What kind of stuff do they have to figure out that changes every night?
In: Technology
Well, the performing act will usually send out a line list and a stage plot. This let’s the sound crew know how many inputs they need, where they need them, and what kind of gear they need to prepare for. Then they set up their monitors and main, let the act set up, then hook everything up to the mixer. Then you do a sound check. Typically you start with the drums, then the guitar/bass/keys, then the vocals, then any other instruments. You make sure everybody hear what they need to out of their individual monitor wedges, and you make sure the sound coming out of the mains to the audience sounds balanced and clear. You save those levels in case somebody accidentally messes with them or if there is another act. Then you wait for the show.
There’s a great documentary on YT that goes behind the scenes of setting up for a large arena show (bonus if you’re a Rush fan). They talk about variables that you wouldn’t probably think of, like cloth seats vs. hard plastic, summer vs. winter (people wearing short sleeves vs. long) and how the sound changes with those variables. It’s a six-part series and the link to part 1 is
* There are many types of audio engineers but there are two that are directly related to OP’s question:
* Touring Audio Engineers
* House Audio Engineers.
* Touring engineers work for the same band while that band is on the road.
* If the band is playing large venues and has a large budget then they will often bring all the equipment needed with them, usually in large trucks.
* For each stop on the tour they are setting up in a new venue and so things that can change on a nightly basis:
* The number of speakers used.
* The relative placement of the speakers.
* The relative intensity of the signal sent to a group of speakers.
* The audio processing (equalizing, delay, compression) on each group of speakers.
* For bands playing smaller venues, they will be working with whatever sound system the venue already has installed.
* For the audio engineer this often means using a different audio console each night and also having to figure out how to get the best sound for their band from that venue’s sound system and unique acoustic properties.
* (No two venues are the same).
* House engineers, on the other hand, work at the same venue for each show.
* They are in charge of maintaining the installed audio system so that doesn’t change but the band that is playing that night is usually different.
* Not all bands have touring engineers so often a house engineer will mix the band.
* So on a nightly basis the biggest change is the band.
* Each band has a different sound and a different mix of instruments and singers.
* The biggest change will be the talent.
* Talented musicians are very easy to mix because they are good at blending themselves together on stage, and they are also very good at knowing how to get the house engineer to give them what they need.
* Source: I’m a former professional audio engineer.
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