~ Jim Johnson ~, “JJ”, has been playing guitars since he was 10 years old. Jim ‘s first sound gig was at the Mason’s Lodge at the age of 13. A near native Californian, raised in Los Gatos, Jim loves Don Quixote’s International Music Hall in Felton, CA. “I enjoy this venue because it promotes so many first class international, US and local bands and we would otherwise not have the opportunity to hear and appreciate the incredible talent that they bring to the area”. It reminds me of my teenage years at the Chateau Liberte in the Hills above Santa Cruz, when I first heard such soon to be great bands as the Airplane and the Doobies”.

Business owner, electronic engineer and sound and recording engineer, Jim has worked with many bands. A few grammy winners, nominees and locals such as Storm, Phil N The Blanks, Papa Do Run Run, Mercury, and Joe Rose & The Dynaflows. No stranger to the stage at Shoreline and the Mt. Winery, Filmore even Winterland while working for BGP. Jim has experience on the Digidesign Pro Tools D-Show desk and recording consoles & software, Digidesign 003 Pro Tools, Yamaha PM5D 48CH with Studio Manager and various analog and digital house, monitor and recording systems.

One of the most rewarding productions for Jim was producer and live sound manager for “Muzik for Autism Awareness” in 2008, held on the steps of our Capitol. A benefit for autistic children.

Jim’s philosophy is to give the artist and the audience the best possible sound experience that allows everyone to walk away from the performance and think “WOW, what a great show!”and the performers to think back and remember “This was the best we have ever sounded and played”. The show belongs totally to the artist until down beat, after that, it belongs to the audience.

  Don Quixotes Sound & Light System

NEW SOUND and SYSTEM text. (2/2012)

Mixer:

Allen & Heath GL-2400 32x4x2x1 mixing desk; 4 stereo returns, 2 extra mono microphone preamps,7x4 matrix submixer, 6 pre/post switchable auxiliary sends. Channel strips include switchable phantom power, polarity, pad and 75hz. HPF. Switchable channel strip EQ's include LF and HF shelving and two 1.5 octave bell-curve quasi-parametric sweepable MF filters.

Stage snakes:

24x4 main snake, 12 channel sub-snake. 24 input splitter snake. (We use 22 channels to console, 2 channels for stereo mains return. 4 aux. returns for monitors. (Aux. returns feature parallel TRS 1/4” and XLR jacks)

Monitor system:

4 monitor mixes, sent from FOH console. 31 band graphic EQ w/variable HPF/LPF and limiters per send. 4 channels of 475 watt (RMS) QSC amplification; 2 Yamaha 2-way 15”/1” wedges, 2 E/V 2-way 15”/1” wedges. Drum monitor cabinet is 2-way, 15”/2” loaded with EV and Reinkus/Heinz drivers. Monitor amps feature safety limiters, monitor cabs feature HF limiters.

Main loudspeaker system:

6 E/V Eliminator I loudspeakers. 2-way, 15”/1” with HF protectors. (Flown array)

True stereo, with QSC Powerlight amplification; 3.4kw. power output and safety limiters.

1 twin 18” neodymium subwoofer, bridged mono Crest Tour Series amplification; 2.0 kw power output. (Sub is center-stage floor mounted, under stage skirt)

5.4kilowatt total power allows system to easily generate 118Db plus at the mix position. (30hz. to 18khz. freq. response)

Processing/outboard:

DBX 1/3 rd octave main EQ. Ashly electronic crossover.

2 main L+R compressor channels with VCA followed clip-limiters.

6 add'l compressors for channel/sub-group insertion. (2 with VCA followed clip-limiters and noise gate/expanders, 4 w/standard clip limiters-all feature switchable side-chain HPF)

Fuhrman 3-band parametric EQ for channel/sub-group insertion.

ADA digital delay unit.

Yamaha REV -500 reverb/delay unit

4 1/3 rd octave EQ's with variable limiters for monitors.

1 add'l insertable 1/3 rd octave EQ with variable limiter and variable HPF/LPF.

Lighting system:

Leviton 2-scene 32 channel DMX controller with programmable chase functions. 17 lighting instruments total, 75 watt PAR spots (Type A pre-focus) above stage, 3 Fresnel PAR flood wash instruments in auditorium.