p.a set up
...d. 1x Stage box 1x Snake cable Leads 3x Microphone leads (XLR) 2-3m 1x RCD 2x 4 way extension leads 1x Large extension cable, just incase the power point is off stage. Recording devices 1x Dat Player/Recorder The stage layout for this scenario is in the appendices at the back of the essay. For setting up the PA system typically used for small bands within a small venue making sure that the performers can hear themselves is of vital importance. To reduce the amount of fold backs monitors the performers can share monitors, this means that the stage layout needs to be correct. The drummer can share with the bassist, as they are both at the back of the stage. Also drummers find it hard to hear in front of them due to the large wall of sound created by their kit. The keyboards and guitar can pair up, as well as the lead and backing vocals. When micing up a drum kit the positioning of the microphones can determine whether or not you get a good end sound. One main factor to consider is to try to avoid putting microphones in places where they will be hit, and where there is a high amount of air expulsion. The same must also be remembered when micing up a guitar cabinet. Depending upon where the microphone is placed on the cabinet will determine whether you get a bright or dull sound. Bright Mellow The main mix will require a stage box taking inputs from all the microphones and digital injection boxes on stage. A snake will lead from the stage box out to the mixer at the back of the drama studio. From the mixer the main outputs will be sent to the front of house amplifiers, and split in the crossover to go out to the hi and low speaker cabinets. The signal also goes out of the auxiliary output of the mixer to the Foldback amplifiers; it could also go out to the fold back mixer where it is sent to the monitors on stage. Due to health and safety there is no point in using a high powered system for this kind of presentation because there is a limit on dB, depending upon how long the performance is. Of course the advantage of using a larger system is that at lower volumes the sound quality is far clearer than that of a smaller system. The equipment needed for this scenario is: (This is assuming that they bring their own instruments) Microphones 2x AKG D112 moving coil microphone, for kick drum and bass guitar cabinet 5x SM57 dynamic microphones, for hi hat, snare and floor tom, guitar amp, Keyboard amp 2x AKG C1000 capacitor microphones, for overheads 3x SM58 dynamic microphones, for vocals Amplifiers 1x 500w power amp Top/Mid 1x 500w Power amp Mid/Bass 1x Fold back amplifier Speakers 2x Hi, 250w @ 8 ohms 2x Bass, 250w @ 8 ohms 3x Fold back monitors, 50-100w @ 8 ohms DI boxes 2x DI boxes Desk 1x desk with at least 16 inputs, and two main stereo outputs, plus at least one auxiliary output. (Phantom Power) 1x Snake lead 1x Stage box Leads 3 x jacks to Jack 2-3m 9x Microphone leads 2-3m 4x Speaker leads (XLR-Speakon) 1x RCD 3x 4 plug extension lead 1x Extension lead Recording devices 1x Dat Player/Recorder The stage layout for this scenario is in the appendices at the back of the essay. When micing up an acoustic guitarist in a medium sized venue the PA company must consider the type of instrument being used. The guitar doesn’t output a great deal of low frequencies. And therefore needs more top end and mid amplification to increase the clarity of the performance. This means that there will have to be more top and mid amplifiers than bass amplifiers. If the performer is seated in the middle of the stage a suitable place to put a fold back monitor would be directly in front of them. This will enable the guitarist to be able to hear what they are playing in real time rather than hearing the delay from the front of house speakers. The scenario doesn’t stipulate whether or not the guitarist has a backing band, so I will consider that the only instrument that needs amplification is the guitar. If it is a semi- acoustic guitar you could use one microphone to mic up the cabinet and one to mic up the guitar. Depending upon the type of sound that you are looking for you could choose a variety of places to mic up the two sound sources. A good microphone to use on the cabinet would be a Shure SM57 dynamic cardioid microphone, due to its ability to handle high sound pressure levels. Bright Mellow The guitar could be miced up using a microphone with a slightly better frequency response such as an AKG C1000 capacitor microphone. You could also use a SM57 or maybe a PZM microphone. Micing the hole on the guitar can Lead to unwanted dynamics, such as Booming, and can pickup the musician Knocking the body of the guitar. Bright Mellow If the guitarist is not using a semi-acoustic guitar, but an acoustic guitar it maybe an idea to use two microphones to pickup a fuller sound. When setting up the speaker system, it would be advisable to use a 100volt line system so that more speakers can be linked together. This means that because they are linked in a parallel fashion that if one speaker blows the others will keep running. It also means that more speakers can be connected to the system. Meaning that they can be spread further apart so the whole venue is covered by sound. Due to speakers being placed around the venue all receiving sound at the same time delay effects can occur. This can be avoided by using a delay system where different speakers are sent delayed signals at different rates. 100m A Person A will get the sound from speakers 1 and 2 at the same time as speakers 3 and 4. This is due to a delayed signal. With a 100m difference between speakers a delayed signal of about 300 ms should be sufficient. The front of house speakers could be set up in a variety of positions. The riggers could hang a central cluster on a rig hanging around the stage. This would allow the sound to travel further because the sound is not pointing directly at the audience, but above instead. Another way of setting up the position of the front of house speakers is to place them on the stage at either side in a formation that attempts to fill the main bulk of the floor space with sound. The only problem with this is that you will get areas of dead sound where it is not as loud as other areas of the hall. This can be combated by adding fill in speakers, or horns to boost the sound in these areas. Due to the size of the venue when running the PA check it would be advisable to run a 1k pink noise test tone through the system, either from a CD or via the desk to try and calibrate the system to optimise its performance in the venue. This can be done using a calibrated microphone, a spectral analyser and A graphic equaliser, preferably one with at least 31 bands of equalisation, if not more. This means tha...