Sound for Studios & Concerts

signal chain of six basic events in sound systems

• mic, saliva, rough contact, and strong air gusts

• handheld, lavalier, boom, headset, wireless

• Singer/instrument - microphone - mixer - amplifier - speaker - ear

• Treble/bass (equalization), special effects, speakers for the band (monitors), mic sensitivity, pan (left/right)

What is the primary job of a microphone?

• converts audio signals into electrical signals

• they control volumes of the mics and instruments

• protect the mic from saliva, rough contact, and strong air gusts

• combines all mic/line inputs into one output and controls the sound

Name five different kinds of mics

• mixer - amplifier - speaker

• Singer/instrument - microphone - ear

• saliva, rough contact, and strong air gusts

• handheld, lavalier, boom, headset, wireless

purpose of the wire mesh and foamy windscreen on a microphone?

• Faders—they control volumes of the mics and instruments

• protect the mic from saliva, rough contact, and strong air gusts

• used in live concerts around the world, and they're built like tanks

• combines all mic/line inputs into one output and controls the sound

purpose of the wire mesh and foamy windscreen on a microphone?

• used in live concerts around the world, and they're built like tanks

• combines all mic/line inputs into one output and controls the sound

• protect the mic from saliva, rough contact, and strong air gusts

• converts audio signals into electrical signals

What are the Shure SM57 and SM58 renowned for?

• used in live concerts around the world, and they're built like tanks

• Treble/bass (equalization), special effects, speakers for the band (monitors), mic sensitivity, pan (left/right)

• The front-of-house sound engineer

• Faders—they control volumes of the mics and instruments

the primary purpose of a mixing board

• where all the cables come together, which (in a video) was described as "air traffic control" or a "traffic director"

• combines all mic/line inputs into one output and controls the sound

• boost the electrical signal on its way to the speaker

Who is in charge of the mixer and makes a live band sound great?

• watts—the more watts, the louder they are

• The front-of-house sound engineer

• Faders—they control volumes of the mics and instruments

• the electrical signal on its way to the speaker

What do some of the knobs on the mixer control? (Name three functions.)

• Singer/instrument - microphone - mixer - amplifier - speaker - ear

• Treble/bass (equalization), special effects, speakers for the band (monitors), mic sensitivity, pan (left/right)

What's another name for the sliders on a mixer, and what do they do?

• watts—the more watts, the louder they are

• Faders—they control volumes of the mics and instruments