Achieving good quality live sound is an art in itself. Frequently, a poorly received performance is blamed solely upon the artists in question, however more often than not the blame should actually lie with the sound engineer. When you're planning an event, it is the job of the sound engineer to make the sound run smoothly and without any issues. Successful live sound at an event depends upon numerous factors, and whilst this subject is far too detailed to cover in a single post, here are a few common concerns you should certainly look out for:

The Room

The room, or lack of a room, that your event takes place in plays a huge part in the amplification of sound, as well as its qualities of resonance and reflection. The generally accepted way to overcome problems with a location is to find optimum positions for the speakers. Minimising mid and high frequency is a must, and subs should also be placed to avoid any unwanted low frequency too. Spending an hour or two rearranging the speaker setup before an event is the key to making a real difference to the overall sound quality.

Sound Paths and Microphones

Multiple sound paths should be avoided at all costs during an event, as should multiple microphones all serving the same purpose (i.e. centred upon one instrument). You'll also need to pay careful attention to the unamplified quality of your sound. If a particular sound seems to struggle when it isn't being assisted, then the best a sound engineer can usually do is to limit the damage. Whilst obviously unpleasant elements can be cut at the sound desk, don't assume that every discrepancy can be easily obscured.

The Entertainment

Huge sound problems can be created by the sheer amount of noise a band creates on stage, and controlling that sound to benefit the audience, rather than the band themselves, is often a challenge. Usually, you need to work at the lowest level you can, turning down the strident elements in the sound, rather than cranking up the weakest noises until they become distorted. Setting the volume of the event at a modest level is a practice that is all too often neglected.

With a practical mind and an attentive ear, a good sound engineer can ensure a fantastic atmosphere at an event every time. If trying to manage your own sound seems like an insurmountable task, look no further than London Speaker Hire to meet your needs. Not only can we provide a reliable service for speaker hire in London, but our superb sound technicians have an extensive degree of experience from a variety of projects too, so they can give you all the assistance that you might need. For more information, contact us now and we'll be pleased to help.