Are you looking for ways to make sure your event’s music, sound and lighting are up to scratch? Whether it’s a small dinner party or a large concert, having an experienced sound engineer on board is the key to creating an enjoyable experience for your guests.
From working with the acoustics of your venue to properly calibrating audio levels, there are many things that sound engineers can do in order to take your next event from good to great. In this blog post we look at seven things that you should consider when enlisting the services of a professional sound engineer!
Table of Contents
Know your equipment
The most important thing a sound engineer can do to improve your event is to get to know their equipment. This means understanding how each piece of equipment works and what it does. It also means understanding the capabilities and limitations of each piece of equipment.
By understanding the capabilities and limitations of their equipment, a sound engineer can more effectively use it to achieve the desired results. Also, before the event begins, it is important to test the equipment to ensure that everything is working properly.
This includes testing the microphones and speakers to make sure they are providing clear sound. Additionally, the sound engineer can test any other audio-visual equipment that will be used during the event, such as projector screens and TVs.
Adjust the sound during the event
During the event, it is important to adjust the sound as needed. This may mean turning up or down the volume of the speakers depending on how loud or quiet the room is. Additionally, you may need to adjust the EQ (equalization) settings on the mixer to ensure that all frequencies are being reproduced correctly which a sound engineer can do.
Record the event
If desired, they can also record the event for future reference or playback. This can be done by connecting a recorder to one of the main outputs on your mixing console. Alternatively, many digital mixers now have built-in recording capabilities.
Understand the acoustics of the room
Another important thing a sound engineer can do to improve your event is to understand the acoustics of the room. This means understanding how sound waves travel through the room and how they are affected by the various objects in the room.
By understanding the acoustics of the room, a sound engineer can more effectively manage the sound levels at an event.
Balance instrument sounds
A sound engineer can also improve your event by balancing the sounds of instruments. This means ensuring that all instruments are audible and that no one instrument is overpowering another. A well-balanced mix of instruments will make for a more enjoyable listening experience for your guests.
Manage feedback
Feedback is when sound waves from an amplifier are picked up by a microphone and then amplified again, creating a loop that can cause an unpleasant screeching noise. A sound engineer can help to prevent feedback by managing the levels of each individual instrument and by using special techniques such as EQing (equalization) or gating (filtering out low-level noise).
Use special effects sparingly
Special effects such as reverb or delay can add interest to an event, but if used too heavily they can become overwhelming and distracting. A sound engineer will know how to use special effects sparingly and effectively to add interest without causing distraction.
