Sound Engineer For Live Sound, just want to bounce questions off you. Options

[soon2be]

I'm very interested in making music but right now live sound is more important for me to know. And even though Im learning the baby of basics when it comes to making music and sounds on the computer I want to be able to focus more on live performances. So I need to be able to bounce some simple questions and have them anwered in simple terms.

What (to you, the answerer) is the most important quality in a live sound engineer? What is the first thing I need to focus on?

I know things here and there from listening and watching but I dont have a starting point, so therefor I dont know which way is up. I dont know if there is a way up really because the more you know the better huh?

[Meganini]

Meganini [/QUOTE]
What (to you, the answerer) is the most important quality in a live sound engineer? What is the first thing I need to focus on?

I know things here and there from listening and watching but I dont have a starting point, so therefor I dont know which way is up. I dont know if there is a way up really because the more you know the better huh?

OK Soon2Be,

This is Meganini.

I have about 25 years experience in audio engineering, live and studio (recording). Now, listen that does not makes me a god of audio, but I do know my fair share.

Your ears, are very important. But most important if you have to do the sound live for a band, make sure you can go to their practices. Don't forget to bring a pair of ear plugs. Some guys even in practice play really loud. This you must do if you want to know their sound. Just sit in a corner and listen to them, don't interviene in anything, let them be themselves.

Try to know your microphones. If the singer insist to use a certain mike because its the mike that fits his voice better, then believe him, at least for the first time and try it.

If everything is miked with SM-57 and SM-58 you won't have much trouble. Its bottom line but you'll get a good sound very close to "their sound" in no time.

Refuse to mix on a Yamaha mixer, they're the shit!

If you want to avoid cable problems as in "suddently faulty cables" just learn how to roll them properly, and explain to the band leader that you're the one that takes care of this. Speaker cables are rolled a certain way, while shielded cables are rolled differently.

I could type on and on until 5:00 a.m. here, but Soon2be be confident in yourself, but not overconfident. Set and wire the P.A. system yourself, that way you will not have to face disappointment from newbies who don't know what they do, or from jealous people (yes, grasshopper, in music there are a lot of those people)

One secret from the ol' pro. On the mixer don't play with the volume like crazy, you're not a D.J., you're a soundman. If the tune they play sounds just fine, then adjust nothing. That's your job

Meganini

This post has been edited by Meganini: Tue 10 Aug 2004, 04:34

[Audioaxe]

Sorry but i dont agree with this statement at all ........................Meganini [/QUOTE]

Refuse to mix on a Yamaha mixer, they're the shit!

There is nothing wrong with Yamaha consoles infact the DM5 is almost an industry standard, years ago the only desks you ever wanted were the PM 2000 or a midas Pro series

[TKO]

[quote name='Audioaxe' date='Wed 17 Jan 2007, 05:55' post='225591']
Sorry but i dont agree with this statement at all ........................Meganini [/QUOTE]

Refuse to mix on a Yamaha mixer, they're the shit!

There is nothing wrong with Yamaha consoles infact the DM5 is almost an industry standard, years ago the only desks you ever wanted were the PM 2000 or a midas Pro series
[/quote]

What is this? Everyone might have their own preferences when it comes to mixing consoles and most of the time you get what you pay for but if your P. A. is tuned correctly, you got decent amps and loudspeakers and your mics are right you can mix on almost any f- king console, if you can´t, well... maybe you´re just a snob.

[AudioTechNews]

[quote name='TKO' date='Thu 25 Jan 2007, 11:48' post='226647']
[quote name='Audioaxe' date='Wed 17 Jan 2007, 05:55' post='225591']
Sorry but i dont agree with this statement at all ........................Meganini [/QUOTE]

Refuse to mix on a Yamaha mixer, they're the shit!

There is nothing wrong with Yamaha consoles infact the DM5 is almost an industry standard, years ago the only desks you ever wanted were the PM 2000 or a midas Pro series
[/quote]

What is this? Everyone might have their own preferences when it comes to mixing consoles and most of the time you get what you pay for but if your P. A. is tuned correctly, you got decent amps and loudspeakers and your mics are right you can mix on almost any f- king console, if you can´t, well... maybe you´re just a snob.
[/quote]


I've been lucky enough to mix on (arguably) some of the best consoles around at the moment, both analogue and digital.

I love them, and it's great, but I would get a very similar sound if I was using a basic Soundcraft.

There is no main aspect to get right, rather a combination. You will find preferences, and if you have the sway, it's best to use it so you don't get lumbered with equipment you find lacking.

Best thing I can suggest is that once you're on the job, get there early, give yourself plenty of time to set up, test, EQ FoH, rinse the monitors from feedback as best as possible and lay your mics and cables in an organised, neat way so they're easy to swap if you need to (and pack up at the end of the night!).

*If you regularly work in a club and you're not the main sound guy, don't mess with the EQ!

You'll make mistakes, everyone does. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar.

Use your ears, and trust them. It takes a bit of time, experience and trial and error to get it right.

Respect those who have been doing it for longer, and ask them questions if you need to. They shouldn't mind too much at all.

Try to stay on the ball. Use your head. If something goes wrong, trace the line from the source (microphone/stage end) to the desk.

So is it the

Mic
XLR lead
Input stage end
Input desk end
Something on the desk.

Depending on the situation, and whats happening, you'll know which course to follow.

ALWAYS MUTE A CHANNEL IF YOU'RE TESTING IT!

Before you leave the desk to go and sort out something that doesn't work - mute the channel it's on. You should be able to see if there's something coming into the desk on the pre fade limiter (PFL), or 'solo' meter.

Don't panic.

If it's all going to shit, take a breath. Think about it.

My advice is get some experience, make your mistakes and read books if you want to when you're not on the job.

Apply what you've learned next time you have the chance. Make sure you get the chance. Don't start taking guide books to work, it looks amateur.

Be diplomatic.

Have fun. If you're not having fun, there are better ways of earning money. Even the best paid sound jobs are hard work, and take up loads of time, are often boring and unsociable.

Don't drink on the job.

Hope that helps a bit..

Chris