base stands. Lesson learned that day for sure.

@lopez8971 1 month ago

Love the choice of copyright free jams. 🤣😂

@thomaslusignan762 1 month ago

Love Scott Uhl's channel, very underrated!

@mitchellcrazyeye 1 month ago

I'm glad you finally covered your power blocks. I thought they were custom made - this will honestly be a game changer for us. Thank again, I hope you feel better soon!

@mrufino1 1 month ago

The biggest game change for me was hiring help on gigs. I very rarely work solo anymore. The financial “hit” is worth it to have help, plus it lets me train people so they can go do their own gigs.

@luroufanz 1 month ago

a good multi tool does wonders for me. used to use some cheap dollar store one and swapped to a leatherman rebar and never looked back. You never know you're gonna need a pair of pliers to deal with microphone clips that are jammed on too tight or a knife to unbox some new equipment the boss brought in to use for the next show

@BrianAlpen 1 month ago

K&M has a quick change adapter (23900) which functions like the Triad-Orbit at a way lower price. I have both, Triad-Orbit is more compact and harder to accidentally release and comes in both sizes, but the K&M is still my preference.

@Ted_12K 1 month ago

These are great tips! Especially the "good enough was the upgrade" - so true! Also, after watching your other videos - I have the urge to loom everything and I'm not even a sound guy! LOL

@doktorprok 1 month ago

Excellent stuff! the ethercon/powercon couplers (which I have and use regularly) reminded of another useful adapter - xlr gender swappers. Allows you to use an open channel of a drop snake as a monitor send or for DMX, etc. Great time saver.

@syxtel8080 1 month ago

Maybe not needed for everyone, but a small magnetic flashlight can do wonders when crawling under a stage trying to connect everything up.

@TheBandDefault 1 month ago

My favorite piece of gear for gigs is my Rock n Roller cart. It fits into my tiny car and lets me load in and out in one trip most times.

@Prodbymt.jr901 1 month ago

This is easily one of my favorite episodes!😂

@ZeljkoRacki-wy7tc 1 month ago

Top shelf video, your illness actually adds quite an interesting spin on the vide rhythm haha

@JoshC. 1 month ago

Love the list and definitely love the sound bullet. I ended up moving to a different model so that the sender and receiver were separate units allowing me to test cable that had already been run a long distance.

@thingsmadebyjoe 1 month ago

Hey man. Great videos. I’d consider adding a short CAT5 patch cable into your Ubiquiti AP which you then use with a coupler to connect to your longer CAT5 cable. Yeah it adds an extra connection to the mix but I reckon it will extend the life of the CAT5 jack on the Ubiquiti AP. I’ve used these APs a tonne and hate how fiddly plugging cables into them is, especially with the little cover flap.

@PaulMetreveli 1 month ago

I am not in the industry, but if I was, I'd get each of these things! Thank you

@johnschalk1271 1 month ago

You probably have this covered already, but some tips I’d add would include, never taking a new piece of gear to a gig without first setting it up at the shop to confirm it works (and you know how to use it!). Having a spare for every critical system component. $5 for the Pro version of Mixing Station (per console range) has to be the best deal in audio. Totally agree with you about my SoundBullet. I have a “breaker buddy” which is a device that can identify when two outlets in a room are on different circuits. Extremely useful. This was a very good video.

@user-jx3jp3gb4x 1 month ago (edited)

Nice video ! I really like your laid-back opinions. I hope your pink eye goes away quickly.
I have been setting up and running sound since I was 14, and well, yikes that was 56 years ago. I am self-taught and I do a lot of jobs by myself so I can relate to you. Keep up the nice work.