Unit 65, Technical stage operations. Sound By Sorrel Ferrario-Hay

Speakers. There are two types of speaker: active and passive. Active have an amplifier built in and passive don’t, therefore they need an external amp to be connected between the speaker and the sound desk. (P3) Active speakers are very versatile in that you can use one speaker or connect many speakers without the power worries. Because they have an amp built in they are easier to use for gigs so there is less equipment to carry. Passive speakers do not need to be plugged into a main power source so they are usually put on wall brackets. Active. Passive.

QSC K12 active speakers. Features of active: 12” Woofer; 1.75” diaphragm compression driver 75° Nominal coverage angle Maximum SPL 131 dB peak 1000-watt continuous Class D power modules in all models On-board mixer Source: k_series/K12/ Comparison: an active speaker has the amp built in, where as the passive doesn’t and needs an external amp. scenario: I would use an active speaker over a passive if I was doing a show where we would be travelling to multiple venues needing to set up a sound system because where the amp is built in it would be less equipment to take and less cables. Advantages of active: Built in Amp. Easier to travel with. Less cables needed when setting up. Disadvantages of active: If the Amp is broken or had a fault it would be hard to replace due to it being built in. Expensive to repair amp if broken. Could get internally hot. M3)

Sound desk. this is an analogue desk which means everything on it is done by hand these can be good for certain shows because if there are any last minute changes they can be made quick and easy however they can be complicated because there are so many different channels and people may change the wrong channel if they are not properly trained. unlike a digital desk where there is a screen and it is all done using electrical devises. (P3)

Sound desk (back) On switch. XLR inputs for Mics. XLR Outputs. IEC power. Desk Lamp. (M3)

Yamaha 01V96I Digital sound desk. Features: 16 analogue inputs 40 mix channels Stereo out XLR balanced 100mm motor fader MIDI in/out/thru. source: amaha_01v96i.htm Comparison: I would use the Yamaha 01V69I (digital) for a large show over the Behringer Xenyx 802 (analogue) because the Yamaha is bigger with more features for example the Yamaha has 40 mixing channels where the Behringer only has 8. by having 40 channels you can programme more performances and more detailed performances in. Scenario: if I was sound teching a 20 piece orchestra I would use the Yamaha because it has 40 mixing channels and it can be pre programmed due to it being digital meaning the levels for each instrument will be pre - programmed and ready. Advantages: Digital desks have a screen so you can see the levels and what is programmed. It can be pre-programmed The effects are included so no extra equipment is needed. Disadvantages: With analogue desks you can change the levels etc. when needed but with a digital you cant. All effect, graphic EQ compressors/gates are all built into the desk if the desk fails you loose these functions. Relying on electrical components to be reliable. (M3)

Special effects. Reverb: this can make the sound/music sound acoustic or if the environment is flat it will give it more echo. Scenario- if a performance was set in a cathedral it would have natural reverberation so you would not need to increase the reverb. delay: large venues have a delay from when the sound is projected to when the audience hear it. Scenario- if a gig was in a small venue, you would give the sound a slight delay so it would seem as if the room was larger. (M3)

Cables. XLR- used to transfer data from one microphone to the desk. For example the desk to the speaker if using an active system. The XLR will go from the left side of the desk to the left speaker and the right of the desk to the right speaker. Mini jack- used when connecting phones etc. to a desk. phono lead- used when connecting a CD player to a desk. Kettle lead- main power cable used on desks and speakers. (P3)

Mics. we used two main types of mics, a Sm57 and a Sm58. SM57. SM58 the 57 was used to get the sound from the guitar amps through he speakers, and used for any other instruments. the 58 was used for the singers to clearer their voice and put the sound through the speakers. In a few cases some of the mics had problems and weren't working but after a few sound checks they were all working fine and at the right sound level for all singer to be heard clearly through the speakers. (P3)

SM58 microphone. The legendary Shure SM58 vocal microphone is designed for professional vocal use in live performance, sound reinforcement, and studio recording. Its tailored vocal response for sound is a world standard for singing or speech. A highly effective, built-in spherical filter minimizes wind and breath "pop" noise. A unidirectional (cardioid) pickup pattern isolates the main sound source while minimizing unwanted background noise. microphone Advantage: Uniform cardioid pattern isolates sound and minimizes background noise. It is a good vocal microphone. Built in spherical wind and pop filter Disadvantage: It can break easily It is for vocals so cant be used for Instruments Its cheap co pared to other microphones Its technology is old Scenario: I would use a SM58 for a stage performance involving vocalist because its cardioid pattern is made for vocals and any background noise would be minimized. Comparison: I would use the SM57 over an SM58 for a stage performance made of instruments because the 58 is made for vocals where the 57 is more suited for instruments and it can be used for either amplified or acoustic instruments such as guitar, bass, saxophone, trumpet or drums. (M3)