Live sound Re-inforcment
Live sound reinforcement taught us the skills necessary to set up live gigs and performances, from the smallest of cosy pub’s music nights, right up to level of a big concert venue. We were also taught all of the different health and safety risks we must take into consideration.
For example, ensuring that heavy loads are evaluated and that the right people are assigned and evenly distributed for the job, each carrying no more than they can safely handle. Another example is checking for electrical hazards due to cabling, faulty equipment and the power unit. Another very important health and safety risk to be aware of is ensuring that sound levels are within tolerant levels to avoid hearing damage.
During live sound reinforcement, we were also learning about the gear necessary in order to get a live gig up and running and fully operational. We learnt a lot, and became familiar with how to rig up a live desk, and the flow in which we must take to ensure everything works properly.
Firstly we had to ensure that the amps always got turned on last and switched off first. We also had to make sure that if the desks have boot up procedures, to ensure they boot properly. We also learned about monitor mixes, how the size of a room affects sound and equalization for the PA systems and the monitor mixes for the artists to ensure there is no feedback loop.
One of the learning outcomes we did, was we were given 2 different gigs, with 2 different budgets. We were told to make a list of all the necessary gear and cabling to rig up these two different events, that we would need to purchase. As well as make notes on the health and safety issues that each event could uniquely cause and propose how to deal with such hazards.
To the right hand side of this page is images of the piece of work for the two gigs.
After learning that, we have spent every week honing in our skills in; rigging up, testing and de-rigging a live gig in the theatre and developing our speed to which we did these things with. Not only becoming very familiar with the equipment required for a live gig, but skilled at putting it together quickly also.
