Entertainment Exam

Examination
15 Marks Multiple Choice Questions
35 Marks Short Answer Questions
15 Marks Structured Essay (2 Parts)
- Short Answer
- Extended Response
Topics
Industry
- Sectors of the Entertainment Industry
- Related Industries
- Stage Types
- Roles of People in the Entertainment Industry
WHS Work, Health & Safety
- Legislation
- Hazards
- Risk Minimisation
- Signage
Electricity
- Terminology
- Ohms Law
Audio
- Definitions
- Types of Microphones
- Types of Inputs
- Accessories
- Speakers
- Cables
- Audio Desk
- Audio Schematics
Lighting
- Principles/Purposes of Lighting (Why?)
- Properties of Lighting (Intensity desk, Shape shutters/gobos, barn doors/top hats, Colour)
- Types of Lighting Fixtures conventional, LED (beam angles, structures, symbols)
- Lighting Accessories
- Light Patching (Distributed Dimming/Patching/Automated Dimming)
- Lighting Desks

- Lighting Design (placement, colour)

INDUSTRY
Sectors of the Entertainment Industry:
Sporting Events
Screen and Media
Public Celebrations
Corporate Theatre and Communication
Cultural Events
Dance Competitions and Performances
Drama
Festival
Filmed Performances
Concerts
Charitable Events
Stage Types:
Proscenium
Arch Stage

Examples

Characteristics

Advantages

Considerations

Curtains

Capitol Theatre Sydney

State Theatre Sydney
Paris Opera House
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Audience directly faces the stage
Stage is raised above the front row audience level
The stage has a curtain which can be opened or
closed
The stae is framed by an arch
Blocking and sets can be used without fear of
obscuring the audiences view
Lighting and sound considerations are taken onlu from
the front on view
The stage has offstage areas which can be used to store
props/costumes for during the show and for performers
to wait or change
The height of theatre equipment, scenery is limited to
the upper roof of the stage area (particularly important
if there is not a fly tower)
Site lines in the audience may be obscured by the
Props
Access for bringing props/set on and off the stage during
the performance is limited by the side stage access
Grand Drape
Valance
Legs/Tabs
Border/Teaser
Portal
False Proscenium

In the Round

Characteristics

Advantages
Considerations

Thrust Stage

Characteristics
Advantages
Considerations

Traverse
Stage

Characteristics

Cyclorama
Scrim
Blackout Drop
Show Drop
Fire Curtain
Generally more popular in smaller venues and studio
spaces
The stage is place in the centre of the theatre with
seating 360 around the stage
Offers audiences a closer intimacy
Puts the audience in direct view of each other
Large scenery does not work unless it it suspended
above the actors heads and out of the audiences
view
Lighting and audio considerations are different to
those of the proscenium stage
Entrances and exits have to be considered during the
blocking phase
There is no backstage area a consideration for the
storafe of props and waiting/changing performers
The stage are protrudes into the audience
Audience sits on 3 sides of the performance space
Provides the audience with a closer view of the
action
Large scenic elements can only be placed at the rear
of the stage
The placement of the audience need to be
considered in the blocking phase
The placement of the audience will have
considerations for the lighting and audio
Backstage area may be lighted a consideration for
the storage of props and waiting/changing
performers

Traverse is a form of catwalk. In its purest form, it

does not have the stage and back wall area that a
fashion catwalk has

The audience is placed on the sides of the stage

Advantages
Considerations

rather than at the front

Offers an intimate setting
Good for confrontation
Difficult for dynamic fast paced entrances and exits
The stage configuration needs to be considered in
the blocking and in determining lighting and audio
placement

 There is no backstage area - a consideration for the

storage of props and waiting/changing perofrmers
Arena Stage

Characteristics
Advantages
Considerations

Roles:
Producer Business

Script Finds and approves the script

Employs:
- Director
- Creative team (in consultation with the director)
- Accountants and Legal team
Finance
- Finds investors and Sponsors
- Devises overall and departmental budget
- Overseas Budgets
- Sets ticket prices
- Develops a marketing plan and advertising strategy
Finance
- Approval
- Employment contracts
Copyright
- Options of the play from the playwright
- Organise royalty payments
- Secures the rights for any incidental pieces in the work
- Works with APRA and AMCOS
Labour Issues
- Works with theatrical agents
- Negotiates with unions (e.g. MEAA)
- Workers Compensation Insurance
Post Production
- Ensures payment of all bills
- Completes any legal issues (e.g. Workers Compensation
Infringement, WHS issues)
- Complies ad distributes financial reports
- Distributes profits to investors

Production Manager
Overseeing all aspects of
backstage development

The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing backstage

departments and all aspects of production. The production
manager is given a budget to enable him to have sets built by the
workshop; get them painted by the Design Department; have
costumes made by the Wardrobe Department; and to allow the
Stage Management team to buy all props and furniture required
for each production

Technical Director

Working with Designers:

Ensuring that the technical decisions of the various designers are
possible
Ensuring that the amount of electricity used by the designers in
the execution of their plans will not overload the available
electricity supply
Ensuring that the designs work within the engineering specs of
the venue (floor and roof weight capacities
Surveys performance space for technical production
elements/capabilities and serves as a consultant to production
staff on technical issues.
Develops sound design based on musical and theatrical demands
of production and current club sound reinforcement capability.
May be deferred in whole or in part to in-house sound designer

Director

Casting Responsible for all artistic decisions related to the

production, except those increasing costs beyond budgets.
Actors:
- Blocking for all scenes
- Run blocking rehearsals
- General rehearsals
Delegation to Other Creative Managers:
- Musical Director
- Choreographer
- Technical Director
- Design Team while still retaining responsibility for the overall
artistic quality and consistency of the production. May overrule
any designated decisions when necessary to this end.
Develops and Modifies Rehearsal Schedule
Auditions:
- Set Dates
- Runs auditions
- Makes casting decisions with approval of producers

- May participate in engagement of orchestra and crew members

Musical Director

Employment Select orchestra members

Creativity Represents the vision of the Director on all musical
matters
Rehearsals Running vocal and orchestra rehearsals
Auditions Running the musical component of auditions
Working with Other Designers:
- Audio
- Technical crew

Choreographer

Employment Select dancers

Creativity Represents the vision of the Director on all
movement matters
Rehearsals Running dance and movement rehearsals
Auditions Running the dance component of auditions

Design Team

Creative Designs the element with input from the director,

producer, technical manager and production manager
Budget Establishes and maintains budget
Scheduling Establishes construction schedule with the
production manager
Equipment:
- Procures all equipment (rent, borrow, buy)
- Arranges for delivery for bump in

Stage Manager

The size and structure of the Stage Management team will

depend on the size and type of the show/production
A stage manager is essentially the head traffic controller of a live
theatre or television production.
Once the director has issued his or her final notes to the cast, this
person usually assumes command of the physical stage area.
All of the various technical crews, such as lighting, sound, props
and scenery, report directly to him or her, who in turn remains in

constant communication with the director by an in-house phone or

wireless headset.
Needs good people management they need to coordinate all
aspects of a theatre company to ensure the successful delivery of
a performance
Needs good understanding of both technical and artistic aspects
of a performance
The Stage Manager is involved with the production from the preproduction to the post-production stage
The Stage Manager deals with any emergencies or issues that
may hinder the show.

Responsibilities:
- Roles vary depending on the size and type of organisation
Design Team

Creative Designs the element with input from the director,

producer, technical manager and production manager
Budget Establishes and maintains budget
Scheduling Establishes construction schedule with the
production manager

Venue Manager

Equipment Procures all equipment (rent, borrow, buy),

Arranges for delivery for bump in
Booking of Venue
- Through the Producer
- Ensuring that a complete understanding of merchandising is
established
- Discussion of the Rider
Negotiating with the Stage Manager Regarding the
Requirements of the Production With the Stage Manager
(also with the Technical Director)
Maintenance of Heritage of the Building
- Sydney Opera House
- Capitol Theatre
Meeting for Venue Site Visits with Members of the Design
Team as Required
- The Venue Manager needs to ensure that the Technical
Specifications are available (usually on the Venues website)
and are current
- Meetings with the design team may be real or virtual

Front of House (FOH)

Manager

House Electrician

Running FOH Elements During the Show:

- Ushers
- Parking Attendants
- Security
- Catering
- Cleaning
- Merchandising
Cooperating with the Stage Manager:
- When the show is ready for the audience to be let in
- Indicating to the Stage Manager is there is anything in the front
of house that would hold the show up
- Negotiating intermission times
- Negotiating late entry
- Accommodating for cast/prop entry through the front of house
as required
On call for emergency problems with the show

Rigging Team

Have high risk licence to enable them to install rigging and

infrastructure in a venue
Ensure that the rigging works within the engineering specifications
of the venue

Operators

Operate their specific element

May be employed by the production or the venue

WHS WORK, HEALTH & SAFETY

Opening Sentence/Paragraph:
Work, Health & Safety (WHS) in NSW is legislated by the WHS Act (2012) NSW and codified into
industry specifics in the MEAA/LPA Guidelines for the Entertainment Industry.
Definitions:
Hazard anything that has the potential to cause damage to life, health or property
Risk the likelihood/likelihood of a situation causing a harm/injury/illness to occur
Types of WHS Hazards:
Physical Hazard something/anything that my physically harm/injure myself or others in the
workplace (e.g. manual handling, working with electricity, working with heights, working outdoors
sun/wind/rain, etc.)
Ergonomic Hazard a postural problem which is very common in offices where people are
sitting on seats with the wrong posture, people using computer mouses for prolonged periods of
time, and hand positions. It is a problem in the Entertainment Industry when it comes to rigging
as ones neck may be strained
Psychological Hazard when people are harmed mentally (e.g. bullying)
Biological Hazard may arise from bacteria, viruses and toxins that are invisible to our senses.
An example of this is viruses (may be as simple as a cold, or as extreme as HIV or HEP)
Legislation:
WHS Act (2012) NSW:
- Written in legal language
- Contains the current laws
Regulations:
WHS Regulations (2012) NSW:
- Make laws more user friendly
- Contain exact penalties and punishments for breaching the law
- Contain exact requirements of the laws from the WHS Legislation Act (2012)
Industry Guidelines:
MEAA/LPA Safety Guidelines for Entertainment Industry:
- Regulations into Industry Specifics (e.g. Children & Animals)
- MEAA = Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance
- LPA = Live Performance Australia
Codes of Practice:
Many codes of practice for different activities which could be of specific hazards:
- The different codes are specific to hazards
- The different codes are specific to tasks (firearms code, pyrotechnics code)
Organisations:
WorkCover:

- Investigate: general investigations (they pop in to places), post-accident investigations

(suggestions for change/look for fault),
- Safe Work Australia: Educational (website/pamphlet), Research and Compile stats
(Governments, PPE manufactures)
- Local Council: building inspections, food prep areas (temperatures, conditions, washing)
- Unions: MEAA media and entertainment arts alliance (safety Guidelines)
Personnel:
1. WHS Committees the company/workplace needs to have over 20 people working there
Must have a permanent structure
Evidence of meetings (minutes of meeting have to be documented)
Structures for reporting are compulsory and need to be applied
WHS Representative
2. WHS Inspector visit for spot checks or accidents
The inspector works in relation with the WHS Representative work together to make the
workplace safe
- Constant contact needs to be maintained between both roles
- Representative has to fulfil any suggestions made by the inspectors
- The representative also has to inform the WHS inspector of any special circumstances
Hazards:
Heights
- Harnessing scaffold (yellow card required), ladder safety (3 points of contact, spotting, not
going above the second railing)
Electricity
- not exceeding wattage of GPO (general power outlet) using ohms law
- avoiding water
Cables
- Cable maintenance
- Testing & Tagging equipment
- Trip hazards
Manual Handling
- Knees not back
- Maximum weights (personal changes with everyone)
- Partner may be needed
- Lifting devices (trolley)

Fatigue
- Rest breaks (10hrs between shifts
- Most ignored hazard

 Chemicals
- MSDS
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Working Outdoors
- Sun: sunscreen (slip, slop, slap), hydration
- Wind: scaffold towers, flying artists or equipment, fireworks
- Lightning: scaffold towers, people
- Rain: protection of equipment and cabling, rain jackets
- Cold: jackets
Preventing Hazards:
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
- Includes: gloves, goggles, harnesses, rain jackets, hats, hard hats, sunscreen
- Ropes or chains are not included
Safety Induction
- All people who work at a venue
- Includes location of PPE and WHS equipment
- Fire extinguishers
- Evacuation procedures
- First aid
- Toilets
- Problems not everyone is there at the same time, so they may be done online which also
provides records to WorkCover
Risk Assessments
- Risk assessment for a show (done by Stage Manager)
- Risk assessment for a venue (done by Venue Manager)
- Both roles work together to eliminate all hazards and risks of hazards from a production
Hierarchy of Controls:
Elimination
- Remove hazard completely
- Most effective because the hazard is gone
Substitution
- Replacing the hazard
- Smoke Machines chemical handed to water for asthmatics
- Manual Handling swap a person for a troll
Engineering Control
- Isolate the hazard

Wet floor
Caution tape
Barricades around SD/LX desks
Fence across DE Halls stage

Administrative Controls
- Changing the way, they work
- Problem = change takes time (may be stubborn)
- Admin needs meetings
PPE
- Admin needs meetings

ELECTRICITY
Electrical Theory:
Electricity is a type of energy that involves the movement of electrons along a conductor, such as a
wire. The flow of electrons can occur in one direction or both directions along the wire. When
electricity flows in one direction, it is referred to as direct current (DC). Alternating current (AC) is
when the electrons flow in both directions one and then the other. Batteries produce direct current,
and electrical power grids that provide electricity to homes and other buildings use alternating
current.

OHMs LAW:

Electricity
Voltage

The pressure of electricity. This is determined by the generators in a specific

country:
Australia 240v
USA 120v
We are prevented from plugging in a piece of equipment from a different country
with different voltage requirements by different plugs
Most pieces of equipment are now dual voltage eg iPods, computers, camera
chargers. You may find that it takes twice as long for your phone to charge in
USA.
DC Power Voltage all batteries have a given number of volts. The voltage will
decrease as the battery is used, until the power runs out.
AC voltage is determined by power generators. The voltage will be constant
unless boosted by transformers.
AMP is the carrying capacity of the cables and connectors. Generally theatres
would be wired with 15 amp cables the ensure the supply of electricity (houses
today generally 10 amp older houses 5 amp).
Wattage is the drawing requirement of the appliance or load. (e.g. Lights
Fresnels may come in 250w, 500w, 1kw. LED lights may use as little as 72w.

Ampere
(AMP)
Wattage:
Principle
(V=IR)

Calculating the number of fixtures, you can safely plug into a GPO
Ohms Law
VxA=W
Australia with 10 amp cables: 240 x 10 = 2400
Australia with 15 amp cables: 240 x 15 = 3600
USA with 10 amp cables: 120 x 10 = 1200
USA with 15 amp cables: 120 x 15 = 1800
If you are using 3 phase power, you multiply the answer by 3.
What does this mean?
Australia with 10 amp cables: 240 x 10 = 2400
Each GPO can handle up to 2400w of load (e.g. 4 x 500w lights would be OK.)
Why are ohms important?
Two reasons: If you connect your amplifier to the wrong speaker impedance, you
risk damaging the amp. In tube amps, too high a load impedance (or a
disconnected load) can result in damage to the output tubes or output transformer,
while in solid state amps, if the speaker impedance is too low, the amplifier will
tend to overheat and more power is used up in the amplifier than is delivered to the
speaker. Too many speakers on a solid state amp can burn up the power output
section. The amplifier will deliver maximum power (volume) to the speaker when
the speaker impedance matches (is equal to) the internal impedance (called the
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE) of the amplifier. Too low an impedance will result in weak
output and poor tone. If the speaker impedance is higher than that of the amplifier,
its power output will again be less than it is capable of.

IEC Power
Cable
(Kettle
Plugs)

Mains Power
PCs, Televisions, Monitors,
Amplifiers, UPSs, and many other
electronic devices.

AC & DC
Power

Alternating Current
AC is an alternating current that
flows in both directions. AC power is
what fuels our homes. The wires
outside of our house are connected
at two ends to AC generators.
Direct Current
DC is found in batteries and solar
cells. DC is direct current that flows
in only one direction

3 Phase
Power

In a three-phase system, three

circuit conductors carry three
alternating currents (of the same
frequency) which reach their peak at
different times. This delay between
phases has the effect of giving
constant power transfer over each
cycle of the current.
Circuit
Circuit Breakers and Fuses monitor the flow of power and, if the flow gets too high,
Breakers
they shut down the system by breaking the circuit. Most theatrical equipment has
and Fuses
both fuses and circuit breakers.
Resistance When electrons flow through a resistance, there will be ALWAYS lost of energy
dissipated as heat. (e.g. you sliding along the floor in socks small resistance as
you move easily and little heat is generated. Sliding along the ground in bare feet
large resistance and you wont move very far and a lot of heat will be generated.)
Resistance can be both good and bad. Resistance causes some of the electrical
energy to turn into heat so some electrical energy is lost along the way. Poorly
fitting plugs may cause too much resistance leading to too much heat and therefore
fire.
However, it is resistance that allows us to use electricity for heat and light. The heat
that is generated from electric heaters or the light that we get from light bulbs is

due to resistance. In a light bulb, the electricity flowing through the filament, or the
tiny wires inside the bulb, cause them to glow white hot. If all the oxygen were not
removed from inside the bulb, the wires would burn up.
By its very nature a DC circuit will not exhibit any form of Reactance, therefore
opposition to current flow will always be measured in Resistance. Reactance
exists in two forms, Capacitive & Inductive.
Impedance Impedance can therefore be
thought of as the opposition of
electrical current flow in a AC circuit.
- total opposition to current flow in
electrical wires. Impedance in a
circuit can limit current flow to less
than the value required to operate
circuit breakers and safety switches.
The current flowing will, however,
still be large enough to damage
equipment, cause electric shock and
possibly electrocution.
Problems with Extension Cords:
Voltage drop may occur due to the
internal resistance of the electricity
to the copper wires used to conduct
energy. Therefore, the voltage
available at the end of a long
extension cord may be less than the
send out of a GPO (General Power
Outlet).
Conductors Copper is considered to be a conductor because it conducts the electron current
or flow of electrons fairly easily. Most metals are considered to be good conductors
of electrical current. Aluminium is also a good conductor (as are silver and gold but
very expensive)
Explain how electrical theory can be applied to the set up and operation of lighting, audio and
vision systems
We need to have a series of power cables that are all of appropriate lengths, usually in the colour
of black due to entertainment purposes
Need to make sure that we are using safe cables, which we check through testing and the tags
on the cables
Do not overload the power supply
When using a lot of light, it is good to use the 3-phase power system. This gives a greater access
to power and reduces peaks and drops in power. This also corresponds to sound as well
Keep all water away from electricity areas
Make sure to wear rubber sole shoes and if on a ladder, make sure it has a rubber foot on it for
better protection
Venues must have fuses and circuit breakers

 Make sure the cables are in an area where they wont be a tripping hazard and make sure they
are covered or rolled up neatly
Make sure we have equipment of the right voltage in correlation to the country so the equipments
power does not blow

AUDIO
Definitions:
Audio electrical signal of sound (the form required to be processed by audio equipment)
Sound continuous and regular vibrations that travel through the air to create sound the
sound waves, mechanical vibration (e.g. input + output to the audio system)
Noise any unwanted sound (e.g. buzzing, humming, feedback)
Analogue the sound wave is recorded in its original form
Digital the sound wave is turned into binary code
Frequency the measure of pitch
Decibel the measure of volume

Microphones:
Dynamic
Condenser
Ribbon

The Audio Desk:

Mic XLR (balanced)
Line inch (high voltage more noise)
Insert inch (accessories SFX, Compressor)
Gain increases the size of the input
EQ Equalisation
Function
XLR
XLR input
Balanced
Plug in mics
Plug in DI Boxes
Line
Quarter inch Jacks
Unbalanced
For electrical instruments (Keyboards, Guitars, etc.)
Insert
Access point built into the mixing console
Allows the user to add external line level devices into the signal flow between
the microphone pre-amplifier and the mix bus
Gain
Gain is used to manipulate the size of the input signal
Gain Structure: Position of the knobs in relation to each other
EQ High Used to correct and manipulate the tsss sound
EQ Med Adds warmth to the sound
EQ Low
AUX
FX
Pan
PFL

Mute

Used to correct and manipulate the hard consonant sounds (Popping)

Auxiliary send: Fold back speakers (through the desk/box Amp Speaker)
Sound Effects (FX)
The distribution of a sound signal into a channel
Pre-Fade-Listen
Separates the desk into two sections, so that changes made in fold back
speakers dont impact the front of house sound
Mute the channel/s

Types of Audio Effects:

Dynamic Effects: Dynamic effects alter an audio signal upon its frequency content and
amplitude (size of the sound wave) level; hence the term Dynamics sing the processing
program is dependent and ever changing. Dynamic effects can greatly enhance your mic, but
they are sensitive devices that require attention to detail.
- Compressors
- Limiter
- Noise Gate
Delay Effects: effects of this category hold the input signal for a short time
- Reverb
- Chorus
- Phasing and Flanging

 Filter Effects: Filter effects are used to emphasise or suppress frequencies in an audio signal
- High Pass Filter
- Low Pass Filter
- Band Pass Filter
- EQ
Pitch Effects:
- Pitch Shifters
- Harmonisers
Audio Installation Diagram:
Where you want the equipment?
How is it patched
1. Draw Stage Plan
2. Show where the audience is
Audio Personnel:
Audio Designer
Audio Tech
Audio Rigger
Audio Operator
Working with the Audio Personnel
Director
Stage Manager
Hire Company
Other Departments
1. Audio Designer
Director to get the creative vision
Producer + Copyright
Other Designers truss + stage space
Hire Company Hire the equipment
Venue Manager Acoustics and accessories
Paperwork
2. Audio Rigger/s
Install the audio equipment on the truss
(yellow card required)
Done in line with the audio plan
3. Audio Technician
Plugging/patching all of the equipment
Done in line with the audio schematic + Patch schedule + Audio Installation diagram
Troubleshoot during the performance itself

4. Audio Operator
Pre-production: ensuring that all effects work
They run the major sound checks (individuals and then groups)
Production: Turning on all equipment and checking that it works to its best
Operate the show according to the Cue sheet (Stage Manager calls)
Troubleshoot with Audio Technician
Audio Cables
Ground
The connecting of electrical equipment and wiring systems to the earth by a wire or other
conductor. The primary purpose of grounding is to reduce the risk of serious electric shock from
current leaking into uninsulated metal parts of an appliance, power tool, or other electrical device.
In a properly grounded system, such leaking current (called fault current) is carried away
harmlessly.
Balanced
Balanced audio is a method of minimizing unwanted noise from interference in audio cables.
Balanced audio works on the principle that two identical signals which are opposite polarities (often
erroneously called "out of phase") will cancel each other out.
Unbalanced
Traditional unbalanced cables use two lines to transmit the audio signal:
- a hot line which carries the signal and
- an earth line.
This is all that is required to transmit audio and is common in short cables (where noise is less of a
problem) and less professional applications.
XLR Mic Cables
Balanced Audio Connector High quality microphone connection.
Microphones and performance music equipment used to connect microphones to a mixer or mic
preamp. It's also used to connect professional balanced equipment together to pass line-level
signals (e.g. connect to a DI Box). Because it's noise-cancelling, XLR also allows for much longer
cable runs without picking up external noise.
Guitar Cables
Your instrument cable is low power and high impedance. Its built to convey a weak unamplified
signal from your guitar to your amp, where its boosted up to a useable level. Since it doesnt need
to carry a lot of juicea small DC current with a small voltageit consists of a single smalldiameter positive inner wire (usually 24 gauge) running through a braided shield conductor that
works as the ground connection, plus various insulators and the outer jacket. Its small, lightweight
wire size is good for cable flexibility (it needs to follow you around onstage, remember), and the
shielding prevents much of the noisy external electromagnetic interference that low-power signals
are susceptible to.

Speaker Cable
Your speaker cable, on the other hand, is just the oppositehigh power and low impedance. Its
built to carry a strong signal from your amp to your speakersa relatively high AC current and
voltage. Unlike the instrument cable, it has not one but two wire conductors, both with a relatively
large diameter in order to allow greater signal flow from amp to speakers
Multicore
An audio multicore cable (often colloquially referred to in America as a snake cable or just a snake)
is a cable which contains from 4 to 64 individual audio cables inside a common outer jacket. Audio
multicore cables are widely used whenever multiple audio signals, for example from a number of
microphones, need to be conveyed between common locations.
RCA
It was originally designed to connect turntables and amplifiers inside phonographs made by RCA. It
is an unbalanced connector and best used over only short distances. Most hi-fi gear and
consumer/domestic audio gear uses pairs of RCA phono to RCA phono cables, with both devices
having sockets (e.g. Musical devices such as disc players, effects units, etc.)
XLR
The three-pin XLR (Exchanging Line Resistor) connector utilises a 'balanced' circuit. Noise (such
as induced hum) will appear equally - but out of phase - on both conductors where it can then be
easily cancelled.
Inch Phone Plug or Jack
6.5mm Mono Audio Jack (Quarter-Inch TRS Connector) It was developed by AT&T for use in
early manual telephone switchboards, hence its name 'phone plug'. Most signal processors use
inch jacks to connect with mixers. Musical instruments such as electric guitars, as well as various
audio devices. Mono jacks are unbalanced; stereo jacks can be either unbalanced stereo or
balanced mono. These are used in High-end Stereo Headphones, A/V and Stereo Receivers,
Aviation Headsets, Mixing Decks and other audio equipment.
Speakon Connectors
High Current Professional Audio Microphones, loudspeakers, amplifiers and performance music
equipment. Mostly used in professional audio systems for connecting passive loudspeakers to
amplifiers. Speakon cables carry electricity as well as sound (as an electrical signal). These are
used for connecting microphones to loudspeakers and amplifiers.
Midi
Musical Instrument Communications - Allows synchronisation between instruments and computers.
This is used for keyboards, synthesizers, audio controllers, mixers
3.5mm Jacks
Analogue Audio (Stereo or Mono)
TRS stands for 'Tip, Ring, Sleeve', and describes the three-part construction that carries the stereo
left, stereo right and ground currents respectively. They have been the ubiquitous audio connection

for most of the last century, and offer high audio quality for headphones and small stereo speakers.
This is used to connect iPod/iPads
Speaker Cable & Binding Post
Speaker wire terminals are typically optional, with bare wire to a binding post offering one less 'link
in the chain' between devices
Banana Plugs
Banana plugs may appear tidier and are easier to remove and replace on equipment that is moved
or changed regularly.
Outputs:
Recording Unit
AUX Send
Speakers:
Passive
The vast majority of speakers are passive. A passive speaker doesn't have a built-in amplifier; it
needs to be connected to your amplifier through normal speaker wire. This speaker level signal has
been amplified enough to drive the speakers sufficiently.
Active
Active - have a built-in amplifier and are fed by a low-level (line-level) signal passed along an
interconnect cable originating at your preamplifier or controller. Because the amplifier is an active
electronic device, it needs power, and so you have to put any active speakers near a power outlet.
Foldback
The sound that onstage performers hear from front of house is the reverberated reflections
bouncing sound waves from the rear wall of the venue. The naturally reflected sound is delayed
and distorted, which could cause the singer to sing out of time with the band. A separate mixed
signal is often routed to the fold back speakers, because the performers may also need to hear a
mix without electronic effects such as echo and reverb to stay in time and in tune with each other.
In situations with poor or fold back speakers, vocalists may end up singing out of tune or out of time
with the band. Vocalists especially need monitors to hear other instruments from which they get
their cues
In-Ear Monitors
In-ear monitors (IEMs) are devices used by musicians, sound engineers and audiophiles to
listen to music or to hear a custom crafted mix of vocals and stage instrumentation for live
performance or studio mixing. They are often custom fitted for an individual's ears and provide a
high level of noise reduction from ambient surroundings.
Click Track A metronomic pulse heard in monitor headsets by musicians or conductors during
the performance of music. The purpose of a click track is to guide the musicians for sake of timing
consistency. In film scoring click tracks are used to ensure that musicals "hits" and effects happen

at the proper moment, timed to the picture. In theatre sound, click tracks are often used when a
pre-recorded section of singing is played back with the live performers; the click track pulse leads
the conductor, who in turn leads the live performers and the orchestra so that everyone is
synchronized. Can also refer to the actual recording of live performers for the intent of being used
as a click track.
Other Monitor Speakers
Green room
Control room
Foyer

Dressing rooms
Driver
A speaker driver is an individual transducer that converts electrical energy to sound waves,
typically as part of a loudspeaker, television, or other electronics device.
Audio Schematic:
Signal flow diagram focus is on the flow of the signal, not geographical positioning
Arrows are required as it shows the direction of signal

LIGHTING: