Duoc UC

English program

ESP Sound
engineering guide

1
 Duoc UC
English program

Prologue

Working as a sound engineer or a technician in the area is not

just a job related with the recording or mixing process of a band. It also
involves several duties which we are not sometimes aware of, for
example, the acoustic of some places such as theaters, massive venues
and e v en
c l a s s ro o m s a re
checked during the
building process
by th ese
professionals so as
to have the best
(and equal) sound
experience for
everysingle
person, mastering
their own
equipment in
different contexts
and situations
favoringthe
performance of the
speakers or the listeners’ sound reception as the main axis.

2
 Duoc UC
English program

Unit nº1: Hello…

testing 1,2,3

3
 Duoc UC
English program

Let's talk

a) What’s your experience so far working, or doing some

professional practice, in your career? What are the typical things
you do?

b) What are the duties and responsibilities a sound engineer /

technician needs to fulfill?

c) In which processes English takes an important role? How come?

Personality traits

Before we start working with some basic terminology in terms of

equipment and measurements, we are going to cover some personal
qualities; in other words, the skills you need to develop so as to be a
“competitive professional”.

Choose the suitable personality traits based on your own opinion. Are they
useful? Why? Why not?

Responsible Hardworking Talkative detail-oriented

Outgoing Patient Leader Quiet

Proactive Reliable Problem-solver Committed

Enthusiastic Creative Humorous Collaborative

4
 Duoc UC
English program

When we apply for a job (it

doesn’t matter which one is) we
need to develop some
personality traits based on the
area where we are working in;
those “features” are always
important because they can help
you to be recognized not only as
a skilled professional, but as a c
ompetitive and valued
professional.

Skills

As a competitive professional, master your area in terms of

information, knowledge and performance is mandatory; that’s why you
need to handle specific vocabulary to communicate and express ideas
(through data sheets mainly). Here are some familiar words you
already know.

Define the following words using your own vocabulary words

1) Audio Mixing:

5
 Duoc UC
English program

2) Reverberation:

3) Signal-to-noise ratio:

4) Pitch:

5) Panning:

These vocabulary words are essential in order to

understand how a sound engineering process is made
(could be a sound project, a live concert, etc.). Some of
the previous vocabulary words can be measured through
different “units”.

6
 Duoc UC
English program

Activity: Identify the sound unit with its appropriate definition.

Measure unit Definition

1) Impedance The electrical pressure (electromotive force) of a current
within a circuit

2) Decibel The measure of total resistance to the current flow in an

alternating current circuit; expressed in ohms

3) Hertz It describes the quality of an audio or video file

(transferred from one location to another

4) Bitrate The basic unit of measurement of resistance.

5) Ohm Is a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio between two

values of a physical quantity (usually measured in units of power
or intensity).

6) voltage A unit of measure that equals one cycle per second.

7
 Duoc UC
English program

Skillful professional (producer)

When we talk about a producer, we talk about an integral

professional. That person has to be in charge of every single stage in
the post and pre production area. Is the key in the success of a project
and is the person who has to master the right techniques to deal with
problems and above all, innovate.

Sound producers are also referred to as audio engineers,

recording engineers, and sound technicians. They use a variety of
equipment and machines, such as digital audio
workstations, attenuators, equalizers, and multi-meters during
the sound recording process. Professionals in the field should
have either an ear for music or some musical skill. Sound
producers also set up equipment and keep it in working order, so
some technical skill is required as well.

8
 Duoc UC
English program

Producers work closely with singers, actors, and other

entertainment professionals to make sure that the sound they
create is just right. In order to achieve desired results, they have
to know how to properly communicate with performers,
recording assistants, and others. During post-production and
mixing, sound producers blend recorded clips of vocals and
instruments to achieve a certain sound. For movie or television
projects, these professionals focus on how sound effects and
music line up with visual cues.

Audio producers and engineers can also put their own creative
skills to use by making original sounds or music. For example,
they may use computer programs and an assortment of other
tactile objects or musical instruments to create customized
sound effects.

a) Activity: Look at vocabulary words in bold type, Can you

define every one? Do you use them very often? In which
process? (pre, post production).

b) Once you read this text, Create you own definition of a

producer

c) Based on your own opinion, what’s the most important

producer’s duty ? Why?

9
 Duoc UC
English program

A producer’s versatility

When it comes some sound projects, a producer has to gather

a lot of information, no only about the recording process itself;
he needs to know what the band wants and get the concept of
the whole recording (like ideas or
topic). The producer’s point of view
can change based on the artist who
is working with, and this whole
process has to be shown in the final
mix.

Here you have some examples of a

producer called Rick Rubin (see the
picture). He has worked with
different artists and music styles,
but a lw a y s he inc lu d e s his
signature sound, no matter what style
is.

Activity: a) Listen to the sample

songs you have here; What do you think about them? (thinking as
a professional in the area)

b) Do you think he put his signature “sound” in these samples?

How?

c) What do you think of the final mix? What's the main focus of the
song (rage, aggressiveness, point out an instrument, etc.)?

10
 Duoc UC
English program

Some hardware & software

The usage of software and hardware in every single project or

live performance is a fundamental issue; that’s why we need to
know, handle and install certain things based on different
contexts and situations. If you checked the previous vocabulary
words in bold type, you can find the basic ones to start
generating a professional project.

Digital audio workstations (DAW): is an electronic system

designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing
back digital audio; in other words, is the place where you can
control every single step in your sound project.

11
 Duoc UC
English program

Attenuators: Is an electronic
device that reduces the power
of a signal without appreciably
distorting its waveform, for
example an amplifier works
with s ound g a i n i n g , the
attenuator works with loss or,
in other words, works with gain
less than 1; they are essentials
in home recordings.

Equalizer: This is used to

filter out and adjust
specific frequencies in
the PA*. This is the part
of the PA where you have
the most control over the
band's overall sound. It
could be graphic or
parametric.

PA: abbreviation for

public address system
(equipment for making
sound louder in a public
place)

12
 Duoc UC
English program

Multi meter: a device consisting of

one or more m eters, as an
ammeter and voltmeter, used to
measure two or more electrical
quantities in an electric circuit, as
voltage, resistance, and current.
Also called circuit analyzer. It helps
you to check how is your
connection going in the electronic
area.

Activities

a) Do you think of any other elements (could be software or

hardware) during the recording and mixing process? Which one/
ones?

b) In which situations you need to use the multi meter? provide

some examples

c) What's a graphic and parametric equalizer? Is there a difference

between them?

13
 Duoc UC
English program

Let’s check hardware

Hardware: probably the most loved/hated thing for sound

engineers and technicians; Hated because always you can find
some unexpected problems, and in the end you need to use
your handyman skills to solve it immediately; and loved
because every time we are in a store buying new equipment,
you can feel like a child in a candy shop.

There are a lot of different hardware units which can make your
life easier (or sometimes more difficult), but in most of the cases
we can work with the basic things and imaginatively use them
as if it were a professional studio. Here you have the basics and
probably a little bit more:

Audio “MIDI” interface:

The word MIDI comes
from the acronym Musical
Instrument digital interface
and is basically something
like a universal connector
where you can plug & play
different instruments with
the aim to record sounds
through a software or just
when you are playing live.
Most musicians use only
MIDI connectors because
they say is safer and you
have a lot of new features
available.

14
 Duoc UC
English program

Sound monitor: Those things

are really important in the
recording process and live
performances because the
main feature about them is
hearing the sound without any
other distractions such as
instruments or just some
ambient sound. They can be
panned in order to hear the mix the way you want to hear it.

Sound board (mixer): Probably the most important piece of

hardware if you are going to be in charge of a live
performance. With the sound board you can modify the input of
sound the way you want to; you can equalize it, you can add
some effects or just modify the volume based on the final mix
or the sound in general; it helps in the recording process as
well. In other words, the sound board is the essential piece in
any project related with your career.

15
 Duoc UC
English program

Microphones: When most people not related with sound

technologies think about microphones, they think about the
typical one a host uses, but as you know, there are many
different ones; each one with a different purpose depending of
the instrument you want to amplify, the recording process and
the place conditions when you are working. Microphones, when
you use them appropriately, can help you a lot, but sometimes
can make your life a disaster if you don’t know how to place
them in to get the desired sound.

Activities

I. Answer the following questions

a) Look at the microphones above; What are they used for?

(specific purposes)

b) Name 4 different usages of the sound board.

c) How useful is a MIDI interface in a home recording? Why?

16
 Duoc UC
English program

II.Complete the following text with the vocabulary words from

this unit.

a) Having a is going to help you to control

the tracks through different channels.

b) I just bought this keyboard; it doesn’t make any sound

because is not a conventional one, you need to connect it
into the to start working.

c) We need to check how is out circuit going, bring the

to check if everything is going well.

d) I can’t hear my guitar well, can you turn it up in the

please?

e) The bar’s owners say the music is very loud; probably we

are exceeding the .

f) The of the music is too much; we should cut

it out right away otherwise we are going to have a dissonant
wall of sound.

g) I didn’t like the ______________________ of this song

because there are a lot of details that are gone and you
can’t hear them very well.

h) We need someone to lead our ideas in a nice way; probably

before we start recording we need to hire a .

i) We need to set the frequencies of this track, can you check

if the is right?

17
 Duoc UC
English program

What about software?

1) Look at these logos; do you recognize them? Name the ones you know.

a) b)

c) d)

18
 Duoc UC
English program

2) What are the ones you use in a sound project? Why?

3) What are the basic Hardware requirements an audio editing

software needs?

When we talk about software, we can define it as digital data

and commands that tell a computer what functions to do, often
stored on a DVD called a program disc. Software can modify
every single aspect of a recorded sound to have the best final
mix based on the needs a sound engineer or technician has.
The most popular are the ones above, but you can find
hundreds of different options according to your budget or your
professional level.

19
 Duoc UC
English program

Talking time!!

a) in pairs student A and student B will

create a dialogue using the following
information:

Buying two types of hardware.

One of the students doesn’t know how to use them.
Recommend microphones for different situations.

Functional English

When you are going to buy something, we usually say:

Do you have ?
Can I have ?
What do you suggest for ?

Asking about things work:

How can I use this?
How does it work?

Giving suggestions:
I suggest that
I recommend this one because
You should try this one because

20
 Duoc UC
English program

b) In pairs, imagine you have to be in charge in the creation of a recording

studio. You are the person who is going to build the studio, therefore you have
to check the right equipment for the recording studio; which of the hardware
previously mentioned you would buy. Make your top 5 (from the least to the
most essential) and explain your decision as a group:

1:

2:

3:

4:

5:

c) In groups, discuss about the do’s and don’ts in the

usage of the following equipment
(check the pictures out):

Do’s and
Don’ts
In order to give advice and explain the right
and wrong things you can do in a situation,
we use the do’s and don’ts.

Examples:

Internet do’s Internet

dont’s

-Create a safe password. -Don’t make “1234” as password.

-Get an antivirus. -Don’t give personal information.
-Use social networks. - Don’t bully
people online.

21
 Duoc UC
English program

Video time!

Watch the following video “home studio gear” and answer the

following questions:

1) What equipment do they mention?

2) why do you need a powerful computer?

3) what’s a pop filter?

4) Do you think these aspects mentioned in the video are essential? would you add
another one?

22
 Duoc UC
English program

Annex nº1: drum kit vocabulary.

23
 Duoc UC
English program

Unit nº2: Sound

rehearsal.

24
 Duoc UC
English program

Let’s talk

a) What’s your favorite part during a sound project (editing,

recording, mixing,etc).

b) Based on your opinion, How portable technologies can help

you working in a project (cell phones, tablets, ultra books). Are they
useful?

c) How can you realize the difference between a good sound

project with a regular one?

Editing: vocabulary

When it comes editing; you need to know certain vocabulary

words in order to understand some basic software’s functions.
You already know you can find the same software in spanish,
but in most cases the terminology, such as copy & paste, is
English based.

Here you have some software’s basic functions. Write down your
own definition of each one.

1) Audio plug in:

25
 Duoc UC
English program

2) Bit rate:

3) Input/ output:

4) Multi tracks:

5) Export (Mix):

26
 Duoc UC
English program

Editing

How can we define audio editing? As simple as the

modification of an original sound based on the project needs. It
is not only the modification in terms of volume, equalization or
panning, it also could involve noise reduction, distortion, pitch
changing, etc.

Here you have some basic steps to explain basic “moves” in an

audio software.

Exporting in pro tools.

… Now that your sequence is

edited, you are ready to export
your project out of ProTools and
into a standard audio format - a
process known in ProTools as
"bounce to disk."

You may want to export uncompressed audio for use on an audio or

data CD, or you may want to export compressed audio for use on the
Web. For Web work, you may want your audio as compressed
QuickTime, or in the popular MP3 format.

Pro Tools' "Bounce to Disk" function provides very limited options for
conversion to other formats. We strongly recommend bouncing to
uncompressed AIFF format, and then using QuickTime Pro or iTunes to
convert the AIFF to another format.

First, make sure your Pro Tools project has been saved.

27
 Duoc UC
English program

Then use the selector tool to select all the regions of your audio that
you want to export (see the section on selecting multiple regions).

Then in the menu at the top click on File...Bounce to Disk.

In the top section of the Bounce panel, leave the Bounce Source
unchanged.

Make sure the File Type is set to AIFF.

For web work, set the Format to Mono (summed).

For CD or other high-end work, set the Format to Stereo (interleaved).

Set the resolution to 16 bit.

Set the Sample Rate to 44100 (44.1KHz) unless you plan to integrate
your audio back into a digital video project, in which case you should
use 48000 (48KHz).

At the bottom of the panel, select:

Convert After Bounce

Click OK and select an output destination for your AIFF file. Click Save
and your project will be exported to AIFF.*
*: taken from http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/protools/exporting/

As you see in the description above, you can explain certain basic
“software moves” knowing some specific vocabulary words (the ones
you can find in the software) and , besides of that, we can add some
sequence adverbs like: first, then, next, after that, finally, in the end.

28
 Duoc UC
English program

Activity: Choose one of the projects below and explain it with simple
words using frequency adverbs.

Things you can do:

a) Making some panning changes on a track

b) Equalize a track

c) Change the tempo of a track

d) Save a project in a MP3 format.

Project:

Required steps to fulfill it:

29
 Duoc UC
English program

Talking time!!

a) Explain processes: in pairs create a

role play situation when every student
has to explain to the other classmate one
of the following editing techniques:

Hiss reduction of a recording track

Install a plugin in protools
Add vocals effects in voice track recording

Functional English

We use the sequence adverbs "first", "next", “then”, “after that”

and "finally" to describe the order in which two or
more actions happen.
e.g.: "First, I break the eggs. Then, I heat the
butter in a pan. Next, I add the eggs. Finally, I
eat the omelette with toast."

B) In groups, discuss the following ideas related to the recording processes in studio. Once you
have it done present your idea in front of the whole class.

Is it good to isolate the vocals in a recording studio? why? why not?

Based on your opinion, what are your top 3 plugins in protools? why?
which is the most difficult thing to do in a recording studio? give a complete answer

30
 Duoc UC
English program

Tips: phrases for expressing opinion

I think....
I feel....
I guess....
Personally, I think....
What I mean is....
I’m of the opinion that....
I believe....
I suppose....
According to me....
From my point of view....
As far as I’m concerned....
I’d like to point out that….
In my opinion…

c) In pairs, Look at the mac and windows keyboards below; based on the software you use
(protools) discuss and present 5 different shortcuts including the usage of each one of them.
Choose the keyboard you feel more comfortable with.

31
 Duoc UC
English program

Used for

When we use “used for”, the format of a sentence is created like this:

“the computer is used for working”

“the pickup truck is used for loading instruments”

Shortcut 1: what’s it for?

Shortcut 2: what’s it for?

Shortcut 3: what’s it for?

Shortcut 4: what’s it for?

Shortcut 5: what’s it for?

32
 Duoc UC
English program

Video time!

Watch the following video “Recording tips (for

begginers” and answer the following questions:

a) what are the tips the guys mentioned in the video?

b) Which of these tips you consider one of the most important?

c) Which other software did they mention in the video besides pro tools?

d) Do you agree with these tips? would you add another one based on your experience?

33
 Duoc UC
English program

Once the mixing is ready…

Once a sound project is done, you

usually keep the original
recordings; these are called
“master recordings” and basically
is the first recording of a song or
other sound, from which all the
later copies are made. Since s
o u n d r e c o r d i n g w a s fi r s t
invented, master recordings
(usually called just "masters") have
been made on discs, tapes, and
computers.

In terms of the “masters," you can use them in order to create a

remastered version of the song, and it refers to the quality
enhancement of sound to a previously existing recording (master
recording).

But the question is… who owns the

master recordings?

That's a complicated and

challenging area to be explained,
but usually every person who was
involved in the sound project (band
members, sound
engineers,technicians,
producers,etc), have the right to
decide or modify the master
recordings based on their own
needs.

34
 Duoc UC
English program

Activities:

a) What do you think about the ownership of the master recordings?

Do you agree with the “rights distribution”?

b) What’s the main role of the record label in the rights of the master
recordings?

c) How could you explain the remastering process with your own
words? Have you ever done that before?

Let’s round it off

If we start analyzing the previously mentioned steps to create a sound

project, you need to take into consideration three stages: the pre
production, production and post production area. Those areas are
strictly necessary if we want to control our sound project in a nice way,
but, what do we do in each area? Let's check it out.

Pre production: Is the process of preparing all the elements involved

in our project. We need to check all the things we are going to use and
if its necessary create budgets.

Production: Is where “the magic happens”; once everything is checked

and ready to use, the production process could be the recording or the
live performance depending on the context; where the sound is
“produced” or “performed” by the musicians.

Post production: Is the final part of the whole project. is often referred
to as mixing, as this process happens after recording the musicians, is
where most of your skills in terms of editing and mixing are required to
point out the recorded tracks in the best possible way.

35
 Duoc UC
English program

Activity:

Look at these words; which items are more related to the pre
production, production, post production area? Complete the chart.

Wires - Pro tools - convert audio - amplifiers - Masters - budget - tracks - monitors -
sound board - panning - Demo tape - export project

36
 Duoc UC
English program

Analyzing a sound project

When we analyze any kind of sound projects (song, radio commercial,

acoustic set up, etc) we need to take into consideration several aspects
in order to be as much objective as you can.

These aspects can be helpful before you make a final judgement:

- Noise reduction.

- Record quality.

- Stereo sound (if it's surrounding or not)

- Volume and EQ (Equalizing).

- Equipment in general.

E a c h o f th e s e
features can make
you decide if a
project is well-
made based on
the pre
production,
production and
post production
process because
is any of these
steps are made in a bad way or lightly, you can notice it in the final
product.

37
 Duoc UC
English program

Activity: Choose a song you are really into and analyze it as objective
as possible, involving the aspects previously mentioned.

Example: This song was recorded in 1991. It was recording in a studio.

You can hear each instrument recorded through microphones
(analog), not directly to the software like most of the nowadays“home
recordings” so it gives you a different vibe; you can recognize the
effects used by the singer and the ones the guitars and bass put into
their instruments…….…

Song:

Artist:

Analysis:

38
 Duoc UC
English program

Tips to consider

Besides of the analysis of a project based on the production, you can

make your own “review” from a musical point of view, in other words,
you need to have at least basic notions about music. Is not completely
necessary to know
how to play an
instrument, but you
need to be aware
about notes, scales
a n d m u s i c
p r o g r e s s io n s in
ordertostart
producing a band.
Y o u c a n ’ t b e
f o c u s ed on the
management only,
you can also need
to be aware of the
artistic point of
view; be able to
express/tell something to someone through the things you do*

Discussion:

a) Do you think is necessary to work in your area knowing how to play,

at least, one instrument? Expand your idea.

b) Would you like to produce a band of a different style of music?

Why? Why not?

*: Video: a day in the life : Audio Engineer

39
 Duoc UC
English program

Annex nº2: American letter

notation
Among the first things we have to consider mandatory in the
comprehension and subsequent usage of basic musical notation within
a sound engineering context is of course the American Letter Notation.
This is the individualization of each one of the 7 white notes or (Natural
Notes) on the keyboard and their related alterations or accidentals
(black notes.)
- Note that every note can be given different names depending on the
context as shown in the example below.

Sharp (#)

A sharp makes a note a half step higher in pitch.

On the keyboard, a note’s sharp is the black key directly to its right.

Flat (b)

A flat makes a note a half step lower in pitch.

On the keyboard, a note’s flat is the black key directly to its left

(DO MI DO)

-That note could be both C# (sharp) or D♭ (flat) depending on the context

40
 Duoc UC
English program

As we move towards the right the note’s pitch goes up (higher) therefore we
refer to them as sharps.

When moving towards the left the note’s pitch goes down (lower) therefore
we call them flats.

41
 Duoc UC
English program

Unit nº3: Just push

play

42
 Duoc UC
English program

Let's talk

a) Have you ever worked in the sound set-up of a live stage?

How was the experience?

b) What do you think is the most difficult part in terms of audio

settings in a live concert/event?

c) How important is the place where the event is going to be

performed? Why?

Live settings (backline)

Probably one of the most difficult

sound engineer/technician’s
thing to do. Setting the stage is
completely different with the
recording process because they
have just one chance to make it
right and there are different
factors involved in order to
success. The most important f
e a t u r e s t o m a k e i n t o
consideration are:

- The acoustic of the place:

sometimes a place has a lot of
reverb and that’s something you
need to handle as good as you ca
n, o t h e r w i s e y ou’ l l ha v e
something like a wall of sound completely difficult to recognize

43
 Duoc UC
English program

sounds. A completely story is when you are going to amplify something

in an open space; you won’t have any reverb but you need to put your
skills in order to make an equal sound for every person in the place, in
other words, make a uniform sound for the listeners.

- People: This aspect is important because the amount of people can

make a huge difference in the sound in general. If you have a lot of
people in a closed space, the sound won’t have so much reverb; and
obviously if you don’t have so many people is going to be the opposite
effect.

-Equipment: Based on the things you are going to amplify (voice,

instruments or music tracks) , you need to check the right equipment.
Is not the same amplify a
ba s s g u i t a r w ith a n
electric guitar; the
s e t t i n g s ha ve to be
differentandthe
equipment for each one
too in order to get the
best sound experience in
a live performance. the
equipment is often
referred as “backline”

Activities:

a) What are the three

best places for a live
performance in Chile? Why?

b) Name the typical problems you can have while you are setting a
stage. How can you solve them?

44
 Duoc UC
English program

c) Discuss the following statement: “Without a good investment in

terms in backline, you can’t have a nice result in live performances”
do you agree with that?

d) What’s the difference between echo and reverb*? explain it with

your own words
*: Video 2: Echo and reverb

Stage plot/input list

When we talk about the

stage plot, we talk about a
graphic representation of
the band’s setup when they
perform live; the placement
on stage, the equipment
they use and other helpful
information in order to make
the sound check easier.

The graphic representation

tell us the instruments they are going to use, the monitors, the amount
of microphones they need and any other “tips” in terms of stage
distribution.

What's the input list?

Sometimes the musicians don’t have enough time in order to create a

stage plot mentioning the distribution of the instruments, amplifiers,
etc; they usually send list with the detail of every member in terms of

45
 Duoc UC
English program

equipment, that information is called the input list, is not a graphic

representation of the stage but is a nice approach in order to know the
things you are going to amplify

Here you have an example of input list:

46
 Duoc UC
English program

Stage plot:

Activities:

a) Have you ever done one of these things? Do you find them useful?

b) Look at the picture above (stage plot), do you think the stage is well
distributed? What kind of things would you add or take out?

c) Create a stage plot including monitors, microphones for these

instruments:

Member 1: Congas, timbals

Member 2: drums

Member 3: Electric guitar, backing vocals

47
 Duoc UC
English program

Member 4: Bass guitar

Member 5: Keyboards

Member 6: Vocals, acoustic guitar

Stage plot

48
 Duoc UC
English program

Talking time!!

a)Working in pairs, Student A

and B are going to be producers
of a live concert. They are going
to create a live schedule
including the following activities:

Load in and Load out (including time)

Sound rehearsal
Catering, public entrance and security.
Stage, monitors and lighting

Jargon: the language, especially

the vocabulary, peculiar to a
Functional English particular trade, profession, or
group.
Example:

A: What time does the concert start?

B: The concert starts at 9 PM, When do we start with the load in?
A: the load in it’s scheduled at 9 AM in order to start with the rehearsal
B: The catering should be ready at that time too.
A: what about public entrance? ………

Useful vocabulary words

-Load in: The act of installing a show into a venue.

-Load out: The act of removing a show from a stage or venue.
-FOH: front of house; the location of the main sound and lighting boards.
-IEM: in ear monitor.

49
 Duoc UC
English program

b) In groups, name the most important things to do and check in live

concerts. Explain your ideas.

1:

2:

3:

4:

5:

c) What are the typical problems you could face in live concerts? How can you solve
them? work in pairs.

Useful expressions to solve problems

For that problem we need to because

We have to otherwise
We must before the problem appears
Sometimes we should check before the event starts

Vocabulary words

- Blackout: when all lights must be hidden by law, or when there is no light or power because of an
electricity failure.

- Feedback: a rumbling, whining, or whistling sound resulting from an amplified or broadcast signal (as
music or speech) that has been returned as input and retransmitted.

- Buzz: to make a continuous, low sound such as the one a bee makes.

50
 Duoc UC
English program

Video time!
Watch the following video “How to do a Soundcheck” and

answer the following questions. Take notes about the steps.

1) How many steps does the video present?

2) Do you agree with all these steps? would you add more?

3) write down some vocabulary words that are new for you. what do you think they mean?

4) Have you ever worked alone in soundcheck? is it a difficult experience?

Post viewing:

1) Based on your opinion, which of all of the instructions presented in the video is
essential?

2) What are the main problems when it comes working in the console live?

51
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

How to…

Once you have the input list or the stage plot, your main duty is to
amplify these instruments; it is not only to put a microphone in the
amplifier and catch the sound; it needs some steps and advices in
order to make is as good as possible.

Here you have some aspects to consider:

- Try not to treat

soundcheck as a free
rehearsal and jam
incessantly. One or
two short songs
should provide more
t h a n e n o u g h
opportunity for the
sound engineer to set
up a decent mix.

- Be sure to get a
microphone in every
instrument in order to
get the signal in the mixing board

- Don’t forget the mixer allows you to adjust the sound volume of each
source compared to the other, and their distribution in the acoustic
space (left / right stereo) for the final mix, also it can be used in the
sound monitors too.

- Remember that the microphone’s placement can change the sound

signal completely. Try to look for the right one.

52
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

Activities:

a) What do you think about these advices? Do you agree with them?

b) Name other advices in order to amplify a band’s live sound

c) Work in groups. Explain

the following process:

How to “mic*” and amplify a

d r u m k i t . Ta l k a b o u t
placement, volumes and
mixing

*: Mic = microphone: is referred to

the microphone’s placement

53
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

Let’s round it off

Finally, we have to start with the sound check of a live performance; is

going to take a while because there are a lot of previous things to do
before start working with the “knobs”. If we can make distinction of the
processes we need to cover, these are the following:

- Check the Backline: analyze the place, context and kind of thing you
are going to do. Identify your own equipment and use the right one
based on the things the performance wants to achieve.

- Ask for the input list/stage plot: These papers can help you a lot
before you start working in the band’s settings. It can help you to
organize the stage and equalize basic things like the sound monitors
and the instruments according the performers’ needs.

- Hands on work: Here’s where you need to be aware of every

technical aspect in order to amplify every sound from the performers.
Your need to check the placement, the volumes, the EQ of everything
and as you know, work as good as you can in the mixer and sound
board.

If you are aware of all

these factors in a live
performance, you won’t
have any problem to
delight the audience on
a spectacular show*

*: Video 3: Behind the Scenes on Bassnectar Tour: Sounds and Sights

54
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

Annex nº3: Extra sound

vocabulary

- Accompaniment: A vocal or solo part that supports or is background for a solo

part.

- Bar: A unit of music, such as 12-bar or 8-bar, denoting length.

- Beat: A unit of measure in rhythmic time.

- Canon: A musical form in which melody is imitated exactly in one or more

parts, similar to a round.

- Chamber music: Any music written for a chamber ensemble—a string quartet,
a piano trio, a chamber orchestra, etc. Music for a soloist, or for a soloist with
accompanist, may or may not be chamber music.

- Choral, chorus: Choral means of a choir; a choral work is a work for choir, and
a chorus is a relatively large choir, or group of singers.

- Chord: Three or more tones played simultaneously.

- Compose: To create original music by organizing sound. Usually written down

for others to perform.

- Composition: A single, complete piece of music, (also, piece and work).

- Concert: A program by a chamber ensemble, orchestra, band, or chorus; there

are also rock, jazz, and pop concerts.

- Dynamics: Variation and contrast in force or intensity.

- Elements of music: Melody, harmony, rhythm, and form and the expressive
elements of dynamics, tempo, and timbre (tone color).

- Embellishment: Notes that are added to ornament a melody (melodic

embellishment) or rhythmic pattern (rhythmic embellishment).

- Ensemble: Any group of performers, but it is most commonly used for smaller
groups. A large group would be referred to as an orchestra, chorus, or band.

55
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

- Form: The organization and structure of a composition, and the

interrelationships of music events within the overall structure

- Genre: A type of musical work such as choral, jazz, mariachi, etc.

- Harmony: The simultaneous sounding of two or more tones of relative tone. - -

Improvise: To spontaneously compose music.

- Melody: A rhythmic succession of single tones organized into a cohesive or

aesthetic whole.

- Notation: Written documentation of musical notes indicating pitch and rhythm

for performance.

- Opera: A drama set to music for voices and orchestra and presented with
costumes and sets.

- Performance: The actual act of making music; sometimes used to mean a

musical presentation.

- Phrase: A musical idea comparable to a sentence or a clause in language; may

be complete or incomplete.

- Phrase: The location of a note in related to its highness or lowness.

- Production: A performance of a work that involves staging—costumes, scenery,

etc.—as well as music. The term may also refer to the costumes, scenery, and so
on, as distinct from the music.

- Program: (1) An entire concert or recital (2) The printed booklet given to
audience members at a concert, opera, recital, etc. (3) A literary text, a place, an
event, or the like, on which a musical composition is based.

- Recital: A program by a soloist or by 2 performers (soloist and accompanist, or

a duo).

- Rhythm: Combinations of long and short, or even or uneven sounds that

establish a musical continuum and convey a sense of movement.

- Score: The organized notation of all of the instrumental and/or vocal parts of a
composition.

- Symphony: A composition for orchestra, usually in four movements.

- Tempo: The pace at which music moves according to the speed of the
underlying beat.

56
 Duoc UC
English program
Duoc UC
English Program

- Texture: The character of the different layers of horizontal and vertical sounds.

- Theme and variation: A compositional form in which a theme is clearly stated

and is followed by a number of variations.

- Timbre: The color or quality of a musical tone.

- Time signature: A sign used in music to indicate meter, usually written as a

fraction with the bottom number indicating the kind of note to be played as a
unit of time and the top number indicating the number of units in each measure.

- Twelve-bar blues: A chord pattern often used in blues music based on the 1st,
4th, and 5th chords and the blues scale in specific order within twelve bars.

- Vocal, vocalist: Vocal means of the voice; vocalist is

a synonym for singer

57