It’s Just A Phase

In my experience of teaching live sound, one of the most commonly misunderstood concepts is that of phase. The source of the misunderstanding typically derives… Read More

Knights of Sound: An Audio Veteran’s Guide To The Freelance Galaxy

The word “freelance” comes from a two-word term used to describe medieval mercenaries or knights – their “lance” was “free” in the sense that they… Read More

Perspective: Compare & Contrast

The realm of the audio engineer is a broad area encompassing recording, radio, theatre, film, sports, television, live music and public speaking, and while all… Read More

A User’s Guide to Hearing

Of all the tools at the disposal of the sound engineers, our ears are probably the most important yet also the most overlooked. Much like… Read More

The 12 Commandments: Key Practices & Habits For Long-Term Success

Over the years that I’ve been teaching live sound, I’ve developed a list of commandments (or points to live by) to pass on to my… Read More

Backstage Class: Strange Beasts

As we bask in the all-enveloping glory of the digital age, it’s come to my attention that some intrepid live sound engineers are very occasionally… Read More

Backstage Class: Team Effort

For the performing musician there are few things worse than bad sound. If the mix is bad in the PA the audience can’t hear the… Read More

Before & Between: Paying Attention Around The Edges Of The Show

I imagine that many audience members give very little thought to the music that’s played before and between the bands at live gigs. To them… Read More

Audio Visualization

It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” and nowhere is this more applicable than when trying to teach complex concepts. A… Read More

On The Level: Audio Metering Then & Now

Audio metering is a key part of practically any sound system, be it live, in the recording studio, radio and TV broadcast, or even consumer… Read More

Backstage Class: How Not To Record A Live Album

Whenever we record music there are certain “golden rules” that aid us in getting the end results we require. These rules are based on years… Read More

Conquering The Beast: One Engineer’s Battle Against The Ever-Present Threat Of Feedback

There is a beast that stalks all live events, wherever they may be. It lies quietly and patiently as amplifiers are connected to loudspeakers, it… Read More

Up In The Air: Factors Contributing To How Sound Behaves In The Great Outdoors

The most obvious difference between indoor and outdoor sound is the lack of reflecting surfaces. In my previous article, Unique Signatures, we explored the… Read More

Modern Pioneers: The History Of PA

What we commonly call “PA” is an amplification system used to reinforce a sound source and distribute it through a venue or building. PA stands… Read More

Unique Signatures: Breaking Down Acoustic Behavior To Understand How Sound Reacts In Rooms

In live sound, be it for speech- or music-based applications, we spend a lot of time considering what equipment to use and how it should… Read More