One of the most important things in
owning a performance venue is having the right sound equipment. Many people overlook this seemingly simple
aspect and its importance, but providing bands with a reliable sound system
requires a lot of planning and equipment.
This is going to be a basic outline of how a typical sound system should
be set up.
First, we need to think about where the
initial sound is coming from, whether it is from a vocalist, guitar, bass, or
drum. Microphones are placed to pick up
sounds and are then sent to a mixer. As
the name implies, the mixer is responsible for combining all incoming audio
signals and producing a completed aural landscape. The mixed signal is sent to an amplification
device to increase the volume to be heard throughout the venue. The amplified signal is then sent through the
speakers and into the ears of the audience.
This video gives a quick reference to the signal flow of the
audio signals in a sound system.
Provided with that basic structure,
there are still more things to consider.
There are many different types of each component to the sound
system. Certain microphones are better
at picking up certain frequencies than others (a vocal mic vs. a kick drum
mic); same principle goes for speakers.
Not only does the audience need to hear the performance, but the band
also needs to hear themselves; monitor speakers are placed in front of each
musician and given a special mix of the band.
Mixing requires a special skill and can’t just be replicated by the push
of a button; mixing engineers need to be hired for the front-of-house system
and for the monitoring system. A common problem that seems to occur in most music venues is the overpowering bass
frequencies. A lot of bass can provide
much of the excitement and punch associated with live acts, but too much can
sound “muddy” and drown out the rest of the instruments.
As you can see, there are a lot of
equipment and finer details involved in providing a stellar show, much of which
is overlooked by the casual listener. If
only it were just a simple matter of plugging in and playing and not having to
worry about stage feedback, checking levels, accurate monitor mixes, and
conflicting sound frequencies.
