....Ffordd Sain in Dolgellau with Community Music Wales .. Ffordd Sain yn Nolgellau gyda Cerdd Gymunedol Cymru....
….Tŷ Siamas is the National Centre for Folk Music in Wales, and is situated in Dolgellau, the second largest town in southern Gwynedd. Tŷ Siamas opened its doors to the public in Easter 2007, following extensive renovation and development of the old Neuadd Idris, which was formerly the town's market hall. The venue has strong links with Dolgellau's annual music festival, Sesiwn Fawr.
After consultation with Ywain Myfyr and its core members it was decided to pursue a technical workshop at Ty Siamas. They had recently invested in a brand-new digital sound desk to be used in conjunction with their P.A. system for gigs, jam sessions and other events. Whilst they had the necessary sound equipment to stage events at Tŷ Siamas, their members were lacking the skills and practical know-how of how to use this new equipment to its full potential.
The two-day workshops were aimed to address that need and enable Tŷ Siamas members to improve their sound engineering skills, in order that more people could make better use of the equipment and host jam nights and gigs. Our tutor and professional sound engineer Marc Pugh Jones delivered a practical hands on technical workshop with local participants. They learnt the basics of how to use a digital sound desk, set up DI boxes, how to mic up different instruments drum kits and amplifiers correctly, and how to soundcheck and mix a live band. Lost Volts, a local soul and funk band, provided the participants with a real-life sound engineering scenario in which they were able to recreate a live gig and soundcheck situation allowing participants to put into practice their newly learnt skills.
"There are gigs here at Ty Siamas and Dolgellau Rugby Club every month, but it would be good to see more happening here too."
"It would be good to see more local bands doing gigs and more open mics sessions and things like that."
"It would be nice to see more people coming to Tŷ Siamas including more local people who don't speak Welsh."
"I really enjoyed it! It was like doing a practice session for a live gig, learning about monitor mixes and how to do that has been really useful."
"I definitely have more confidence now when it comes to sound engineering, I just want to have a go now at a real gig!"
"The scene is growing here, a lot of young musicians are coming back to the area after being away from university and forming bands."
..
Canolfan Genedlaethol Cerddoriaeth Werin yng Nghymru yw Tŷ Siamas, ac mae wedi ei lleoli yn Nolgellau – yr ail dref fwyaf yn Ne Gwynedd. Agorodd Tŷ Siamas ei ddrysau i'r cyhoedd yn ystod Pasg 2007, yn dilyn gwaith adnewyddu sylweddol a datblygu hen Neuadd Idris, sef neuadd farchnad y dref cyn hynny. Mae gan y ganolfan gysylltiadau cryf â’r Sesiwn Fawr - gŵyl gerddorol flynyddol Dolgellau.
Ar ôl ymgynghori ag Ywain Myfyr a'r aelodau craidd penderfynwyd cynnal gweithdy technegol yn Nhŷ Siamas. Yn ddiweddar roedden nhw wedi buddsoddi mewn desg sain ddigidol newydd sbon i'w defnyddio ar y cyd â'u system P.A. ar gyfer gigs, sesiynau jamio a digwyddiadau eraill. Er bod ganddynt yr offer sain angenrheidiol i lwyfannu digwyddiadau yn Nhŷ Siamas, eto nid oedd gan yr aelodau y sgiliau a’r wybodaeth ymarferol er mwyn gallu defnyddio’r offer newydd hwn i’w lawn botensial.
Nod y gweithdai deuddydd oedd mynd i'r afael â'r angen hwnnw a chaniatáu i aelodau Tŷ Siamas wella eu sgiliau peirianneg sain, fel y gallai mwy o bobl wneud gwell defnydd o'r offer a chynnal nosweithiau jamio a gigs. Cyflwynodd Marc Pugh Jones, ein tiwtor, sydd hefyd yn beiriannydd sain proffesiynol, weithdy technegol ymarferol gyda chyfranogwyr lleol. Dysgwyd hanfodion sut i ddefnyddio desg sain ddigidol, trefnu blychau DI, sut i gysylltu meicroffon wrth wahanol offerynnau, drymiau ac offer chwyddo sain yn gywir, a sut i brofi sain a chymysgu band byw. Rhoddodd Lost Volts, band soul a ffync lleol, senario peirianneg sain ‘go iawn’ i'r cyfranogwyr er mwyn caniatáu iddynt ail-greu sefyllfa gig byw a gwirio sain fel bo’r cyfranogwyr yn gallu rhoi eu sgiliau newydd ar waith.
"There are gigs here at Ty Siamas and Dolgellau Rugby Club every month, but it would be good to see more happening here too."
"It would be good to see more local bands doing gigs and more open mics sessions and things like that."
"It would be nice to see more people coming to Tŷ Siamas including more local people who don't speak Welsh."
"I really enjoyed it! It was like doing a practice session for a live gig, learning about monitor mixes and how to do that has been really useful."
"I definitely have more confidence now when it comes to sound engineering, I just want to have a go now at a real gig!"
"The scene is growing here, a lot of young musicians are coming back to the area after being away from university and forming bands."….
“I definitely have more confidence now when it comes to sound engineering, I just want to have a go now at a real gig!”
