A presentation for the 2009 ACUI Annual Conference

Ryan WillertonDirector of Student Activities Facilities

University of Notre Dame

UNDERSTANDING

THE BASICS OFSOUND SYSTEM

EQUIPMENT

If you are familiar with these acronmys, this session may be too basic for you.

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF SOUND SYSTEM EQUIPMENTRyan Willerton

SM58XLRPFLIEM

A presentation for the 2009 ACUI Annual Conference

Ryan WillertonDirector of Student Activities Facilities

University of Notre Dame

UNDERSTANDING

THE BASICS OFSOUND SYSTEM

EQUIPMENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand• Identify• Learn

2

SESSION OVERVIEW

• 4 core components of a sound system• How each component functions• Advice & tips

2

FOLLOWING ALONG

Number at the lower right of the screen corresponds to the page in your booklet.

2

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

HOW COMPONENTS CREATE SOUND

3

A signal is sent from here

Receives signal & manipulates it

Magnifies & drives the signal

Converts signal to audio waves

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

4

INPUT DEVICES: MICROPHONES

• Not all are the same• Shape• Size• On/off switch• Pick up area• Sound quality

• You get what you pay for

4

OTHER INPUT DEVICES

• Guitar• Keyboard/Electric Piano• CD Player• DVD Player• Portable Media Player• Laptop Computer

5

GETTING THE SIGNAL TO THE BOARD

• XLR• Quarter Inch (6.3 mm)• RCA • Mini (3.5 mm)

6

XLR

CABLE ADAPTERS

• Mini to RCA• Mini to Quarter Inch• RCA to XLR

6

DIRECT BOX

6

• Adapter for connecting instruments to the mixing board without using a microphone.

• Converts signal from high-impedance to low-impedance.

i.e. Convert Quarter Inch to XLR

SNAKE

6

• “Extension cord” for multiple mic cables• Keeps mic cables organized• Keeps mixer at Front of House (FOH)

• Box goes on stage.• Plug XLR cable from mic into the box.• Other end of XLR plugs into mixer.• Also has “returns” to send signal from

mixer to stage (stage monitors).

INPUT DEVICE

6

?

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

7

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MIXERS

• Line Mixer• DJ Mixer• PA Mixer• Standard Mixer• Large Format Mixer

8

Standard Mixer

KEY FEATURES OF A MIXING BOARD

9

HOW SOUND TRAVELS THROUGH A MIXER

10

SNAPSHOT OF A CHANNEL

• Gain/Trim• High (or Low) Pass Filter• Equalizer• Aux• Pan• PFL Button• Mute Button• Fader

11

SIMILARITIES OF CHANNELS

• Gain (a.k.a. Trim)• Equalizer• Aux• Pan/Balance• Fader

12

DIFFERENCES OF CHANNELS

• High Pass Filter (or Low Pass Filter)• Mute Button• Pad Button• PFL Button• Channel Indicator Light• Limit Indicator Light• Bus (Subgroup) Selector• Phantom Power by Channel

12

MASTERING THE EQ

12

Start at midpoint (12:00) and adjust slowly!

LOW MID HIGH

HIGH

HIGH-MID

LOW-MID

LOW

SETTING THE CHANNEL BY USING PFL

13

PRACTICING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

14

1. Turn on channel 1.

2. Turn down the volume on channel 2.

3. Put more of channel’s 3 sound in the right speaker.

4. Channel 4 is on. Turn it off.

5. Add more high frequency to channel 5.

6. Give channel 6 more bass.

MIXING BOARD

14

?

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

15

WHAT EXACTLY DOES ANAMPLIFIER DO?

15

BOOSTS SIGNAL & SENDS IT TO SPEAKER

CONNECTING MIXING BOARD TO AMPLIFIER

15

XLR

2 MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES FOUND ON AN AMPLIFIER

15

• Control knobs• Signal limit indicator light

AMPLIFIER SELECTION

2x15

CONTINUOUS OUTPUT(CONTINUOUS POWER HANDLING. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS RMS.)

WHY 2x AMPLIFER TO SPEAKER RATIO

15

0 watts

500 watts

1,000 watts

Continuous Speaker Wattage Output (RMS)

Sound Signal

Amplifier Peak Wattage Output (2x RMS)

1,500 wattsPeak Speaker Wattage Output

CHALLENGE WITH2x AMPLIFIER

15

POTENTIAL FOR

SPEAKERDAMAGE

MOST IMPORTANT ADVICEFOR SELECTING AN AMPLIFIER

15

ASK AN EXPERT

AMPLIFIER

15

?

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

16

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPEAKERS

16

2 COMMON SPEAKER TYPES

• 2 Way Full-Range Speaker• Tweeter• Woofer

• Subwoofer (No Tweeter or Mid)

16

WHAT TO EXPECT TO HEARWITH A TWO-WAY FULL RANGE

SPEAKER

16

Tweeter

Woofer

Highs

Mids & Lows

CONNECTING AMPLIFIER TO SPEAKERS

•Quarter Inch•Speak-On

16

OTHER SPEAKERS ON STAGE

• Monitor (Wedge)• Guitar Amp• IEM

17

CONTROLLING MONITOR VOLUME

AUX KNOBS

17

TWO TYPES OF SPEAKERS

PASSIVE VS.

POWERED (ACTIVE)

18

ALTHOUGH MORE EXPENSIVE, POWERED SPEAKERS ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A SEPARATE AMPLIFIER.

THE POWERED SPEAKER ALSO MATCHES THE APPROPRIATE AMPLIFIER TO SPEAKER RATIO TO MAXIMIZE SOUND QUALITY.

POWERED SPEAKERS CONNECT TO MIXER WITH XLR CABLE, NOT SPEAKER CABLE.

SPEAKER

18

?

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

RECAP

19

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

CONSOLIDATED EQUIPMENT OPTIONS

19

PoweredMixer

PoweredSpeaker

PoweredSpeakerw/ Mixer

a.k.a.Self-Contained

PA system

INPUT DEVICE

MIXER

AMPLIFIER

SPEAKER

CONSOLIDATED EQUIPMENT OPTIONS

19

PoweredMixer

PoweredSpeaker

PoweredSpeakerw/ Mixer

a.k.a.Self-Contained

PA system

THE BEST OPTION FOR NOVICES

Powered Speaker

19

Matches the appropriate amplifier with the speaker,AND allows you to have a separate

mixing board to match the size of your event.

Also eliminates the need to keep an inventory of speaker cables.

TIPS AND ADVICE

• Setup & Use• Purchasing advice• Other advice

20-21

CLOSING

• Terminology recap• How to become an expert• Insight from others• Questions

22

BONUS DOCUMENTS

• Using a Subgroup to Better Control Sound• Advanced Sound Components• Comparison of 4 Sound Systems• Creating Your Own Sound System

23-28

PAGES 23-28

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ryan WillertonDIRECTOR OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES FACILITIES

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Willerton@nd.edu