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About Steve La Cerra

Steve La Cerra is a drummer and an independent live sound / recording engineer based in the New York area. He is the front-of-house engineer and tour manager for Blue Öyster Cult and has worked with artists such as Joe Jackson, The Struts, Firehouse and Robert Fripp. Steve teaches Music Technology at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY and has authored many articles on professional audio technology. He is currently working on a book about live sound.

Discover the Sonic Possibilities of Your Drums, Part 2

Get the most from your drums.

Discover the Sonic Possibilities of Your Drums, Part 1

Get the most out of your drums.

The Highs and Lows of Life On Tour

What to expect and how to prepare.

How to Become a Great Session Drummer

Tips for being successful in the studio, both on and off the kit.

Live Sound Troubleshooting Tips, Part 2

How to find and solve problems in your PA system.

Live Sound Troubleshooting Tips, Part 1

How to find and solve problems in your PA system.

How to Use Inserts

How this special patch point can help improve your sound.

Seven Ways to Ensure a Smooth Sound Check

Great shows start with an efficient sound check.

Step Up To A Better Mixer

How to know when it’s time to move up to a pro-level mixer.

The Five Different Kinds of Snare Drums Explained

The most common types of snares and how they’re used.

Behind the Scenes at NAMM: The Yamaha Main Stage

Transforming a plaza into a festival concert site.

Spotlight On Yamaha PHX Series Acoustic Drums

Creating the ultimate high-end drum kit.

A Brief Guide to Drum Tonewoods

A look at the various woods used to manufacture drum shells.

12 Holiday Shows To Stream This Season

Classic episodes to get you into the holiday spirit.

Electronic Drums

Spotlight on the DTX8/DTX10

Yamaha raises the bar with these electronic drum kits.

Rec’n’Share in Five Easy Steps

How to get up and running quickly with this innovative app.

Live Drumming Is Back: Tips for Gigging with Electronic and Hybrid Drum Kits

Here’s what you need to know about using a Yamaha DTX6 or EAD10 onstage.

Electronic Drums

DTX6 Deep Dive, Part 5: A New Level of Playability

Expressiveness beyond traditional electronic drums.

Electronic Drums

DTX6 Deep Dive, Part 4: Customizing, Importing and Layering Sounds

Unlock your creativity.

Electronic Drums

DTX6 Deep Dive, Part 3: Training Tools

Features that can help you become a better drummer.

Electronic Drums

DTX6 Deep Dive, Part 2: Recording Options

Different ways you can record using the DTX6.

Electronic Drums

DTX6 Deep Dive, Part 1: The Kit Modifier

A fast and easy way for drummers to find their own voice.

Electronic Drums

There’s a New Kit in Town

Introducing DTX6 Series electronic drums.

Artists, Drum Artists

The Signature Sound

Yamaha Artist Steve Gadd on the development of his Signature Snare Drum.

Live Recording, Part 2

How to make multitrack recordings of your band’s rehearsals and shows.

Electronic Drums

Tips for Sharing Your Drum Performances Online

Virtual collaboration made easy.

Live Recording, Part 1

How to capture your band’s rehearsals and shows in stereo.

Electronic Drums

How to Practice Drums … Without Disturbing the Neighbors

How to rig for silent running.

Stage Drums, Studio Drums

The Modern Drum Set, Part 5: Cymbals and Hardware

They provide the sizzle and support for your drum set.

What Does the Phase Button Do?

An explanation of the mysterious symbol Ø.

Stage Drums, Studio Drums

The Modern Drum Set, Part 4: Foot Pedals

Giving the feet equal time.

To Woof or Not to Woof?

How a subwoofer can improve the sound of your PA system.

Electronic Drums

Get More from Your EAD10 with v2.0 Firmware

New enhancements expand the capabilities and versatility of this revolutionary drum module.

Stage Drums, Studio Drums

The Modern Drum Set, Part 3: Toms

From sound effect to drum set essential.

Using Solo During Live Mixing

This important tool seems straightforward but actually has multiple uses.

Stage Drums, Studio Drums

The Modern Drum Set, Part 2: The Bass Drum

Adding some boom to the room.

Practice Exercises for the Beginning Drummer

Eight drills for your daily workout.

Top 10 Things to Know About Audio Networking

Tips for sharing your digital signals efficiently.

Stage Drums, Studio Drums

The Modern Drum Set, Part 1: The Snare Drum

The backbeat of contemporary music.

Using Pads In Live Sound

What is a pad and how can it help keep your audio free from distortion?

Dante^® 101

In audio, as in life, it’s all about the networking.

Using Scene Memory

How to make a scene and get away with it.

The Direct Path

What’s a DI and why do you need one?

Cleanliness Is King

What can you do when audio gremlins sneak into your PA system?

Appreciating the Artistry of Elton John

These are the songs that made the man a legend.

The Benefits of Recording Drum Practice and Performance

Recording yourself is a great way to improve your playing.

The Role of Remote Control

Using mobile devices for wireless control in live sound.

Using DSP, Part 2: Mixers

How digital signal processing is incorporated into mixing consoles.

Using DSP, Part 1: Powered Loudspeakers

How is digital processing used in live sound?

Deciphering Power Ratings, Part 2: Powered Speakers

Take the mystery out of matching amps and speakers.

Deciphering Power Ratings, Part 1: Amplifiers

Making sense of all those numbers.

Grouping In Live Sound

What it is, how it works and when to use it.

Live Sound Interconnections 101

Using the right cables and connectors will keep your audio clean and quiet.

Live Sound, Pro Audio How-to

How to Fight Feedback, Part 2

Using EQ to eliminate feedback and “ring out” your PA system.

Live Sound, Pro Audio How-to

How to Fight Feedback, Part 1

What is audio feedback, and what causes it?

Aux Sends and Returns

Audio pathways that allow you to route multiple signals to the destination(s) of your choice.

Using Reverb and Delay In Live Sound, Part 2

Tips for adding spaciousness to instruments.

Using Reverb and Delay In Live Sound, Part 1

Add spaciousness to your mix with these creative tools.

Equalization

Tonal control for shaping your sound.

Gain Staging

Get this right, and you’ll enjoy minimum noise and maximum clarity.