Fundamentals of Live Sound Reinforcement What You Will Learn:
  • Understand sound and its interaction with the environment
  • Design of the most common sound system components
  • Common miking mistakes and solutions to them
  • Basic Sound System design concepts

Course Outline


Fundamentals
What is Sound Reinforcement?
Sound System Requirements
Sound System Model
Sound Waves and Models
Inverse Square Law
SPL
Phase Relationshps

Environment
Why is the Environment Important?
Environmental Effects
Reflection, Diffusion
Reverberation

Input Devices
Microphone Types
Pickup Patterns
Proximity Effect
Balances vs. Unbalanced Lines
DI
Output Devices
Driver Types
Filters and Crossovers
Passive vs. Active Systems
Speaker System Protection

Amplifiers
Preamps vs. Power Amps
Bi-Amplification
Digital Audio
Analog vs. Digital Signals
ADC and DAC
Sample Rate and Word Size
Advantages of Digital Audio

Effects
Equalizers
Compressors and Limiters
Chorus, Reverb
Mixers
System Overview
Channels and Subgroups
Monitoring
Connecting Effects
Gain Structure
Auditioning Signals

Vocal and Instrument Miking
Miking Techniques and Examples
Plosives and Sibilance
Common User Problems and Solutions

Sound System Design
Design Considerations and Models
Ground Loops
Mixing Location
Speaker Placement and Feedback
Safety Considerations
Course Material
Next Session: Ottawa, Date TBA Location: Will be announced on schedule