Basic Live Sound Reinforcement A Practical Guide for Starting Live Audio

This practical guide shows readers how to access and interpret manufacturer spec information, find shortcuts for plotting measure and test equations, and start on their journey to becoming a sound professional.

Access and interpret manufacturer spec information, find shortcuts for plotting measure and test equations, and learn how to begin your journey towards becoming a live sound professional. Land and perform your first live sound gigs with this guide that gives you just the right amount of information. Don’t get bogged down in details intended for complex and expensive equipment and Madison Square Garden-sized venues. Basic Live Sound Reinforcement is a handbook for audio engineers and live sound enthusiasts performing in small venues from one-mike coffee shops to clubs. With their combined years of teaching and writing experience, the authors provide you with a thorough foundation of the theoretical and the practical, offering more advanced beginners a complete overview of the industry, the gear, and the art of mixing, while making sure to remain accessible to those just starting out.

Introduction Part 1: Introducing Live Sound Chapter 1: What is Live Sound? Chapter 2: Overview of the Live Sound Industry Chapter 3: Live Sound – Where the Boots Hit the Ground Part 2: The Art and Science of Live Sound Chapter 4: Sound Science – Physics and Perception Chapter 5: Acoustics – The Science of Sound in the Environment Chapter 6: Sound Power, Power, and More Science You Need to Know Chapter 7: Beyond Ears that Hear – The Art of Live Sound Part 3: Tools of the Trade – The Public Address System Chapter 8: The P.A. System – More than the Sum of its Parts Chapter 9: Microphones – Sound to Signal Chapter 10: The Mixer – Shaping the Signal with the P.A. UI Chapter 11: Processors, Effects, and More – Rack Mounted Equipment Chapter 12: Amplifiers, Crossovers, and Speakers – From a Little Signal to a Big Sound Chapter 13: A Word to the Wireless Chapter 14: Parts to P.A. – Tie it Together with Cables Part 4: Getting Ready for the Show Chapter 15: Preproduction – Preparations in Advance Chapter 16: More Preproduction – Plan it, Do it, Double-check it Chapter 17: Safe Gear Humping 101 – Get it to the Gig without Breaking Your Back Chapter 18: The Step by Step Guide to a Safe Setup Chapter 19: Good Sound Start Here – Microphone Set-up for Live Production Chapter 20: From Signal to Sound - Speaker Placement for Live Production Part 5: Show Time and Beyond Chapter 21: Setup – Connecting and Tuning the Chain Chapter 22: All in the Mix – Fundamentals, Mixing Monitors, and Sound Check Chapter 23: Mixing the Live Show – From Curtains up to Last Call Chapter 24: Beat Trouble to the Draw – Tactical Troubleshooting for Today’s Audio Outlaw Part 6: Becoming a Live Sound Professional Chapter 25: Getting your Foot in the Door – Making the Transition from Out in the Cold to in the Live Audio Fold Chapter 26: Navigating the Audio Technology Marketplace Chapter 27: Working Like a Pro Chapter 28: The No Bucks Wasted Poor Engineer’s Guide to Buying Audio Gear Chapter 29: Working Well With Others (Bonus Online Chapter) Glossary

Raven Biederman has taught at the former Globe School of Music in San Francisco and the Art Institute of San Francisco. He has worked as FOH mixer at Club Cocomo and other small to medium venues in and around the Bay Area. He is founder of Recoil Studios, through which he has numerous independent artist album credits for mixing and mastering.