tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:58:14 +0000"No one goes home humming the light show" Adventuring around earth from a sound perspective.http://daverat.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)Blogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-5463447535361560922Mon, 25 Apr 2016 18:40:00 +00002016-04-25T11:40:16.035-07:00 New Orleans Jazz Fest  ‎ It's an 'in and out' gig a bit regrettably as New Orleans is always a fun adventure of sights, sounds and delicious food.‎ I did arrive in time to hang with the Pearl Jam crew for a bit as our load in overlapped their out. It's been a while such a great camp. It's not often I see a stage so clean, notice anything missing?  Like the entire lighting http://daverat.blogspot.com/2016/04/day-2-show-1-jazz-fest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-5736532890262561685Sun, 24 Apr 2016 16:58:00 +00002016-04-24T10:01:05.062-07:00 So here we go again, in New Orleans with Chili Peppers playing Jazz Fest. Trying to get my head around shifting gears from home to travel world. Rolling over the mental lists of how to approach tuning systems and all the bits not to forget to keep in my rolly bag. 4 days of rehearsals went well. I have a pretty similar setup to last tour with a few changes so far. Most exciting is a brand new http://daverat.blogspot.com/2016/04/so-here-we-go-again-in-new-orleans-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-4330958805959503781Tue, 12 Jan 2016 06:13:00 +00002016-01-12T11:50:46.763-08:00 In my last post I outlined the goals of the sound system design for Bassnectar's New Year Eve 360 sound setup and covered the main flown system decision and configuration (goals #1, 2 and 3). In this post I will cover the subwoofer side of things The goals of the system design were: The sound system must be optimized for 360 degree arena coverage The system should not block sight lines or http://daverat.blogspot.com/2016/01/dave-rat-blog-bassnectar-nye-360-degree.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-7520055253261986477Thu, 07 Jan 2016 21:41:00 +00002016-01-07T13:41:27.499-08:00 Over the past year I have been working on and off with Bassnectar as a sound consultant. My position is multifaceted and in general I work to solve some technical challenges so Lorin (Bassnectar) can achieve the audio connection with the audience he is looking for. My focus has been on improving the audio impact of the show when there are overly restrictive sound limitations, occasionally I fillhttp://daverat.blogspot.com/2016/01/designing-360-sound-setup-for-bassnectar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-8784527011166383419Sat, 09 May 2015 23:22:00 +00002016-01-06T07:57:27.370-08:00 So its been a while since I have blogged, been busy with some cool projects that I am having fun with. Oh, and hey, Kim and I got married and it is truly awesome! Who woulda knew? I like to take the important things slow and do them right. We have not had the party yet but will let ya know when we do. **** warning extended sound nerdery ahead **** Ok, so on another note about things that http://daverat.blogspot.com/2015/05/happiness-and-fun-toys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)360tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-5184393448880103910Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:27:00 +00002014-09-11T13:27:21.771-07:00 Perception and Failed Illusions Does a muffled band in a rehearsal room down the street sound more 'live' to you than a high def recording played through high quality stereo? Or have you listened to a recording and thought "whoa shit, I thought that was band, but it was just a recording played through speakers?"  Is it just live music that defies realistic reproduction or do these same http://daverat.blogspot.com/2014/09/perception-and-failed-illusions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-1583945357267881063Mon, 25 Aug 2014 02:42:00 +00002014-08-24T19:42:51.878-07:00 So Peppers tour has ended and  walking into the production office after the last show at Isle of Wight I could not resist taking a photo. Three years of on and off travels and another chapter comes to a bittersweet end. I will miss seeing all my friends on world adventures till next time and oh the thought of being home for a while is very very wonderful. It is a shame those set listshttp://daverat.blogspot.com/2014/08/building-new-toys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-6026945138109200346Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:02:00 +00002014-02-01T16:02:53.268-08:00 I am blogery slacker, just mining for the time to set aside and brain data dump some things to share. I did have a bit of a hutch in my get-a-long as well. I love surfing and snowboarding but decided to take divergence into a 40 mile bike ride. Which seemed like a reasonable enough idea. Off to the trails in Ojai staring in Ventura and oh maybe 15 miles in or so, KABLAAAM. Another bike http://daverat.blogspot.com/2014/02/big-owie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-4902728834488811716Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:38:00 +00002013-08-23T09:03:52.785-07:00 Anyone remember trying to render graphics or print anything other than text from a computer in the mid 80's? I recall having to wait till sleep to hit the render button with a 50% probability that the computer will crash, only to end up with a crude version of the graphic that took another whole eternity to to create and when it finally came to printing it out after 20 false starts to get the http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/08/amiga-makerbot-and-line-arrays.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-8618625651505489165Sat, 22 Jun 2013 00:01:00 +00002013-06-22T20:44:24.880-07:00 Oh so many amazing facts, urban legends and hard to imagine news stories constantly streaming from numerous directions. How does one sift through and distill which ones to believe and which to discard? My mom and others constantly send me absurd email "facts" that are nearly always an urbane legend or biased political lynching thinly veiled as humor . To which invariably,after a brief search, I http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-probability-of-aliens_21.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-2495670249911007516Sat, 25 May 2013 19:15:00 +00002013-05-25T12:16:37.568-07:00 My current ponder revolves around changing patterns. Now that I am relatively home for a while after spending a significant portion of my life over the past two years globe travelling, the impact of pattern change takes hold. Patterns, routines, and predictable familiar outcomes feel simultaneously as desirable as monotonous. Mono-tonos, a life of singular tones and right now that makes me happyhttp://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/05/changing-patterns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-2106942654263419950Mon, 13 May 2013 04:09:00 +00002013-05-12T21:09:27.140-07:00 Well alright, Peppers rocked an afternoon gig as the finale performance of the Environmental Summit in Portland, Oregon.  It was super cool to see and hear the Dalai Lama rap about all kinds of stuff. The guy is super lovable, humble, happy and is really good at saying things that make a lot of sense.  I especially liked the way he answered a question about what to do' http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/05/yay-for-adventures-we-love-to-remember.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-3094295781352927001Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:27:00 +00002013-02-15T06:43:34.566-08:00 Art, Adventure and ...... I have been pondering the art of complaining. I see it in others and am dismayed when I find myself immersed in it. Complaints are often descriptions of circumstances or situations that we are trying to convince other people that somehow have happened beyond our control. While indeed many things are beyond our control, the attitudes that we embrace to face challenges,http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/02/dave-rat-blog-art-adventure-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-47910143955553419Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:49:00 +00002013-02-11T13:49:59.712-08:00 Yay, home at last and not for a second unhappy with the awesome adventures of travel. Happiness is found in contrast. Life is change and the same with non living things as well and nothing ever stands still.  Everything is either growing or dying, building or crumbling, brightening or dimming.  Nothing nowhere nohow is in a perfect state of stability.  Only the illusion http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/02/dave-rat-blog-home-and-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-3723224134185251093Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:39:00 +00002013-01-30T04:39:15.828-08:00 Ooooh, since we fly so much in our world travels and occasionally run into humans carrying overwhelming or irrational fears of flying versus the realities of statistics, I did a bit of keyboard research and found this Airline Accident Rates But taking the ponder further, What are the odds of winning the lottery? Being eaten by a shark or dying in a plane crash? What are the http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-next-stop-south-africa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-4073754557550801333Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:12:00 +00002013-01-27T22:12:16.491-08:00 Perth show today and the last of the Big Day Out gigs as we wind down the Australia adventure.  Secrets to happy road crews: Good food and comfy shelter (and delicious drinks) Excellent food and a great place to sleep will easily win the dedication of a road crew. So happy to see the same amazing catering we had at the New Zealand show back up in Melbourne Especially http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-last-aussie-show.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-7001194543254459589Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:15:00 +00002013-01-24T20:15:05.076-08:00 Wander and Ponder Big Day Out show 2 done and missing doing our own shows a bit.  Festivals can be fun but I prefer doing our own tours at this point. That said, being in Australia easily makes up for it. So after a show and three full days off in the Gold Coast, it is now time to rock Adelaide today. There was much healthy fun to be had in the Australian sun, but first something I http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-wander-and-ponder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-5332676628280142582Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:48:00 +00002013-01-19T14:48:22.123-08:00  Okey dokey Sydney was super fun but way too short of a stay. We all stayed out near Circle Quay which I never have before, kinda cool being near the Ferry terminal and got to see the Opera house up close too. Kim and I took a ferry ride to Manly Beach for a swim and a wander about Then next stop was Sydney Seminar, thank you Simon, Tony and all.   http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-hot-and-fast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-2677154086668109711Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:15:00 +00002013-01-14T21:15:18.086-08:00 Show #2 Auckland, Vector Arena tonight.  Ah yes, it all comes back to me and I remember the place well now. I will say it does sound much more manageable than when we were here in '07 and the first full blown gig in the venue. Looks like they removed quite a bit of glass and added a bunch of sound absorbing layers. Still has the super slick floor and I am a bit ashamed to say I find myself http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-boats-and-rubberbands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-6678999588669989628Sun, 13 Jan 2013 02:12:00 +00002013-01-12T18:12:39.646-08:00 Happy New Year and hello New Zealand!   And here goes on a super fast power update and intentions on staying on top of blogging for the down under adventure.  So I got to spend New Years with Kim doing gig at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Vegas.  Small venue and fun show. And now it has been nearly 6 years and we are back for a gig at the Vector Arena, Auckland. http://daverat.blogspot.com/2013/01/dave-rat-blog-new-year-and-down-under.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-6289042895375619997Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:35:00 +00002012-11-04T07:34:24.913-08:00 There are several common societal things things that I find the opposite of enjoyable. The year end holidays are all good, humans all shopping at the same time making tons of traffic crowding everything, bummer. People stopping to assist someone in distress, cool. People lacking the self control and unable to resist the urge to slow down to look at an accident on the other side of the freeway, http://daverat.blogspot.com/2012/11/dave-rat-blog-decision-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-2219170500011707310Fri, 05 Oct 2012 01:33:00 +00002012-10-04T18:33:37.784-07:00 Last day of the tour leg has me in New Orleans and heading home tomorrow for a short break. Hey, check this out!  Peter Gabriel is rocking an Audix microphone capsule on a Shure wireless transmitter by using a SoundTools Audix to Shure adaptor Check out other cool SoundTools products at http://www.soundtools.com/  Oh, Also we are looking for more SoundTools distributors http://daverat.blogspot.com/2012/10/dave-rat-blog-tools-and-travels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-6258525649761790102Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:51:00 +00002012-09-29T13:51:56.023-07:00 San Antonio Texas and a cool hotel on the Riverwalk. Show day of the 4th gig of the tour leg. San Diego, Glendale AZ, and Denver so far with Dallas and New Orleans still ahead. I continue to ponder the deficiencies in the methods typically used to setup and measure the implementation of live audio systems and question whether a truly accurate and useful method even exists. Primarily http://daverat.blogspot.com/2012/09/dave-rat-blog-up-down-and-side-to-side.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-4075162801037557281Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:00:00 +00002012-09-19T07:33:53.098-07:00 So coming up on the last show of this leg of tour I start this post 45 minutes before lobby call in Istambul. Beirut show was three days ago and we're heading to Tel Aviv this afternoon. It is truly amazing and intriguing to visit these ancient and historical cities and yet find the common ground of happy and enthusiastic humans gathering to enjoy music. More so than any other travel trip Ihttp://daverat.blogspot.com/2012/09/dave-rat-blog-believing-illusions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131834850989610161.post-2168946218515470836Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:18:00 +00002012-09-05T01:18:24.032-07:00 It was very cool to be able to get to do sound seminars in Prague, Bucharest, Sofia and today in Athens as well. Meeting sound humans in each city is super cool. My latest ponder is back on to the deficiencies of the equipment we use to measure audio. It is so tempting to look at frequency response and believe it is an accurate picture of what we are hearing. Yes, I do very much rely on http://daverat.blogspot.com/2012/09/dave-rat-blog-perception-and-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)1