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