Performance in a Larger Venue

There are quite a few factors that figure into a good sounding live performance. Probably the most important, apart from the performance itself, is the mixing engineer that controls the sound and makes the artists perform their best (by good monitor mix) and leaves an audience very satisfied. Another important task of the sound technician is to make sure that the equipment is in good working order. The cables are in good shape. If the artist is using a wireless, making sure that the batteries of the transmitter are new as well as many other considerations.

A proper equipment setup requires a few things; speakers, monitors, microphones, cables, and a mixing board to unify sound. The console needs to be out of sight of the audience, but permit the engineer to listen to the performers so he/she can raise or lower the volumes if needed. Many technicians also use headsets with their mixing boards so they can hear the sound clearly without audience interference when necessary.

Speakers and cables are many times already at the performance space because the engineers that regularly work there are familiar with the acoustics and gear of the space better than anyone. Most technicians will have extra cables just in case. A technician may always bring more speakers if necessary, but since they're bulky it may be best to contact the venue ahead of time to see if you'll need them.

Monitors permit the performers to hear themselves while they are doing their thing. While this may not seem important initially, monitors can make or break a performance and are usually located at the feet of the performers. The mixing board technician should have connection to these monitors and be able to control their levels before and during a performance. Some singers prefer head-worn monitors instead of floor monitors so they can get a more isolated mix. This choice is generally utilized by drummers since their instruments often are too bulky or too loud for a comfortable floor monitor. The drummer above all will need a closed ear design headphone because of the shear loudness of the drums.

Microphones are a bit more complicated than speakers and monitors since there's a wider variety of them. Hand-held mics are over-all the most stable and trustworthy since they connect to the mixer directly. However, having a clutter of wires on-stage can be get tangled around the performer, especially if they're moving around a lot. Wireless mics are easier to handle for the performer, but can have issues with reception. Cheaper wireless mics may need an uninterrupted signal directly to the mixing board, meaning that if someone walks in front of the mic, the signal will falter. In this case, you might consider going with a wired hand-held or use a better UHF wireless type. In case the show is being recorded for posterity, it may be preferable to use a wired hand-held for the sake of reliability. In case the singer or instrumentalist wants to have the freedom to move a lot (i. E. Dancers or actors), wireless mics can be important to the performance. Another decision needs to be made in this case; do you choose hand held wireless mics or go with a headset mic? Often headset mics are utilized for active shows just because it leaves the performer's hands free. Some headset mics have a headband or ear hook to keep them in place while others require skin safe tape for placement.

Mixing the sound properly is hard work. If mixing for a music concert, the audience will generally want to hear the singer up-front. This needs to be balanced against the loudness of the drums, the guitar and bass levels, the sounds from the keyboard, and any back up singers that may be in attendance. The drum-set is often where volume levels start since you can only mitigate the sound so much. The performing artist is not often pleased with how they come accross, but it's the people in the audience that the mixer must satisfy.

Another consideration for the engineer occurs if the performance is being recorded. At times engineers choose to record the monitor outputs, because it lowers the chances of interference on the lines. As a result, the reverb (or the echo as part of the line) is more difficult to control . The outputs on these channels and the recording itself may sound muddy and uninteresting. In a word flat. Recording a live-show from the console feed can render a better mix, but filters should be used to eliminate part of the ambient noise (i. E. Audience cheers, coughs, etc.).

So much goes into a live show that many aren't even aware of, but every component is key. All in all, it takes a knowledgeable technician, a decent setup, and quality equipment to make a live performance go off without a hitch.


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Bruce Hathaway has been a recording engineer and musician for over 25 years. Through this experience, including his own home project studio, he has become an audio expert offering advice to other musicians interested in recording. If you're interested in microphones and mic accessories, click on the link to see Bruce's online shop.