Sound CheckSound Check

SoundCheckSoundCheck

How to Sound Check a How to Sound Check a bandband

Patch in all the channels. Start from Patch in all the channels. Start from the drums channels 1-8 then the drums channels 1-8 then Percussion Bass Guitars Keys Horns Percussion Bass Guitars Keys Horns Vocals and instruments as you see them Vocals and instruments as you see them from the FOH.from the FOH.

Assign groups accordinglyAssign groups accordingly Turn on phantom power for appropriate Turn on phantom power for appropriate

channelschannels Important!!! Have all musicians play at Important!!! Have all musicians play at

the volume they will be at during the the volume they will be at during the showshow

How to Sound Check a How to Sound Check a bandband Get the drummer to play the Kick drum. PFL Get the drummer to play the Kick drum. PFL

and EQ the kick channel and then move on to and EQ the kick channel and then move on to the snarethe snare

Have the drummer hit each tom one at a time in Have the drummer hit each tom one at a time in sequence as to get an even balance between sequence as to get an even balance between each one. each one.

( Insert Gates and adjust )( Insert Gates and adjust ) You may want to add some reverb to the toms You may want to add some reverb to the toms

at this timeat this time Follow this by the Hi Hat and overheads Follow this by the Hi Hat and overheads Have the drummer play “time” mix drums and Have the drummer play “time” mix drums and

add effects add effects ( Reverb to the snare )( Reverb to the snare ) and insert and insert gates if necessarygates if necessary

If there is percussion check PFL and EQ If there is percussion check PFL and EQ ( Add ( Add reverb )reverb )

How to Sound Check a How to Sound Check a bandband

Have the bassist play. PFL and set Have the bassist play. PFL and set gain, set EQ insert a gain, set EQ insert a compressor compressor if if you have one and adjust.you have one and adjust.

Time Permitting, have drummer and Time Permitting, have drummer and Bass player play together to get a nice Bass player play together to get a nice blend of rhythm section focusing on blend of rhythm section focusing on the Kick and Bass.the Kick and Bass.

If there is percussion check PFL and If there is percussion check PFL and EQEQ

SoundCheckSoundCheck

How to SoundCheck a How to SoundCheck a bandband

Guitars same as above PFL an EQGuitars same as above PFL an EQ Keys PFL and EQ Keys PFL and EQ ( If keyboard player doesn’t ( If keyboard player doesn’t

have his own amp add it to his monitor mix have his own amp add it to his monitor mix immediately so he can hear himself ) ( May immediately so he can hear himself ) ( May need Compression )need Compression )

Horns Horns ( Compression and Effects )( Compression and Effects ) All the vocals in order as you see them written All the vocals in order as you see them written

on the console on the console ( Compression not too much )( Compression not too much ) If you are mixing monitors from FOH turn off If you are mixing monitors from FOH turn off

all the instrument channels except for the all the instrument channels except for the vocals so that you can still communicate back vocals so that you can still communicate back and fourth then start setting the monitors.and fourth then start setting the monitors.

How to SoundCheck a How to SoundCheck a bandband

Send each singers vocal in their monitors Send each singers vocal in their monitors first then work on each mix one at a time. first then work on each mix one at a time.

Ask each musician what he or she would Ask each musician what he or she would like to hear in his or her monitor. like to hear in his or her monitor. ( Watch ( Watch for thumbs up )for thumbs up )

Put only what they ask to hear in their Put only what they ask to hear in their monitors monitors (Within Reason)(Within Reason)

How to SoundCheck a How to SoundCheck a bandband

Usually things that are farthest away Usually things that are farthest away from them on the stage. from them on the stage. (Instruments (Instruments they can’t hear well acoustically)they can’t hear well acoustically)

Usually you will put all the vocals in Usually you will put all the vocals in each singers mix but keeping their each singers mix but keeping their vocal on top of the others in their vocal on top of the others in their monitormonitor

SoundCheckSoundCheck

How to SoundCheck a How to SoundCheck a bandband

Once they are happy with the monitor mixes Once they are happy with the monitor mixes turn on the main mix. turn on the main mix.

Get the band to play a song and before Get the band to play a song and before bringing up the mains bringing up the mains ( Left and Right ( Left and Right Master )Master ), put the vocals in the mix first and , put the vocals in the mix first and see how the it sounds in the room with see how the it sounds in the room with vocals only. vocals only.

Slowly start bringing in the instruments one Slowly start bringing in the instruments one at a time as needed. Starting with the Kick at a time as needed. Starting with the Kick and Bassand Bass

Get a decent mix by reinforcing the stage Get a decent mix by reinforcing the stage sound sound

Walk around the room and listenWalk around the room and listen

How to SoundCheck a How to SoundCheck a bandband

Realize that sometimes you can't Realize that sometimes you can't make it sound great in all areas of the make it sound great in all areas of the room because of coverage standing room because of coverage standing waves reflective surfaces etc.waves reflective surfaces etc.

A A standing wavestanding wave, also known as a , also known as a stationary stationary wavewave, is a , is a wavewave that remains in a constant that remains in a constant position. This phenomenon can occur because position. This phenomenon can occur because the medium is moving in the opposite direction the medium is moving in the opposite direction to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary to the wave, or it can arise in a stationary medium as a result of medium as a result of interferenceinterference between between two waves travelling in opposite directions.two waves travelling in opposite directions.

Standing waves are produced whenever two Standing waves are produced whenever two waves of identical frequency interfere with one waves of identical frequency interfere with one another while traveling opposite directions another while traveling opposite directions along the same medium.along the same medium.

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