Once you have the rider and are more or less sure of the lineup, you can assess what kind of equipment you will need.
In each live concert there are different requirements, you may need more of some things and less of others but here below I point out the things that are necessary in each concert.
What’s in a live sound setup?
1. Mix.
Obvious right? Still, you need to consider how many tracks the band will need and the size of the mixer required for the gig.
The size of the mixer varies if you’re mixing a 16-track rock band or a 24-track special show with different lineups. Also consider bonus tracks for FX returns or playbacks, for example.
2. Enough monitors
The band needs to be able to hear themselves on stage. Bring enough monitors. It will be a pain for both you and the band if there are monitoring issues. Having a great sound on stage will allow the concert to run smoothly and the band will appear more confident, resulting in a better live sound.
3. decent AP
You won’t need a massive JBL Vertec line array for a small club, so plan accordingly. When discussing equipment rental, be sure to specify the size of the venue and the type of concert.
The professionals who work there will usually be able to gauge how big your system will need to be. Sure, they can make it a little bigger than they really need to in order to charge more, but it’s safe to say that they’re (usually) reliable.
4. Outboard equipment.
In addition to the mixer, the FOH engineer should have a decent selection of outboard gear to help him mix. When working with analog mixers, this means having a large effects rack with compressors, gates, and multi-effects.
But when working with digital mixers, all the compressors and effects are built in, making the insertion process a breeze.
For example, working with a rock band and an analog mixer you will need at least:
- Compressor/Gate for the bass drum.
- Compressor/Door for box. You can often get dual compressors/gates that you can use and save space in your effects rack.
- Compressors for the vocal, if there is more than one, use the compressor on the lead vocal.
- 3-4 different types of effects. Drum reverb, plate reverb for vocals, and tap-tempo delay are my favorites and the ones I use the most.
5. Additional wires
Lastly, because with Murphy’s Law keeping a close eye on everything that happens in the field of live sound, make sure you have backup copies of everything. And more often than not, that means cables. Bring more cables than you think you’ll need, because you’ll need them.
What else is in your live sound setup?
So when you’re packing up for your next live sound gig, be prepared and take notes on what you’ll need. Do you have a big enough mixer? Enough monitors? Will your PA be enough? Keep all these questions in mind and follow these guidelines and you will do just fine.