1. UNIT 65:TECHNICAL STAGE
OPERATIONS
Sound
Lauren Benson

2. SOUND DESK
Controls the level/volume
of sound that exits
speakers. There are 24
inputs and 2 main
outputs (left and right
speaker), and 4 auxiliary
outputs. Mono can be
achieved by 1 jack in the
input, stereo can be
achieved by 2 in the
inputs.

3. SOUND DESK CONTROLS

The sound desk includes PFL, gain, pan, faders and high mid and low
frequency controls (EQ).
In order to adapt the gain, PFL must be pressed for the specific channel, and
the gain must be turned so that the peak meter is just hitting the orange. This is
so the sound has the ability to become louder/quieter without damaging
equipment. The gain is also directly linked to the volume for each channel, and
will give less or more volume to your speaker.
To pan, if you had a left and right speaker for example, you would turn the left
speaker’s pan all the way to the left and the right speaker’s all the way to the
right to create an equal sound.
Faders will control how loud the sound for each channel is.
Master fader will control the sound for every channel.
The EQ consists of 4 controls. There is a high, mid, mid and low dials. The top
mid dial chooses the frequency and the bottom mid dial can be turned right to
boost, or left to cut the sound. The EQ is used to make something clear or
natural.
You can adjust the reverb on the desk to create more, or less of an echo on the
music or sounds. This can create the feeling of being in a different room or
specific area, helping with the setting.

4. SOUND DESK SCENARIO

If I had to adjust the levels of 2 singers in a duet, and one
was louder, I would first of all get them to sing with the
backing track. I would set the backing track first of all,
then adjust each channel separately with the master
volume at 0DB.
I would then use PFL to put the gain back to -16. I would
then increase the channel volume to 0, and use the gain
to increase/decrease the volume in order to stop the
peak meter from flashing red. I would then adjust the EQ
for each channel.

5. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SPEAKERS

Active speakers have a
built in amp, which
means they are better
for music gigs, but it
also means they are
heavier than passive
speakers. Passive
speakers are better for
use in the rig because
they are lighter,
however a separate
amp has to be
connected.

6. SPEAKERS SCENARIOS

If I wanted to transport
speakers easily to
smaller venues, I would
use active speakers.
This is because I
wouldn’t have to
connect an amp, which
would be more things
to transport to new
venues.

If I wanted to hang
speakers in the rig, for
the reason of raked
seating, or so they
aren’t on the floor, I
would use passive
speakers. This is
because they are
lighter, although an
amp has to be
connected additionally.

7. KETTLE LEAD/ IEC

Used to connect the
speakers to the mains and
the sound desk to the
mains.

8. FIGURE 8

Used to connect a
sound source such as
a CD player to the
mains.

9. XLR

Used to connect the
sound desk to the
speakers. Connected
from the main output
on the desk to the
inputs on each
speaker.

10. PHONO/COMPOSITE

Used to connect the
sound source to the
sound desk. The input
on the desk will vary
depending on the
sound source. For
example a CD player
will use a line input
whereas a microphone
will use an XLR input
with an XLR cable.

11. JACKS/ADAPTERS

Used on the phono
cable to allow the
sound desk to connect
to the sound source.