Why everything you think you know about live sound is wrong.

If you’ve been getting your audio info from random people online, social media, Google, or YouTube, there is a high probability that you have been misinformed.

Not long ago I saw a post on Reddit from a self-proclaimed audio expert telling people that they should set all their faders at -0-, and mix from the gain knob.  This couldn’t be more wrong. Also wrong is refusing to use the high pass filter on anything.  Still wondering why your mix is so muddy?

If you’ve been getting your audio education from these sources, please do some deeper investigating and make sure the person doling out the information is actually qualified to do so.

Who are they?  What kind of credibility do they have?  Having spent more than 30 years in this business I have run into my share of audio gewrews who could rattle off endless model numbers of all the latest gear from speakers to processors but didn’t have the slightest idea what EQ did or how to use it properly. 

My point is, be careful who you learn from and don’t just blindly accept the first thing you read.  Rely on trusted sources- publications and websites like Live Sound Intl., FOH, ProSound Web, Mixing Music Live, and AES are a few. 

Google can be useful, but you may have to look further than the first page.  For example- A quick search of ‘How to mix a live band’ results in:

This is a very brief and vague set of directions and if you are Googling ‘how to mix a band’, you are probably in need of more detailed information.

It’s kind of the equivalent of telling someone who has never flown a plane that you just get in the cockpit, start the engines, radio the tower, grab the yoke, head down the runway, and take off.  There are probably 100 little things that need to happen in each of those steps and if you’ve never even sat in the pilot’s seat, it’s unlikely you would know the details and procedures involved in each step or all of the important ones in between.

Similar to a pilot, live sound engineers need to perform hundreds of small steps that make up the very brief list above. 

When you’ve never mixed a band or even set up a sound system for a live show, would you know how to set up and plug in all of the equipment?  Do you know all of the steps that need to occur before you are ready to soundcheck? 

If you’re unfamiliar with signal flow, gain structure, the controls on the soundboard, various types of microphones and how to choose the right one for your needs, where to place it, how to use EQ and Dynamics, etc.  (all essential concepts of live sound and mixing and also exactly what I teach in Mixing Music Live), an article like the one above is not much help.

There are better questions you could search for that might yield more informative results however, it’s hard to know what to ask when you are unfamiliar with the subject.

While on the subject of asking questions, it's also important to not be afraid to ask questions.

When you're just getting started in live sound it is easy to be intimidated by the equipment and some of the people you work with.

If you get the opportunity to work a show or event with a skilled crew, you might feel embarrassed to admit you don't understand directions you were given by another member of the crew.  It's totally ok.  Just let them know you are new to the job and could use a bit more information.  The people you are working with would much rather you get the details you need to do the task correctly instead of having to fix what you did wrong later.

For those who recently graduated from schools like Blackbird, Full Sail, Belmont, or others with a degree in audio or show production, it can be easy to feel like you need to prove yourself after having put in the time and money to get an education.  Be careful not to fall into the trap of having a chip on your shoulder because you aced your classes and maybe even worked a few shows while you were in school or volunteered at a church running sound.

Formal education is a great thing and becoming more and more necessary in the live event industry as technology becomes increasingly complex.  However, real-world experience is equally necessary.  Most schools teach best-case scenarios and have high-quality equipment for you to learn on.  The real world of live sound is often not the best-case scenario and if your goal is to be a freelance engineer, you'll often find yourself dealing with less-than-ideal gear.  You'll need to know how to get an old and worn-out club system working so you can mix your band's show.  You'll need to be able to adapt and overcome the daily challenges that come with the job.  These skills are learned through experience.

Pay attention to those with far more experience than you.  Ask thoughtful questions, don't pretend to know something you don't.  If you are working with a highly skilled engineer ask if you can shadow them and soak in everything you can.  Seek out trusted and reliable sources for information and answers to your questions.  

If you're just getting started in Live Sound and need to learn the basics check out my program Mixing Music Live.  If you've already got some experience and would like to make live sound your career I can help with that.  Check out Pathways to Pro Audio.

_{By: Michelle Sabolchick}