UNIT 65:TECHNICAL STAGE OPERATIONSSound Lauren Benson

SOUND DESK

Controls the level/volume of sound that exits speakers. There are 24 inputs and 2 main outputs (left and right speaker), and 4 auxiliary outputs. Mono can be achieved by 1 jack in the input, stereo can be achieved by 2 in the inputs.

SOUND DESK CONTROLS The sound desk includes PFL, gain, pan, faders and high mid and

low frequency controls (EQ).In order to adapt the gain, PFL must be pressed for the specific channel, and the gain must be turned so that the peak meter is just hitting the orange. This is so the sound has the ability to become louder/quieter without damaging equipment. The gain is also directly linked to the volume for each channel, and will give less or more volume to your speaker.To pan, if you had a left and right speaker for example, you would turn the left speaker’s pan all the way to the left and the right speaker’s all the way to the right to create an equal sound.Faders will control how loud the sound for each channel is.Master fader will control the sound for every channel.The EQ consists of 4 controls. There is a high, mid, mid and low dials. The top mid dial chooses the frequency and the bottom mid dial can be turned right to boost, or left to cut the sound. The EQ is used to make something clear or natural.

SOUND DESK SCENARIO

If I had to adjust the levels of 2 singers in a duet, and one was louder, I would first of all get them to sing with the backing track. I would set the backing track first of all, then adjust each channel separately with the master volume at 0DB. I would then use PFL to put the gain back to -16. I would then increase the channel volume to 0, and use the gain to increase/decrease the volume in order to stop the peak meter from flashing red. I would then adjust the EQ for each channel.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SPEAKERS

Active speakers have a built in amp, which means they are better for music gigs, but it also means they are heavier than passive speakers. Passive speakers are better for use in the rig because they are lighter, however a separate amp has to be connected.

SPEAKERS SCENARIOS

If I wanted to transport speakers easily to smaller venues, I would use active speakers. This is because I wouldn’t have to connect an amp, which would be more things to transport to new venues.

If I wanted to hang speakers in the rig, for the reason of raked seating, or so they aren’t on the floor, I would use passive speakers. This is because they are lighter, although an amp has to be connected additionally.

KETTLE LEAD/ IEC Used to connect the

speakers to the mains and the sound desk to the mains.

FIGURE 8

Used to connect a sound source such as a CD player to the mains.

XLR

Used to connect the sound desk to the speakers. Connected from the main output on the desk to the inputs on each speaker.

PHONO/COMPOSITE

Used to connect the sound source to the sound desk. The input on the desk will vary depending on the sound source. For example a CD player will use a line input whereas a microphone will use an XLR input with an XLR cable.

JACKS/ADAPTERS

Used on the phono cable to allow the sound desk to connect to the sound source.