Becoming a sound engineer is sometimes challenging. This is because you have several things to put into consideration when you are planning a live event. Meanwhile, if the event turns out unsuccessful, you are the one that will take all the blame.
Sound mixing can admittedly be a pleasant experience, but that is only if you are ready to tick all the tasks that are expected of you during a live show.
Moreover, there are a lot of skills that sound engineers must have in their toolbox, which are important if you wish to become an outstanding sound engineer during any live event. There are also certain essential things you need to be aware of if you wish to always perform excellently at any live event you function as the sound engineer.
This article aims at highlighting those essential things to know as a professional sound engineer.
5 Things Every Professional Sound Engineer Should Know
Be Aware of the Plan
Knowing the plan of a live show is an essential aspect of what you are required to know. Knowing the plan will enable you to perfectly mix the sound for the whole event. And to be certain that you are prepared to mix the sound appropriately, you need to know what kinds of sound need to be played during specific parts of the event.
For instance, if there will be any part of the event with talking and musical portions, you need to be aware of that when planning how to mix sound. Mixing sound is just as crucial as being in control of the lights for the event. You need to know the kind of plan in order to produce the best sound mixing possible.
Know the Acoustics
Perfect acoustics are basic to great music. As a professional sound engineer, acoustics can significantly affect your job. This is why you need to know about the acoustics of the venue concerned, so that you will be able to guarantee that your sound mixing is accurate.
There is room for you to make vast assumptions regarding the kind of space where you will be mixing sound. However, in the absence of sound checks and knowledge of the acoustics of the venue, you will experience a difficult time ensuring that you produce an incredible sound.
In addition, acoustics can create a big gap in the whole mixing of sound required for every location where you will be the sound engineer. This means in order to perform the best achievable mixing of sound in those places, you need to be fully aware of the acoustics. You can opt for a live sound engineering course to polish your skills further.
Collaborate With the Team of the Event
For overall success, the advantage of teamwork can not be overemphasized. The same applies to the role of sound engineers. During preparations for live events, you have to work in collaboration with the team of the event to ensure that you are not ignorant of what the highs and lows of the live event may be.
Collaboration with the event team will also help you to comprehend the theatrics of the proposed events on the podium so that there can be an assurance that sound mixes are done appropriately for these anticipations.
Furthermore, working closely with the team of the event will help you to be certain that all the right moments are properly stressed all through the event. Moreover, the crescendos of a live show are usually the most crucial parts of the action to emphasize, but you also need to be sure that you know when those periods are expected to occur.
Familiarize Yourself With Your Equipment
You may know how each of your needed equipment functions, but the mixture of sophisticated technology that you are working with for a live event can result in problems you did not predict. If, by chance, you have been working with the exact event for a while, this may not be a big problem for you, but locations may still include difficulties to your entire sound mixing plans.
On that note, ensure that you inspect each of the acoustics associated with your amps, coupled with the arrangement of singers and other presenters on the podium you will be working with during the show.
You should also be sure that you know how you will balance the sounds that are ongoing while the performance is taking place, as well as the dependability to be able to accurately mix the sound when the show is live.
There are numerous things you need to know as a sound engineer. From the complications involved in sound mixing during and after a live show, to the procedure involved in checking and balancing sounds in special event places, the role of a sound engineer is complex and requires many skills.
Apart from developing those skills, ensure you constantly work to improve on those skills.
A microphone of good quality is capable of making all the difference in your sound mixture. You need to ensure you have the best microphones for everyone on the stage. Apart from the instruments, this may also include the singers. You need to know how every microphone style functions, as well as the perfect way to mix and manage the sound from every of these microphone types.
Cheap microphones can never sound as great as quality microphones will. Besides, you could realize you have the best luck with a sound-quality microphone.
Although you may not be in control of the choices that are made regarding the microphones that are used for a concerned production, as a professional sound engineer, you need to state it clearly that microphones of low quality will adversely affect the entire quality of your mix.
Also, make sure you confirm that you have access to the technology you need to achieve a great mix at the end of the show. If you cheat yourself on good microphones and equipment, it can eventually result in frustrations over the quality of your mix.
Be Knowledgeable
There are numerous things you need to know as a sound engineer. From the complications involved in sound mixing during and after a live show, to the procedure involved in checking and balancing sounds in special event places, the role of a sound engineer is complex and requires many skills.
Apart from developing those skills, ensure you constantly work to improve on those skills.
