There are two types of speakers used in technical stage operation: active and passive. Active speakers have built-in amplifiers, so they only need to be plugged into power but are heavier. Passive speakers do not have built-in amplifiers so they must be plugged into an external amp, but are lighter and can be placed in high positions. A passive speaker requires more setup with an external amp but is lighter, while an active speaker has less setup but is heavier.

1. Unit 65: Technical Stage
Operation
Sound

2. There are two types of
speakers used in technical
stage operation. One is an
active speaker, which has
an amplifier built into it.
This means that it only
needs to be plugged into
an external power source
and a sound
source, however it is
heavier.
Speakers
The other is a passive
speaker. A passive
speaker doesn't have an
amp built into it, so it has
to be plugged into one.
Because it doesn’t have
an amp, this means that
it is a lighter speaker, so
it can be used high up.
You would use an active speaker if you wanted to have less hassle
setting up, however it weighs a lot more than the passive speaker as
the amp is already built in. If you wanted to have a speaker up
high, you would use a passive speaker as it is lighter, however you
would also have to hang an amp up there.

3. Phono cable- used to plug your phone into the desk.
Kettle lead- used to plug speakers into the mains.
Figure of 8- power lead for the CD player
XLR- used to plug speakers into the desk.
Jack lead- used to plug sound source into the desk.
Cables

4. EQ- EQ are the green dials and are used to cut and boost frequency.
The top one controls the high frequency, the middle ones control
middle frequencies and to cut and boost them, and the bottom one
controls the low frequency. You would use EQ if you were using a
microphone and wanted to sound more natural.
Gain- The gain dials on a sound desk are located at the top. You use
these before you play the music, to set how much sound you want
to play out of the speakers.
PFL- stands for pre fade listen. You use this to adjust the sound you
get from one channel. You want the light at the right of the sound
desk to be orange.
AUX- auxiliaries are used to plug in monitor speakers. This is needed
when an artist wants to hear just what they're playing, or their
voice/instrument louder than anything else.
Pan- these dials are used to pan the sound from the left and right
speakers, or used to get a balanced sound from both.
Sound Desk