So I forgot all about this blog and I'll use it for shit like this because it's more 'permanent' than tumblr.
By request: a look at my onstage setup for the MC Frontalot 2011 tour.
Starting stage left, our bassist BL4K Lotus a.k.a. Brandon Patton's rig:
DigiTech Bass multi-effects, a whammy, and a Boss Bass Synthesizer pedal for his bass, along with a TC Helicon Harmonizer for the vocal effects used during the show such as harmony, detune, doubling, and hard pitch correction.
Upstage center is Stugis' ("The Sturgenius") drum set (no rack tom for this tour!)
The suitcase at the bottom of the frame holds sticks, brushes, and alternate percussion such as the hat trick pictured and a jingle stick that I play for Yellow Lasers.
My keyboard rig for this tour is my standard Roland RD-300SX in addition to a Yamaha MM6 for the majority of the 'beeps and boops.'
It's pretty hard to see the silkscreened preset indicators on a dark stage so I've labeled the appropriate patches with gaff tape and a silver sharpie.
The Roland is maked with a few additional patch notes, and a spare 9V battery is taped to the top of the keyboard in case I need to quickly switch out my in-ear monitor receiver during a show.
In an effort to minimize stepping on gear during the show (we dance around quite a bit) I've mounted my Shure PSM200 in-ear monitor transmitter to the bottom of the Yamaha keyboard.
I started the tour using the IEM's as just a pass-through for the keyboards (hearing just my two keyboards through the in-ears), with a monitor wedge supplying everything else, but for bigger stages where I'm moving around more, I've started using the IEM's for the entire mix. It is fed with an aux return from the board, controlled by our engineer Nick. If the venue has the capability, I still set up a wedge with a similar mix so I can pop out the ears if I want.
I only use one damper pedal for this rig, attached to the Roland for piano / EP patches.
Instead of a traditional set list, I'm using an Asus EeePC displaying a simple text file containing the set order and patch lists for both keyboards. This allows me to quickly make changes to the patches and reorder the set night-to-night.
Behind me against the wall we place the receiver for MC Frontalot's wireless mic (a Shure ULX with the Beta 58A cap) which he passes through to his IEM transmitter.
I also keep waters and his mic + stand back behind my rig for the opening acts, and then bring them out center stage when we're ready to go on.
Outboard gear varies depending on the venue, but Nick travels with a selection of mics, a Smaart rig (used for real time audio analysis) and a channel strip for more accurate compression / EQ on lead vox.
Clarity and dynamic control on the vocal are obviously very important for a rap concert.
The Frontalot is watching.
For hi-resolution versions of these images, click here.
For MC Frontalot's website with information and tour dates, click here.
For my twitter, click here.