Sound Reinforcement

VET Music
What is Sound Reinforcement?

 Manipulating electronic audio equipment to support / enhance acoustic

sound
 Setting up and operating PA systems
 Providing for audio for a number of different contexts – e.g. Music Concerts,
Public Speaking, Theatre Shows
The Roles of a Live Sound Engineer

 Assess the production requirements

 Assess the equipment that is available
 Plan how to best meet the production requirements with the available gear
 Set up the equipment
 Operate the equipment
 Continuously monitor sound and enhance where possible
 Pack up the equipment
 Basic Equipment Terms
 Microphone - picks up  XLR Leads / Mic Leads –
acoustic sound and The main lead that
converts it to electric
signal – there are a range
signal will flow through
of microphones to between devices
capture different sounds

 Mixing desk
1. Collects multiple sources of electric  ¼ inch jack / Guitar
signal (through microphones) Leads – The main lead
2. Within the desk, Volume, EQ and FX that connects
can be adjusted
instruments to amps
3. Sends the signal out to another
device

 DI Box – Converts a ¼
inch jack lead to XLR
 Speaker – Receives
electric signal and
coverts it to acoustic
sound
Basic Equipment Terms
 Power Amp – Speakers  Jug Plugs / Kettle
do not always have their Cords – A generic
own power supply. power cord that
Power amps power these powers most
types of speakers audio devices
(passive)

 Effects Unit – collects

 Multicore with stage
signal and adds an
effect which alters the
sound
 Graphic Equaliser –
Collects signal and can
alter volumes of specific
frequencies
box – a mic lead
extension cord – this
connects to
microphones on
stage and connects
to mixing desks in
front of stage
Signal Path

To set up and operate Audio Equipment it is important to comprehend

Signal Path

Acoustic Electric Acoustic

Sound Signal Sound
 Basic Signal Path

XLR Lead XLR Lead

Microphone
Mixing Desk Speaker
Advanced Signal Path
Multicore
Front of House
Speaker (active)

Foldback Speaker
(passive)
Mixing Desk
Advanced Signal Path
 Mixing Desk
 The trickiest piece of audio gear is the mixing desk – Some desks have built in
features to minimise the use of outboard gear (Effects units).
 Mixing desks not only have the ability to receive multiple sound signals, but they
can send this signal out to multiple places.
 There are many different mixing desks with different, sizes, features and
operations, however they all follow the same principle
 Mixing Desk
 The main thing to remember is that signal path flows through a desk, there are
certain gateways that need to be activated for the sound to pass through

Mic Input Gain Mute Speaker Master

allocation Level
Levels
(Main / Sub)

Output
 Mixing Desk
 To complicate matters, there can be multiple signal paths that deal with different speakers.
Mixing desks not only have their main output, but they have an alternative output for foldback
speakers. These can sometimes be called ‘auxiliary sends’ and ‘monitors’

Mic Input Gain Mute Speaker Master

allocation Level
Levels
(Main / Sub)

Monitor
Level Master
Mute

Master
Monitor Monitor
Monitor Output
Mute Output
Level
 Mixing Desk
Mic Input Gain Mute Speaker Master
allocation Level
Levels
(Main / Sub)

Master
Mute

Output
 Mixing Desk
 Mixing desks can also alter volumes of frequencies for each sound source (this is called EQ)
 Mixing desks can add FX to the sound such as reverb, distortion and alter how much FX is used
 Mixing desks can determine what sound goes to the left and right speakers with pan
 Some microphones and DI boxes require power to run, the mixing desk can provide this power through the XLR leads. This is called
‘phantom power’ and may also be labelled as ’48 volts’

FX
EQ Selector

FX
PAN

FX Master
 Sound Reinforcement Setup
 Work out the technical requirements of the music group, if there are multiple
bands on the bill, cater for the largest band and then go through list of other
acts and cater for extra instruments as needed. Write a channel list describing
what instrument is in each channel. E.g. 1. Vocal Left / 2. Vocal Right
 It is standard practice to label left to right as the sound engineer sees the stage
and order it left to right as if you are reading a book
 Move sound equipment into place considering where audience will be sitting
and where musicians will be performing – it is NOT the sound engineers
responsibility to set up musical equipment and amps
 Run power to all components that need it and run extension cords where
necessary. Try and run all leads along the same path
 Once everything has power, link up all components with cable and the
multicore as required. Use your channel list to determine what channel
microphones need to connect to
 Tidy up leads, and try to keep the slack of the lead at the base of the
instruments. This is so microphones can be moved easier during a performance
 Sound Reinforcement Preparation
 Turning on the system – first switch on the mixing desk, and then the speakers (or
power amp)
 Once the setup is in place a sound engineer must perform a line check to
ensure all components and microphones are correctly connected to the mixing
desk.
 Channel by channel, get someone to talk into the microphone at a loud and
consistent level. Adjust the input gain at an optimum level for collecting the
signal. Slowly bring up the channel levels and master levels and check that the
sound is coming through all front of house speakers and foldback speakers.
 Any channel which doesn’t work, make a note of and troubleshoot after the line
check is complete
 Troubleshooting – check microphone, lead, desk settings
 Sound Reinforcement Preparation
 Once the line up is completed – ideally the engineer performs a sound check
 A sound check is performed to balance volumes, optimise frequency EQ for
each sound source and add FX as required to enhance the overall sound
 The other purpose of a sound check is to optimise fold back levels for the band,
 Beware that some production contexts may not allow much time for a sound
check, and quite often the sound check happens when the first song is
performed!
 If there are multiple bands on the bill it is best to sound check last band to first to
first band last, and keep notes of any adjustments that are made between
bands
 Sound Reinforcement Performance
 The sound engineer must watch and listen carefully to the performance and react
accordingly to enhance the music
 They may need to ‘ride the fader’ and alter levels during the songs, for example to
enhance a guitar solo or compensate for a vocalist too far away from the
microphone
 They need to react quickly to minimise ‘feedback’
 They need to ensure the performer is happy with their fold back levels
 They need to help set up the next performer – at a gig with multiple bands it is a good
idea to play ‘house music’ through the PA from an mp3 player between bands so
there is not an awkward silence during changeover
What is feedback?

 Feedback is a consistent ringing sound that is caused when the microphone

amplifies the sound coming through the speaker, therefore causing a loop.
 You can minimise feedback by reducing the mic input gain, or the output level
– but keep in mind that it is usually the fold back speakers that causing
feedback as it is the one facing the microphones
 Feedback usually rings at certain frequencies and you can also minimise
feedback by cutting the volume of these frequencies on a graphic equaliser.
This way you don’t lose overall volume.
 Mic placement is another way to manage feedback, ensure that the mic is
facing away from speakers where possible
Packing Up

 When turning off equipment, you start by powering down speakers (or
power amp for passive speakers) and then the mixing desk.
 It is important to correctly roll leads, this saves hours of wasted time dealing
with leads getting knotted together, and protects the life of the lead
 Pop Quiz
 What does a DI box do?
 What is the difference between front of house and foldback?
 What does Auxilary and Monitor mean?
 What does a graphic equaliser do?
 What is the difference between passive and active speakers?
 What lead is used for attaching speakers to mixing desks?
 How can you minimise the amount of leads being sent from stage to mixing
console?
 What does Pan do?
 What does phantom power do?
 What is the difference between line check and sound check?
 What order do you switch on speakers and mixer when you are powering up the
PA?
 Final notes
 Providing sound reinforcement is not only a fantastic occupation, but an
essential skill for musicians working in the industry
 Often bands need to provide their own sound, or at least have experience in
sound reinforcement to communicate clearly with engineers
 It is important to have good communication and problem solving skills to
succeed in this role
 Depending on equipment limitations and production requirements you may
have to improvise with the equipment. There is no one correct way to set up a
sound system