Live Sound Reinforcement Explained
How Great Event Audio Works
Live sound reinforcement is the fancy way of saying “using microphones, mixing equipment, amplifiers, and loudspeakers to make voices and other sounds clearly audible to an audience”. Most importantly, it is different from simply “having speakers” or setting up a PA; It's the professional method for designing and deploying a system that distributes clear, appropriate sound throughout the room. Psychologically, our brains are biased to hear louder sounds as better, but good sound should be noticed because it is clear and natural, not because the system is loud. This is the goal of professional sound reinforcement. You can recognize poor reinforcement when it doesn't sound good at a realistic volume level. Sound is one of the few parts of an event that can single-handedly ruin the experience regardless of how well all the other parts were executed. The planning, lodging, venue, stage, decorations, lighting, screens, catering, and everything else can be in perfect order, but if the audience can't understand the dialogue clearly, or feels uncomfortable with the sound level, or is otherwise distracted by the sound, the likely spotlight of the event - what's going on stage - is lost or diminished.
Put up PA speakers OR design a tailored system?
One main difference between simply putting up some speakers and designing a sound reinforcement system is that a reinforcement system considers the volume (sound pressure, or decibel (dB), level) hitting each and every seat in the room. Ideally, any one person will hear around the same overall sound level and frequency response as anyone else in the room, regardless of where they sit. For many spaces, that often requires using more thoughtfully placed speakers, producing lower levels, for strategic zones of the audience, rather than just two aimed to hit everyone. Of course, sometimes dual speakers are enough for your room's size and shape, or sometimes the room doesn't have space to easily put speakers in the optimal locations. But especially for longer or wider venues, adding in some additional speakers where possible to complete a better sound reinforcement system can absolutely be worth it. We'll chat with you during our consultation and site visit to determine the layout that works best for your specific event.
Avoiding Feedback
One of the most common fears of our clients is that there will at some point be ear-piercing feedback - the infamous high-pitched PA squeal - coming through the sound system. And while there are simply too many variables involved to entirely guarantee there will not be feedback at any point, our trained engineers and professional equipment utilize tools to massively cut back on the chances of feedback. Read more about this here.
Some tips for sound reinforcement based on your event type:
Speaking Events:
If you have a podium, we have extra-long gooseneck mics specifically designed for podiums that offer optimal performance and a sleek, modern look. Have us provide one in our sound package.
If you have audience Q&A during your event, have us provide wireless handheld microphones that can move around freely and offer flexible performance for loud and soft speakers.
Need to literally throw a mic around the room? Have us include a CatchBox throwable wireless mic.
Have announcements or "voice-of-god" lines to read? We'll provide a mic wherever you need it to do so.
Have audio coming from PowerPoint, videos, transition/walkup music, or video/movies? We'll make sure we have a direct feed, so it comes through the main sound system and makes it to the recording and livestream cleanly.
Music and Entertainment:
The same fundamental principles apply to concerts and entertainment, while the approach changes slightly.
You will almost always need monitor wedges. These are speakers that sit on the ground and point towards the performers so they can hear what they need to hear amongst the otherwise loud smear of stage noise.
If you want something better (but more costly), try in-ear-monitors, or IEMs. These are wireless monitors in the form of earbuds rather than loudspeakers, which can help reduce stage level.
Vocalists will get either wired or wireless handheld microphones, depending on how much they need to move around and your audio budget.
Instruments will get various, usually wired, microphones appropriate for their type. Drums often get 4-8 channels of microphones for a full sound. Sometimes we'll take signal directly from guitars and basses, sometimes we'll mic the amplifier - that depends on the specific model of instrument and amp.
We can run playback through the PA and monitors to support your performance.
What a Good Sound System Should Feel Like
To sum it all up, true sound reinforcement is what you get when you go a step above just setting up some speakers. It starts with a thoughtful design crafted around your specific stage, audience and venue. With Looks Great Productions' professional equipment and engineers on your side, the outcome is always the same: clear, natural sound that is just the right volume at every seat.
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