Good Resources for Learning How To Do Live Sound

The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is a good resource:

The Sound Reinforcement Handbook: Davis, Gary, Jones, Ralph: 0073999009644: Amazon.com: Books

I have had pretty much a life long interest in audio and enjoy reading about related subjects. I went through a lot of old technical stuff offered by companies like JBL and EV.

JBL has either removed their old content or made it harder to find. The EV PA Bible is still available: ev_pabible-01-1979.pdf (electrovoice.com)

Here is a good article on Bass Arrays. I don't think he ever published the second article: A_Practical_Guide_To_Bass_Arrays.pdf (sounddesignlive.com)

Some of the big Speaker companies have published similar docs.

Once you get into it a ways, you may find this doc useful.
frequency wave length chart 2013.pdf (jdbsound.com)

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to setup and tune PA systems.

Good Luck!
 
The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is a good resource:

The Sound Reinforcement Handbook: Davis, Gary, Jones, Ralph: 0073999009644: Amazon.com: Books

I have had pretty much a life long interest in audio and enjoy reading about related subjects. I went through a lot of old technical stuff offered by companies like JBL and EV.

JBL has either removed their old content or made it harder to find. The EV PA Bible is still available: ev_pabible-01-1979.pdf (electrovoice.com)

Here is a good article on Bass Arrays. I don't think he ever published the second article: A_Practical_Guide_To_Bass_Arrays.pdf (sounddesignlive.com)

Some of the big Speaker companies have published similar docs.

Once you get into it a ways, you may find this doc useful.
frequency wave length chart 2013.pdf (jdbsound.com)

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to setup and tune PA systems.

Good Luck!

Now that you mention it, I think I have seen The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook mentioned around here before.
 
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The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is a good resource:

The Sound Reinforcement Handbook: Davis, Gary, Jones, Ralph: 0073999009644: Amazon.com: Books

I have had pretty much a life long interest in audio and enjoy reading about related subjects. I went through a lot of old technical stuff offered by companies like JBL and EV.

JBL has either removed their old content or made it harder to find. The EV PA Bible is still available: ev_pabible-01-1979.pdf (electrovoice.com)

Here is a good article on Bass Arrays. I don't think he ever published the second article: A_Practical_Guide_To_Bass_Arrays.pdf (sounddesignlive.com)

Some of the big Speaker companies have published similar docs.

Once you get into it a ways, you may find this doc useful.
frequency wave length chart 2013.pdf (jdbsound.com)

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to setup and tune PA systems.

Good Luck!
There is the handbook for Sound Engineers too. It delves more into the technology rather than simply audio production. https://www.amazon.ca/Handbook-Soun...ocphy=9001414&hvtargid=pla-450492938810&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Sound-Engineers-Audio-Cyclopedia/dp/0672219832
 
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Your absolute best bet ? Sign up to help with a quality local sound company. I am often looking for or to develop quality help as the ability to put a crew on site and be at another site is critical for me. With the right company, one that want's to develop a talent pool, you'll learn more in 3 gigs than any book, ever...

That had crossed my mind; to enlist someone local that does it and tag along or give some one-on-one lessons.
 
I generally pay $20, $25 an hour for box movers and setup folks. I try for muscians as much as possible and after a successful outing, next gig out I tell everyone of them, you are hear for your ears and musicality as well as the other stuff. If you think things in the mix are off let me know. I try to check my FOH ego at the door remembering that while I know a few genres well, there is more to learn. I expect that I'm somewhat unique in that regard... It has served me well though. Every once in a while I get thrown an act that baffles me. Celtic and Nortena are genres that are not native mode for me... having a crew guy around that is familiar with them was like, oh damn, I was pretty far off. Hint ... In Nortena, if it looks like an acoustic guitar, make it sound like a telecaster on a direct box...

My one other piece of advice, if the sound guy is good, watch, listen and learn how he runs an efficient sound check. How does he get a band of knuckleheads organized ... Getting those monitor mixes right and an foh mix roughed in...That is big!

My favorite role in the whole thing, after the systems engineering part which I relish, is side stage management and monitors. For a good act, if I have a trusted FOH guy, I'll take monitors any day.
 
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The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is a good resource:

The Sound Reinforcement Handbook: Davis, Gary, Jones, Ralph: 0073999009644: Amazon.com: Books

I have had pretty much a life long interest in audio and enjoy reading about related subjects. I went through a lot of old technical stuff offered by companies like JBL and EV.

JBL has either removed their old content or made it harder to find. The EV PA Bible is still available: ev_pabible-01-1979.pdf (electrovoice.com)

Here is a good article on Bass Arrays. I don't think he ever published the second article: A_Practical_Guide_To_Bass_Arrays.pdf (sounddesignlive.com)

Some of the big Speaker companies have published similar docs.

Once you get into it a ways, you may find this doc useful.
frequency wave length chart 2013.pdf (jdbsound.com)

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to setup and tune PA systems.

Good Luck!

Thank heavens I don’t have to do this. I couldn’t put together a table and.chair let alone mixing an entertainment act…. But those are some good resources if you have the interest.
 
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Reading technical books is great and will help but actual experience is the best and fastest way to really learn things . Having a decent background knowledge of cable types , vocabulary used by sound guys - general methods etc will increase your chances of being valuable as an assistant . Most folks don't have the time or desire to have to explain everything to you so you need to be as prepared as possible . Best of luck with the pursuit .... Kelly
 
My experience is a little different than what has been listed so far. I attended a school for recording engineering for 2 years and gained a certificate in that discipline. After that, it was a short trip to live sound. Of course there are differences, and nothing is better than field experience as has already been mentioned. The recording engineering experience taught me the lingo and general procedures to start learning live sound.

Thump on,

One_Dude
 
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dave ratt has a really good common sense way of delivering examples of practical examples of some complicated and fundimental principles
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+ratt
dave pensados got a ton of interviews of mixers (some live)at pensados place
hes a top level top 40 mixer but hes a great guy too
typically i like seteve albinis approach in his live recordings(never mind the politics)
,..you can ask him questions in the electric audio forums
 
i took this subject in school for a cpl years..way back in the 80's I had to keep up to date on everything studio equipment related. Unfortunately, i never pursued that career choice as i only used what i had learned to apply directly to the bands i was currently in for making demo's and some live gigs. There is alot to learn in that field and analog to digital to midi applications will keep your mind busy. Knowing acoustics of different rooms really interested me, but getting familiar with studio "gear" and how it worked in relation to everything else became a bit overwhelming imo
 
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Your best ally is to know how EQ works. Analyze your favourite recordings and listen to every instrument. Mix levels, EQ, compression, effects are all things to be aware of.

I have heard some great live mixes and some that sucked. Can you hear everything that is coming off the stage? I am always surprised with some mixes and you can't hear the snare for example.

Assuming you are relatively new to live mixing the sound check is where you can optimize the mix and minimize stuff like feedback. Be prepared to have soundcheck the first few songs which is always a nerve wrecking experience.
 
Your best ally is to know how EQ works. Analyze your favourite recordings and listen to every instrument. Mix levels, EQ, compression, effects are all things to be aware of.

I have heard some great live mixes and some that sucked. Can you hear everything that is coming off the stage? I am always surprised with some mixes and you can't hear the snare for example.

Assuming you are relatively new to live mixing the sound check is where you can optimize the mix and minimize stuff like feedback. Be prepared to have soundcheck the first few songs which is always a nerve wrecking experience.
My biggest issue with live mixing is well-tuned snares played by drummers who don't know how to play quietly (used to touring or large stages, etc.) sometimes use inverted sticks - so they don't break them more often!
Those CUT thru everything, and there's no way to turn them DOWN in anything less than a Festival-size gig.
One has to bring everything else up to match, or live with an obnoxious snare!
To me.. if one can hear everything in the PA, and easily identify/distinguish, kick, bass, keys, vocals and guitars (not excluding horns, fiddle, pedal-steel if on stage), then the mix is good.
Volume is a different issue, VERY dependent on how seasoned the musicians are!

As with most things, there's no substitute for practice/experience!
 
We do need a "back off the kick drum" book or apprentice opportunities under a "less is more" kick drum micing Zen master :)
Hands on is the best but expect to be doing manual schlep work in the first 2 - 3 gigs.
That's a beef I have with a lot of young drummers (and some oldsters, too) where they feel they have to be beating the snot out of the drums continually when they are playing. Dynamics are non-existent, as they are playing flat out all the time; A sound man's nightmare.

I blame some of the punk and metal musicians and the associated videos for perpetuating this behaviour.
 
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That's a beef I have with a lot of young drummers (and some oldsters, too) where they feel they have to be beating the snot out of the drums continually when they are playing. Dynamics are non-existent, as they are playing flat out all the time; A sound man's nightmare.
Fired my last drummer for this. Great kid. Zero restraint.