All posts by Dave Hamilton.

Guitar looping pro David Shanhun at the mic, Gig Gab Podcast 262 Episode Image

David Shanhun: Looping, Streaming, Playing — Gig Gab 262

With David Shanhun, his smooth vocals and articulate guitar work are what you hear, but under the surface is an equal masterpiece of David’s looping and arrangements.

It doesn’t stop there: David has taken his fantastic YouTube channel and begun using it to help teach other musicians how to integrate looping into their performances, increasing everyone’s game.

Join us today to learn more about David, hear some looping tips, and some great stories, to boot!

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Picture of socially-distanced stage for live music in the Pandemic, Gig Gab 261 Cover image

Playing the Pandemic Stage — Gig Gab 261

Paul and Dave have been secretly working together on a project with their old band, and today that finally was released. Hear your two favorite weekend warriors talk about the process of recording (and coordinating!) a song in quarantine.

Last night, Dave played the first pandemic gig of Gig Gab’s history, and he and Paul talk through the process that got Dave to the stage, as well as the experience of actually doing it. Press play, enjoy, and remember: Always Be Performing!

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Picture of stairs down to the stage with text Re-Entry Anxiety — Gig Gab 260

Re-Entry Anxiety — Gig Gab 260

It’s June, 2020, and your two favorite weekend warriors haven’t played a gig in months. As the reality of that “next gig” sets in—as the reality of interacting with society again sets in—it’s pretty clear that re-entry anxiety is alive and well. Both Paul and Dave are experiencing it in different ways and, as will come as no surprise, they’re happy to talk about it. In fact, talking about it seems to help! Listen in as they share their very different thoughts from two very different areas of the USA.

Meanwhile, all the home studio recording and Zooming and streaming is going strong, and listener Michael has a question about audio interfaces. Never ones to shy away from offering a helping hand, Paul and Dave share several different recommendations, talking through all the details.

Check it out, press play, and always be performing! (and wash your hands)

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Guitar and amp waiting patiently by the doorway with text Almost Willing — Gig Gab 259

Almost Willing… — Gig Gab 259

We all love gear, and your two favorite weekend warriors have even more of it to talk about this week for you. Plus, Dave’s come up with a new addition to his woodshed routine to keep himself going during lockdown.

Speaking of lockdown, listener Mike has some thoughts to share with us all about what the next gig or rehearsal might look like, and Dave and Paul take that and run with it, sharing their thoughts, as well.

Press play, enjoy, and always be performing. Oh, and let’s not forget to keep washing our hands, OK?

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area 52 studios console for gig gab 258 with Dave Cook

Dave Cook: Streaming Sound Advice, Love Shack, Carly Simon, and More — Gig Gab 258

Dave Cook, long-time audio engineer and owner of Area 52 Studios joins your two favorite weekend warriors today with stories, advice, and more.

Dave shares how he “accidentally” wound up engineering “Love Shack” as well as Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, what rules Bernard Purdie laid down (before he laid down the grooves!), how he started his road career with Carly Simon, and more.

Dave also brings decades of advice to help guide us all with our live streaming setups, discussing different ways of getting that pristine sound, as well as that not-so-pristine sound… depending upon what you’re after!

Listen, along with your hosts Paul Kent and Dave Hamilton, as Dave Cook weaves all these stories and tips together for you all. Press play and enjoy!

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Image of lighting cans on ceiling with text Lighting, Ranting, & Planning Your Next Show — Gig Gab 257

Lighting, Ranting, & Planning Your Next Show — Gig Gab 257

We know you want to play. We all do! What does that next gig look like? How will it work? When will you—and your band—be comfortable playing together again? Does that happen indoors in a rehearsal space or outdoors for a show?

These are the seeds planted in the minds of Dave and Paul as they dive into this week’s episode. Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors talk through all of this and how they’re approaching it.

Then send in your feedback to feedback@giggabpodcast.com: we want to hear from you!

In the meantime, those livestreams keep happening, those quarantine purchases keep accumulating, and that means it’s time for another gear gab segment! Audio gear is featured, but lighting gear (and techniques) are important, too.

Listen, learn, and then share your feedback with the Gig Gab family!

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Image of iPhone with Streaming, money, Payscale, Music Licensing and Toys. Gig Gab 256

Payscale, Licensing, and Toys – Gig Gab 256

Have you had YouTube or Facebook mute the songs on your stream because of copyright claims? There might be something you can do about it! Paul and Dave talk through their experiences with navigating these waters, and even share how you can make money playing your own songs from the various rights management companies, too!

What are your thoughts about playing out this summer? Are you—and your bandmates—going to experiment with any socially-distanced gigs? What’s that going to look like?

And finally: toys. Your two favorite weekend warriors are cooped up just like you are, and they’ve been upping their game (and expenditures!) all in the interest of serving you, dear listener. Listen as they talk about–and through!—some of the new hardware and software they’re testing and learning.

Press play, enjoy, and always be performing!

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Brad Madix, Front of House for Rush, Queensryche, Jane's Addiction, and more on Gig Gab 255

Brad Madix: Stories from Front of House with Rush, Queensrÿche, Jane’s Addiction, and More – Gig Gab 255

Brad Madix, Front-of-House Engineer for Rush, Bruce Hornsby, Shania Twain, Shakira, Queensrÿche, Jane’s Addiction, Mr. Big, and more joins Paul and Dave today to chat sound, mixing, stories, and Gig Gab!

Brad’s tales and advice are endless – and endlessly valuable! Listen to hear Brad share stories about finding himself behind the console in an arena for the first time, tweaking Geddy Lee’s bass sound, taking the stage with Queensrÿche, and so much more.

Brad also shares his tips and advice about getting the sound right in clubs, large and small, trusting your ears, and protecting your hearing in the process.

A man who happily says that he has “years of practice” in the space tells us all why we should “never runs towards a fire.”

Press play and enjoy, folks. This is a good one!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 255 – Monday, May 4, 2020
  • Brad Madix – FOH Sound, Diablo Digital, And More
  • John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Rush, Bruce Hornsby, Shania Twain, Shakira, Jane’s Addiction, Mr. Big, and More.
  • The Early Years
  • The Rush Trust Equation
      • Tweaking Geddy Lee’s Bass Sound
      • Four inputs: clean, gritty, and massively distorted (times two!)
  • Strings on a Rock Stage
  • Mr. Big’s friends showed up.
  • Live: condensers vs. dynamics
    • “Years of Practice”
  • Game-Changing Live Sound Tech
  • Tips:
    • Mix the First Song In Your Head
    • It starts with the drummer!
  • Club Tips!
    • Vocals have to win
    • Guitar Solos need to be heard
    • Don’t cut everything from the EQ!
    • Live with What you Have: the PA in the Room
  • Hearing Protection Tips
    • Manage your volume over time
    • Measure your SPLs
      • Target 97dB
    • Manage your headphone volume (keep it low!)
    • Buy quality earplugs
      • But test with foam, because that’s what the audience is hearing!
  • When do we tour again?
  • Diablo Digital
    • Recording and archiving multi-track recordings of live shows
  • Brad Madix, jazz piano interlude, Queensryche, Here in the Now Frontier Tour
  • 01:03:30 GG 255 Outtro

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Gear Gab with picture of microphones in a case

Gear Gab – Gig Gab 254

Today it’s time to talk gear. And gain staging. And effects. And audio interfaces. And Microphones. Oh, wait, those last two are gear, too, aren’t they? And effects… that can be gear? Are effects considered “gear” if it’s a digital plugin versus a piece of outboard equipment?

Oh the questions you have! Well, Paul and Dave have questions, too… and a few answers. Really, though, it’s all about just learning how to make yourself sound great. And is there a better thing to work on during quarantine? Join in the fun and press play!

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Managing–and Learning–Your Fans’ Expectations – Gig Gab 253

How do your fans feel? Do you know? If not, what can you do to find out? Well, Paul and Dave talk through all of this and more. The good news is you can be a fan now, too, and learn what it feels like when someone asks you to tip or share or visit or more. And you can apply that compassion to crafting your own fan environment. Are tips the right answer? Or are subscriptions a better model? Listen as your two favorite weekend warriors talk this through.

The bookends to this weeks show are tech tips, first about recording techniques, lastly about streaming. Listen as Paul and Dave share the new things they’ve learned about this week. Remember, always be performing!

  • 00:00:00 Gig Gab 253 – Monday, April 20, 2020
  • 00:00:51 Spending time in the studio, recording, mixing, and learning!
  • 00:11:52 Managing fans’ expectations: streams, tipping, engagement
    • Tips vs. Subscriptions
    • Artists are fans, too, now.
    • We can experience, but we can learn.
    • Sam Eigen – https://www.facebook.com/sam.eigen.14
  • 00:42:54 When will it be normal? (as if we know!)
  • 00:44:00 Live Streaming Tech Support
  • 00:49:14 GG 253 Outtro

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