Live sound engineering course
Bad sound will ruin a show. Taught by a touring pro, this course offers you the fundamental knowledge you need to confidently step up to the mixer and produce great sound at any live venue.
Instructor: Scott Adamson | Modules: 10 | Class length: 113 video lessons (7.5 hrs) | Course Level: beginner-intermediate | Available: w-TPA all access | +Direct access to your course instructor
34:45 (13 videos)
Learn the fundamental audio concepts that are critical to understanding live sound.
36:48 (10 videos)
How to take the sound from the mics and DIs on the stage to the inputs of the mixing console.
01:36:48 (23 videos)
In our longest section we look at all the processes and techniques we use for building a great mix.
20:48 (8 videos)
Learn how to send your mix out of the console to a speaker system for the audience, or monitors for the performers.
27:12 (9 videos)
A critical aspect of live sound, this section teaches you some concepts and techniques of mixing for the performers on stage.
17:01 (7 videos)
Navigate the quickly changing field of wireless audio with fundamental concepts that will ensure your success.
18:17 (6 videos)
How digital mixing consoles have revolutionized the workflow for audio in live music with functionality you can’t find on analog mixing consoles.
20:17 (7 videos)
Get a straightforward explanation on how every piece of gear, analog or digital, is connected in our audio system to ensure the signals flow correctly.
45:00 (15 videos)
Understand the complexities of professional speaker systems and how to control them with a system processor.
23:27 (7 videos)
Live sound engineering is part art, part science. We look at some big picture concepts that define live sound.
Included with all access pass
Taught by a touring pro, this course offers you the fundamental knowledge you need to confidently step up to the mixer and produce great sound at any live venue.
Available with subscription
Live Sound Essentials helps you establish a solid knowledge base so that you can become recognized for your reliability, attention to detail, and ability to pull off any live show.
Industry terminology
Learn to properly communicate with stage crews, musicians and other engineers with clear and concise definitions for commonly used terms and industry jargon.
Live sound equipment
The same fundamental principles can be applied to all live sound equipment. This course gives you a complete overview of the entire live sound system.
Live show workflows
Get a reliable step-by-step plan for running soundcheck and make it 90% of the way to a great live mix before the audience arrives.
Real-world problem solving
Understand signal flows, microphone polar patterns, and stop feedback before it even starts. Keeping cool and quickly identifying issues is key to succeeding in the unpredictable world of live events.
In the past 25 years of being a self-taught sound engineer, I have gone from working small clubs to sold-out arenas and main stage festivals with 100,000+ attendees. It has taken me years to become completely comfortable mixing at any venue.
Live Sound Essentials is the accessible and practical course I wish had when I started mixing live music.
Founder Scott Adamson has mixed FOH for:
— Ariel Rechtshaid, Grammy award-winning producer for Adele, Vampire Weekend, Haim, Madonna, Usher
• Clear and straightforward advice that will instantly improve your live mixes and ability to troubleshoot problems.
• The one piece of gear that’s responsible for 90% of live sound failure.
• A step-by-step guide for running soundcheck. (You must master this skill as a pro live engineer.)
• Why understanding signal flow is absolutely essential for keeping your cool and quickly solving problems on stage in stressful situations.
• The biggest — and maybe most common — mistake engineers make with compression. (It’s a huge cause of feedback.)
• How to quickly identify and eliminate feedback frequencies.
• The demystifying truth about gain structure and unity gain. (You will automatically start mixing better when you understand this.)
• The most important knob on a mixing console. (When you master it mixing gets a lot easier.)
• Why understanding microphone polar patterns can stop feedback before it even starts.
• How to learn the software for different brands of digital consoles. (Without even touching the mixing console.)
• The critical difference between Active vs. Passive DIs and which ones sound best with certain instruments.
• How to get 80% of the way to a great live mix before the audience even arrives.
This course is for anyone who wants to be involved in the production for a live performance, whether it’s mixing for professional artists, working in the theatre or giving back to their community by volunteering at their church.
Live Sound Essentials can also help musicians improve their band’s live sound quality. If you’re a musician who has gigs where you need to set up your own PA and mix everything yourself, this course will help you get great results from your gear.
This curriculum is perfect for those starting out, but can also provide guidance for self-taught professionals looking to fill in some knowledge gaps.
This is a completely self-paced online course — you decide when you start and when you finish.
Live Sound Essentials is available as part of the TPA All Access subscription. Learn more here.
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