The Insane Logistics Behind Drum Corps' Sound System
Dallas Taylor
171,945 views
Go behind the scenes with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps to see how a full professional audio system gets set up, torn down, and rebuilt three times a day on tour.
Aaron walks me through the "audio train", the cart system carrying mixers, generators, and speaker carts that lets the crew build and break the entire rig in minutes at every tour stop. He breaks down why the corps favors reinforcement over amplification, how line array speakers solve the washy acoustics of finals inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and how amplification in drum corps has evolved since 2004.
Discover the gear, the schedule, and the power setup that keeps a touring drum corps sounding great every single night, and finally get an answer about that mysterious red button.
Featuring Aaron Beck, Audio Systems Designer for the Bluecoats.
00:00 The Bluecoats Audio System
02:04 Amplification in Drum Corps
05:18 Setting Up the Audio Train
06:31 Power and Weather Protection
08:02 Adjusting Sound for Each Stadium
10:59 RF Scan and Sound Check
11:45 Parking Lot Warm-Up
14:02 Preparing the Show for Finals
15:43 The Mystery Button
18:33 Final Performance
More about me: https://dallastaylor.com
This video series grew out of my Webby and Ambie Award-winning podcast, Twenty Thousand Hertz, where we’ve spent a decade uncovering the stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds.
Listen wherever you get podcasts, or start here: https://pod.link/1171270672
This series is a passion project from my sound agency, Defacto Sound. We produce, mix, and fund these stories through our client work in post-production sound for trailers, ads, TV, film, YouTube, museums, immersive experiences, and more, including work for Netflix, Disney, HBO, global agencies, premium brands, cultural institutions, and thoughtful creators.
Working with Defacto Sound helps us keep making videos like this. Learn more: https://defactosound.com
Camera: DJI Osmo Action 5 (and 6 after the camera died)
Mic: DJI Mic 2
Handle: DJI Osmo Action Multifunctional Charging Handle
Edited in DaVinci Resolve
Mixed in Pro Tools by Defacto Sound
🤘
20 Comments
It's wild the things you can learn about on youtube
Would love to hear a podcast about your time in some legendary Cavalier corps. I saw you guys in the baseball stadium on Disney property in 2001.
Edit: and I was in college band with Matt Jordan 😂 15:56
Fortunatly I ended up working in the music industry. I'm a professional mixing and mastering engineer. I'm in the top 2% in the world! Music is all I've ever been good at lol.
The Insane Logistics Behind Drum Corps' Sound System
Dallas Taylor
171,945 views
Go behind the scenes with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps to see how a full professional audio system gets set up, torn down, and rebuilt three times a day on tour.
Aaron walks me through the "audio train", the cart system carrying mixers, generators, and speaker carts that lets the crew build and break the entire rig in minutes at every tour stop. He breaks down why the corps favors reinforcement over amplification, how line array speakers solve the washy acoustics of finals inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and how amplification in drum corps has evolved since 2004.
Discover the gear, the schedule, and the power setup that keeps a touring drum corps sounding great every single night, and finally get an answer about that mysterious red button.
Featuring Aaron Beck, Audio Systems Designer for the Bluecoats.
00:00 The Bluecoats Audio System
02:04 Amplification in Drum Corps
05:18 Setting Up the Audio Train
06:31 Power and Weather Protection
08:02 Adjusting Sound for Each Stadium
10:59 RF Scan and Sound Check
11:45 Parking Lot Warm-Up
14:02 Preparing the Show for Finals
15:43 The Mystery Button
18:33 Final Performance
More about me: https://dallastaylor.com
This video series grew out of my Webby and Ambie Award-winning podcast, Twenty Thousand Hertz, where we’ve spent a decade uncovering the stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds.
Listen wherever you get podcasts, or start here: https://pod.link/1171270672
This series is a passion project from my sound agency, Defacto Sound. We produce, mix, and fund these stories through our client work in post-production sound for trailers, ads, TV, film, YouTube, museums, immersive experiences, and more, including work for Netflix, Disney, HBO, global agencies, premium brands, cultural institutions, and thoughtful creators.
Working with Defacto Sound helps us keep making videos like this. Learn more: https://defactosound.com
Camera: DJI Osmo Action 5 (and 6 after the camera died)
Mic: DJI Mic 2
Handle: DJI Osmo Action Multifunctional Charging Handle
Edited in DaVinci Resolve
Mixed in Pro Tools by Defacto Sound
🤘