Oct 30 2013
Getting the Sound Right on Stage
Live sound may experience musical difficulties that can cause bands to break up. They are often nothing to do with the songs, but it is simply the result of someone turning up their amplifier too loud on gigs. Rock guitarists are the worst culprits, but some vocalists go over the top with their stage monitoring, and even normally placid folk violinists can go a bit decibel-crazy when they discover amplification. Drummers, being the gentle, never plays too loud.
Getting your sound right on stage is not easy since it requires forward planning and preparation. It’s a good idea to start with a sketch of the on stage monitoring, including backline, wedge monitors, on stage speaker stands that you purchased, as well as sidefills, then work out exactly how the audio will be distributed. Signals have to be split between the stage monitoring system and perhaps further split to individual musicians headphone systems.
The amount of cabling involved can be quite frightening, and there’s plenty of scope for mains hum, high-pitched lighting buzzes, hiss, crackle, feedback, and all those lovely noises we live musicians know and cherish. But when the sound is right, the music can start to flow, making all the hours of irritating technical hassle worth the effort.
