1 Turn it on, start with the obvious make sure that all the bits in the system are switched on and working

2. Make sure that the lead singer is louder than everything else and there's no feedback, if you need to ask what feedback is the answer is "you'll know when you hear it"

3. If you do 1 & 2 you won't need any others but anyway...Gain structure; try to set the gain -  that is volume controls of each section so that the signal is at optimal level. This will minimise noise if the level is too low or distortion if too high

4. Position your pa speakers carefully so that they are pointing at the audience! Listen to the system in different parts of the room to check that the sound levels are roughly even.

5. If you are using graphic or other eq across the system be wary if you end up with extreme settings, check that the system is working properly. Although you do sometimes end up with odd settings on some systems in some rooms. Remember that it is less noticeable to the overall balance if you remove rather than boost frequencies.

6. Talk to and listen to other engineers. If you are in a venue with a house system ask the house person about any peculiarities of the room, how the sound changes when it is full etc. Also how they set up the room eq. You may know much more than them but they are there every night.
It's you who will get the credit if it sounds great so don't be afraid to listen.

7. Get a good sound on the stage, I know you can't improve the band's playing but you can make sure that the sound they are making on stage is balanced. In a small venue the stage sound is going to make up a fair chunk of what the audience hear so you don't want to be trying to get the pa to compensate for bad stage sound.

8. Be disciplined and organised with soundchecks, get the system working and set up as you like it before you get the band up on stage, then get them happy with the stage sound and monitor levels, this applies whether you are mixing the monitors from front of house or from the stage.
If they are happy with the stage sound, or as happy as they can be, bands are never happy with their monitor sound! they will play better and the sound will be better and you will be one step closer to that call from Bono about the next U2 tour

9. You will always have people in the crowd and in the dressing room giving you advice about the sound -  too loud not enough guitar and so on. Have the courage of your convictions and trust your ears but also watch the audience and if people are holding their hands over their ears it is too loud! The younger the audience the more sensitive their hearing

10. Keep it simple, your job, generally is to make louder what is going on on the stage not to create your own music. Obviously there are exceptions to this when the engineer almost becomes part of the band adding effects etc. So be sympathetic to the music the band are playing and mix it appropriately.

Comments (4)

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written by Andy Corrigan, February 04, 2009

Good, now the top ten tips go up to eleven

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Being nice
written by Andy Corrigan, February 04, 2009

Good point, will get you a long way!

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BE Nice!
written by Rob Greenland, February 04, 2009

11. Don't be an ar***ole. Just because you know your desk/fx/eq doesn't mean nobody else does! Just because you have compression/gate on every channel doesn't mean you HAVE to ....
"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

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sound
written by charlie leach, December 16, 2008

you would be amazed how many times i have tried to play an electric guitar and not realise that the sound is turned right down.

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