Table Of Contents
1: sound system basics
The Tasks
- Picking Up the Original Sounds
- Mixing and Amplifying Sounds
- Turning the Mix Back Into Soun
- What's the Catch?
- Review
Fundamental Concepts and Terms
- Level
- Frequency
Our Range of Hearing
- Midrange Sounds
- Bass or Low-Frequency Sounds
- Treble or High-Frequency Sounds
- The Room
the basic sound system
- Why Can't I Use a Guitar Amp for Vocals?
- Microphones
- The Mixer
- The Amplifier
- Loudspeakers
- Signal Levels: Mic, Line and Speaker
the problems
- Feedback
- Distortion
- Tonal Quality
- Covering the Entire Audience
- review
2: parts of a sound system
Sound Sources
- Microphones
- Microphone Pickup Patterns
- Dynamic vs. Condenser Microphones
- About Mic Stands
- Mic Handling Noise
- Instrument Pickups
- Mic and Instrument Pickup Connectors
The Powered Mixer or "PA head"
- Mixers' Internal Signal Flow
- Individual Input Channels
- The Input Connectors
- Volume
- Low
- Mid
- High
- The Limitations of EQ
- Master Volume and EQ
- Graphic EQ
- Power Amplifier/Speaker Outputs
- Amp to Speaker Connectors
- About Polarity
- speakers
- What's in the Box?
3: setting up
- a ten-step program
- plan before setup
- The Needs of the Audience
- The Needs of the Performers
- What Goes Through the PA?
- Mono or Stereo?
- Positioning Speakers
- Speaker Directivity
- The Demands of the Room
- Why Are Live Rooms Problematic?
- What Can I Do About It?
- Mixer Placement
- Microphone Placement
- Using Microphone Pickup Patterns
Hooking it Up
- Speaker Hookup
- Connecting Multiple Speakers
- Cable Care
Turning it On
- electricity and safety
4: soundcheck and troubleshooting
- Is the PA Working?
- Are All the Mics Plugged In?
- Is Everybody OK?
- How's the Room?
Tips and Techniques
- "Check, One, Two"
All About Feedback
- Make It STOP!
- The Three Causes of Feedback
- The Easiest Ways to Stop Feedback
- But It's Not Loud Enough!
- What's the Frequency?
- Fighting Feedback with EQ
- The Graphic Equalizer
- Notch Filters and Feedback Eliminators
- Dealing with One "Problem" Input
- What Doesn't Help
Troubleshooting
- Nothing Works!
- My Mic Isn't Working!
- One Speaker Isn't On
- Blown Speakers
- Distortion
- Keeping Distortion out of Your Mixer
- The Trim Knob
5: mixing, effects and monitors
- mixing your show
- Stage Level and Your Overall Mix
- Dealing with Complaints
- effects and monitor mixes
- Aux Sends
- Effects
- Effect Returns
- Using Effects
- Wet/Dry Balance
- A Simple Monitor System
- Parts of a Monitor System
- Using a Separate Monitor Mix
- Effects in Your Monitors
- Effect Sends vs. Monitor Sends
6: using "their" PA
- working with a sound person
- Things You Might Not Be Familiar With
- Direct Boxes
- Multiple Monitor Mixes
- in conclusion
appendix A: sample setups
- solo singer/guitarist
- singer/guitarist with monitor
- singer/keyboardist
- rock quartet
- rock quartet with monitors
- acoustic trio
appendix B: helpful adapters
glossary
index
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