Guide to Live Sound

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Guide to Live Sound

This guide is meant to help both live sound engineers and artists who are forced to be their own engineers due to budget or availability. Furthermore, it is a guide for all artists who perform live.

It is imperative that any artist who performs live, be it at an open mic or a stadium, understands the basics of singing into a microphone, how feedback happens (and how to avoid it), and in general how to get the best sound possible.

Bad sound detracts from a great performance, so be vigilant!

How This Guide is Organized

This guide is organized into three sections: Basic Setup, Instrument Specific Issues, and Live Recording.

Basic Setup includes a method for creating a checklist of necessary equipment, the tools of the trade, and the use and placement of those tools.

Instrument Specific Issues includes information on how to, for instance, sing into a microphone, setup a guitar amp, or mic a mandolin.

Live Recording deals with the basic setup of a live recording rig, in field, board fed stereo and multi-track.

Basic Setup

The basic setup of live sound has three key components:

  • The Sources of Sound
  • The Mixer
  • The Monitors (or P.A.)

Sources

The sources of sound are the first consideration when setting up for a live performance. Potential sound sources include:

  • Vocalists or Spoken Word
  • Acoustic Instruments, aka Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Piano, Stand Up Bass, Drums, etc...
  • Electric Instruments, Aka Electric Guitars, Amps, Keyboards, Electro-Acoustic Guitars
  • Computers, Ipods, Turn Tables or other Stereo Out Devices

Gear Checklist

For each Source of Sound you will require specific equipment. This checklist is designed to be used before you even get to the venue, so you will know what to bring and what to ask for when you get to the venue.

Vocalists or Spoken Word

For each vocalist you will need:

  • 1x Wind Screen for the Microphone (very important!)
  • 1x XLR cable long enough to reach the mixing boards input.
  • 1x Microphone Stand, preferably tri-pod with a Telescoping Boom or Podium
  • 1x Microphone Clip that fits your microphone snugly (test first!)
Tips and Tricks

Shure's Shure SM58 has long been considered the standard for live vocals for its durability, reliability, and quality of sound.

Other commonly used microphones include:

  • Shure's Beta 87A is the gold standard for its price range. It is a condensor microphone specifically designed for live applications. It has a 3 stage popper stopper built in.
  • Shure's PG58-XLR is a cheaper alternative with a similar construction and components, but an added power switch. We recommend always leaving the power switch on (most high end live mics don't have one), even taping it so it stays in the on position. Often a performer will forget to turn it on or accidentally turn it off, causing confusion and panic.

Rule of Thumb: Ideally sound sources should only be muted at the mixing board. This avoids confusion when unmuting a source.

Wind Screens are a MUST for all live vocal applications. They prevent S's and P's from creating loud popping noises in the microphone.

Acoustic Instruments

A Telescoping Boom Photo by Isaac Koval. Used with permission. Isaac Koval's Website and Isaac Koval's Blog
A Telescoping Boom Photo by Isaac Koval. Used with permission. Isaac Koval's Website and Isaac Koval's Blog

For each Acoustic Instrument you will need:

  • 1x XLR cable long enough to reach the mixing boards input.
  • 1x Microphone Clip that fits your microphone snugly (test first!)
Tips and Tricks

The SM57 has long been considered the standard for live instrument amplification, though for acoustic instruments often super cardioid condensers are used because of their more sensitive response.


Electric Instruments

Stereo Out Devices

Microphone Placement

Line In Devices

The Mixer

Monitors and PA

Instrument Specific Issues

Live Recording

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