Live Music, Live Mix: The Magic and the Math

You know that moment when a gig just clicks — when everyone on stage suddenly realizes it’s more than just a show? That’s where this episode starts. You’ll hear how saying “yes” to new gigs can lead to unexpected magic, how the right players bring out the best in each other, and why being open to unfamiliar styles can change everything.

Then the conversation gets gloriously geeky as Dave Hamilton and guest co-host Daniel East dive into using Waves plugins live, connecting your Mac to a console via Dante, and why automixing is almost—but not quite—ready for primetime. From heart to hardware, it’s all about finding balance between feel and finesse. Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 508 – Monday, November 17th, 2025
  • November 17th: Odd Socks Day
  • Guest co-host: Daniel East
• 00:01:24 Playing with Brit Drozda
  • Had lunch with a guitar player friend, and the gig came together!
  • First gig, three songs in, and everyone knew it was more-than-just-a-gig
• 00:07:08 Lesson: take gigs even if it’s not your style
  • Don’t say no because you don’t think it’s your style
  • Don’t say no because you don’t (yet!) know the material
  • You could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings it to a completely different level
• 00:11:15 The magic that can just happen when the right people come together
• 00:14:24 Nerding out about drumsticks. Of course!
  • Dan is now endorsing Headhunters Sticks
  • Vic Firth 5B Double Glaze
• 00:23:02 Pitch Slap Percussion Cajons
• 00:26:03 SPONSOR: GigSalad. Always Be Performing means “Always Be Booking”, too. Head to GigSalad.com to create your free profile today!
  • (and check out Gig Gab 482 with Mark Steiner from May, 2025, too!)
• 00:28:12 Waves plugins on any size gig…if you NEED it.
  • Using a console with Dante, you can link via Ethernet to your MacBook Pro and use plugins
  • Dan’s new favorite console: Yamaha DM3D ($2,000) console
  • Waves Plugins to use when mixing live audio
    • Waves SuperRack Performer ($99)
    • Waves TRACT System Calibration ($399)
    • Waves Feedback Hunter ($99.99)
    • Waves Silk LIVE ($29.99)
    • Waves F6 Dynamic EQ
    • Waves L4 Maximizer ($49.99)
    • Waves Primary Source Expander ($39.99)
    • Waves Tune Real-Time ($49.99)
    • Waves Clarix LB (what Dave SHOULD have tested in GG 508!)
• 01:10:06 Automixing is coming, folks!
• 01:11:16 Years ago, Robert Scovill taught Dan: pay attention.
• 01:12:35 Gig Gab 508 Outtro
  • Find Daniel East
    • DanielEast.net
    • @eastd and @themixdoctor
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • [email protected]
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

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