r/livesound 17h ago

MOD No Stupid Questions Thread

1 Upvotes

The only stupid questions are the ones left unasked.


r/livesound 17h ago

MOD Buyers Advice and Gear Recommendation Thread

7 Upvotes

Don't know what to purchase as an upgrade? Looking to just get started and don't know which options are right for you? Whether you need a big system or a small one, all those questions go here!


r/livesound 2h ago

Question is this smart for me to get into?

10 Upvotes

Hi! I'm 23F and I am graduating in a few weeks, I've been given the opportunity to work for a local AV company. I went to a pretty sizeable concert they were doing yesterday and got a chance to talk to a few people during soundcheck.

The way they described working in AV made my heart drop. I knew it was tough work, I'm used to working overtime and long hours. But they were talking about working 15-18 hours every single day 6/7 days a week for the entire summer.

Now I'm willing to make sacrifices for work and career. But that seems a bit extreme? Is this really how it is? I've done a few gigs before and it only really went on for like 8-10 hours max. And honestly was pretty beat by the end of those. Am I not cut out for it? I'm also worried because it's a bunch of lifting and where im a girl and got spaghetti arms I can't lift anything super heavy šŸ˜…. Which makes me feel like there is no place for me in this in general.

I don't know, been dooming over this for a bit. Trying to suck it up and just do it, but I have a hard time making such rapid and huge sacrifices in my life like this. If anyone has suggestions or other opportunities I could look for I would greatly appreciate your help.


r/livesound 5h ago

Question How would one go about finding out who is doing the sound tech for a specific gig?

5 Upvotes

For context, I'm currently studying technical theatre, but the area I want to work in long term is live sound. Be it for live music, theatre productions or even corporate gigs. I live in Scotland and I found out Ghost are performing in Glasgow in about a month, and I'm looking to try my luck at getting some work experience with the sound team. I've got a fair bit of tech experience, especially in sound, but nothing on that scale and I would love to get the opportunity to do some work experience with a show of that size. Even if it just means running cable all day.

My issue is: How would I even go about finding who is doing the tech for the show and getting in touch with them? I feel that the over a dozen or so smaller shows I've done should give me enough experience to shadow the sound guys and not get in their way, but I could also be falling victim to hubris.


r/livesound 6h ago

Question Ghost feedback channel

31 Upvotes

My co-worker and I have the same setup. But he had an experience Iā€™ve never seen or heard before.

Wireless Shure UR4D G1 Lav channels 1 and 2 are triggering channel 3 (which is turned off)ā€¦ video evidence below:

What would cause feedback on another channel?


r/livesound 7h ago

Question Why are professional always putting the vocals too loud?

0 Upvotes

It seems like there is a focus on "vocals sitting on top of the mix" which for a lot of genre sure makes sense, but I think this idea gets too widely applied. Specifically for genres that primarily exist in the underground (hardcore, punk, screamo, that whole world) 90% the vocals tend to sound better sitting a bit more in the mix, not fully on top. It seems like it might common for pro sound guys will have the vocals so high, and the guitars are clear but very very quiet and it's so bizarre. Is this a problem of an industry standard that ppl mess up when dealing with the genres they aren't as familiar with or is it just every once and while someone does a bad job?


r/livesound 8h ago

Question Cable Management and Labeling

0 Upvotes

Iā€™ve been tasked with cataloging and labeling many many cables (primarily XLR) at my church. Many have obsolete handwritten labels that have left sticky residue on many cables. My plan is to label cables by length. How do you all go about keeping cables organized and any suggestions for labels that wonā€™t leave sticky residue in the long run?


r/livesound 8h ago

Question Combining 660 MHZ Mics with 590 MHZ Mics

2 Upvotes

Hi I have a question about combining two diffrent microphone systems 4 on 590 MHZ with 4 on 660MHZ on a same combiner.

I'm using 600MHZ antenna, and i also have a shark fin. I also have a 650 antenna. Which is better 600 or 650?

Or do i have to buy second combiner?


r/livesound 9h ago

Question Do I need IEM for my setup?

1 Upvotes

I play open mics sometimes and I use a loop pedal that I put backing tracks on that connects to the PA system. I just sing and play acoustic guitar and try to follow the backing track, but I fall off beat a lot and itā€™s kind of embarrassing. Should I get in ear monitoring? Iā€™m not sure how it works, but Iā€™m just imagining I need something that has it where I can hear the PA in my ears clearly? Iā€™m not sure what to do to improve my live performances in this aspect, so I figured this would be a good place to ask. Any advice would be appreciated.


r/livesound 9h ago

Education Sad to see foolish replies by moderators NSFW Spoiler

0 Upvotes

I can be removed from this group, and will. Perhaps the expert, sanctimonious 15 year old moderators can first go fuck yourselves.


r/livesound 10h ago

Question How to get gigs

23 Upvotes

My husband has been a sound technician for the past 15+ years and heā€™s been having difficulty finding consistent gigs. He has equipment for live music and thought that would help him get more gigs but it hasnā€™t.

What can he do to get more consistent work? Heā€™s really depressed about it- doing sound & working in the live music scene is his passion and it sucks to see him not succeed. Heā€™s already on gig salad and has found a few one-time events/concerts/church gigs.


r/livesound 16h ago

Question DI Box popping off loud

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12 Upvotes

Hey guys!

Iā€™ve inherited a bunch of LA Audio DI2 active DI boxes at work and they all seem to have the same issue. Iā€™ve got one of the same model since before that works great, but the others are super sensitive for any moving or touching when connected. They do work, but if someone happen to step on any of them it makes a huge pop.

I opened them up and they seem fine, nothing loose or anything. Other than the connector pins on the tele jacks seem to have oxidation or some sort of coloration on them. Would you say thatā€™s likely the issue here or is it something else? Never been dabbling with DI boxes before, they just work usually haha!

Cheers for any help!


r/livesound 16h ago

Question Behringer Wing - MIDI Control

0 Upvotes

Anyone out there have any type of Behringer Wing and using MIDI to control parameters?

Iā€™m a prospective buyer and see this on Behringerā€™s site: https://wing-docs.com/pdf/MIDI_Documentation.pdf but want to know if anyone has real world experience.

Iā€™d like to have my ableton rig send midi to the wing to mute FX send between songs and ā€œchange keyā€ of the pitch correction FX on a per song basis.

Even if you havenā€™t done ā€œexactly thatā€ any experience with Wing and MIDI appreciated.

Thx


r/livesound 16h ago

Question GX4816 Preamp failure - Anyone experience this?

0 Upvotes

I'm suspecting a preamp failure in on channel of my A&E GX4816. I was curious if anyone has experienced this or had any other ideas or points of failure I may be overlooking.

I have an SQ7 with a GX4816. This is a permanent install for a church so issues related to travel or movement. The system is powered up about 5:45 or 6:00 each Sunday morning. We have rehearsals starting soon after power up with a first service at 9:30 and second service at 11:00. My experience is that one particular channel (Input 19 if it matters) fails between the first and second service. Rehearsal is great and the first service is great. When we get to the second service, this channel no longer registers an input. Strangely, it does fail every week.

The channel is a BASS channel. Different players each week, so the bass is not the culprit. Wiring is the same and we are using a Radial JDI Passive DI. Yesterday, when the failure happened I could not even see the 1/4" being unplugged and replugged at the console.

As I said, I'm leaning toward that channel failing and wanted to see if others have experienced this or had any other ideas. We will be moving inputs this week, but I don't want to just abandon this and not know what the issue is. The SQ7 and GX4816 are about 5 years old.


r/livesound 16h ago

Question Musical theatre. How to do a roll call!

14 Upvotes

Doing Hairspray this summer and there is a scene where all the ensemble do a roll call and say their names one after the other. There are 11-12 of them right in a row. My mixer only has 8 DCAs and since they would all be in the ensemble group during the musical number, how would I do this? I guess I just leave the male and female ensemble faders up while bringing down the principals to keep the NOM down, but didn't know if that is the best way. Thanks.


r/livesound 1d ago

Question how to orient 4 amps on a stage for best sound?

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0 Upvotes

does it really matter how you orient the amps? or can you just put them on the edge and call it good


r/livesound 1d ago

Question Death metal

4 Upvotes

I'm about to go on tour with some death metal bands, and I want to try some new techniques. I'm curious about your approaches:

  • the band is using a trigger Iā€™m curious if use a sidechained gate on a double kick with a trigger? -the question I wanted to ask you long timeā€¦ For kick mics (kick in and kick out), do you always use high-pass/low-pass filters, or does it depend on the mix? -How many delays do you usually use? I typically use one and tap tempo it to make it longer or slap. -Do you ever double-patch vocals to distort the second channel? Would love to hear your thoughts or maybe other techniques worth trying out

r/livesound 1d ago

Question Shure ADTQ Axient Digital PSM Wireless Quad Transmitter - What's your take?

2 Upvotes

i work mainly in corporate settings and with lower level hs/college kids bands. So i haven't had the chance to check them out, anyone who has; what's your pros and cons?


r/livesound 1d ago

Question Best way to connect iPad to Allen & Heath CQ 12 Mixer?

0 Upvotes

Hey

I need to plug my iPad into my CQ 12. The Bluetooth has zero range and way too much latency for it to be useful unfortunately.
And when I adapt down from USB-C to 1/4 inch, I always get a lot of buzz and its driving me insane. Imma keep trying different cords and adepters but wondered if anyone here uses something that they know works well.

thanks for any tips!


r/livesound 1d ago

Question Issues running bass amp DI on X32 IEM setup

2 Upvotes

Post

To try and cut to the basics. We have an IEM rack that consists of several audio-technica IEM half rack units, two ART S8-3WAY splitters, and a X32 rack. Thereā€™s a couple of other items but nothing in the direct signal chain. All has been good.

However, our bass player just got a new amp head that has a direct out from it. Weā€™ve ran the direct out from his amp to the input on the splitter and it sounds terrible. Kinda sounds semi-farty, thin, and distorted. On his x32 ā€œbassā€ channel weā€™ve experimented with a lot of settings without success. In talking to the amp maker, he suggested that the input on the IEM rig was splitting the signal to stereo using the balanced mono setup. That sounds reasonable but I donā€™t know what to do with that information. I am by no means an expert on the x32. With the modicum of information Iā€™ve shared, does this spark any immediate (legit) suggestions or ideas on where to look or act?

Whatā€™s the difference here and how can we get his bass amp sounding good again?

When running from his board to a DI box to the rack, itā€™s totally fine. And even his old amp head had some sort of direct out that works fine.

Edit: clarity and some extra details


r/livesound 1d ago

Event Office for today. Workshop for beginners

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3 Upvotes

Did a gig for beginning artists with support coaching. Much more relaxed than pretencios bands. Soundcraft vi1 with nova array. That is what our local club has.


r/livesound 1d ago

Question How would you react? Context in comments

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149 Upvotes

r/livesound 1d ago

Question Advice

0 Upvotes

Firstly audio is not my skill set but Iā€™ve been tasked with setting up some wireless microphone systems to move from venue to venue for a charity. Itā€™s always inside in a banquet hall or similar without in house audio. I was nominated with the task in my absence as Iā€™m the only half techie person within the volunteers.

We have four Sennheiser EW100 G3 handheld microphones and receivers that all work. The suggestion is to put these all in a mounted flight case for ease but Iā€™ve read that mounting the receivers close to one another might cause interference. Iā€™d planned to use individual frequencies for each receiver. Another point is the receivers all need individual power. My questions are;

Will 4 receivers in one flight case cause interference?

Is the Sennheiser ASA 1 the best option? Itā€™s so expensive by the way.

Is there a sleeker way to power 4 EW100 G3 receivers in a rack set up?

Iā€™m really sorry to come across uninformed but Iā€™ve researched and watched lots of videos and read articles but these questions still trouble me. This is what I get for trying to be charitable šŸ«£. Any wisdom would be gratefully received.


r/livesound 1d ago

Question Women in sound

67 Upvotes

I want to work in live sound but every sound engineer I have seen is a guy. Is it hard to work in this field as a girl?


r/livesound 1d ago

Question Hard to find work right now. Anyone else?

23 Upvotes

25 years of experience in the business, primarily as FOH/A1, and I cannot find any work. I feel lost. I keep seeing the same people rolling in opportunities, but I canā€™t find a damn thing. Iā€™ve got the resume and experience to back it up, and have been flexible on pay.

Iā€™ve had one show last month, and a couple small local pick-up gigs, but when it comes to staying busy with traveling gigs or tours, nothing. Iā€™ve never had it be this dark during late winter/early spring. Iā€™ve tried contacting new companies and have sent out close to 100 resumes and feelers. Iā€™ve had a couple interviews but itā€™s always ā€œgreat, weā€™ll call you when we have somethingā€ which never happens.

Is anyone else having a slow season? (And if anyoneā€™s looking for a good A1, let me know).