Behind the scenes: Live Sound Engineering part 1: Front of House

Jan 26

Discover the fascinating world of live sound engineering, where we delve into the pivotal roles of sound engineers, system engineers, and technicians. Uncover the intricacies of their work and the crucial contributions they make in crafting an unforgettable auditory experience for audiences.

The System Engineer:

One of the true unsung heroes of any live production is undoubtedly the System Engineer (SE). The SE plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall sonic landscape by optimizing the venue’s acoustic environment. A great SE helps make the Front of House (FOH) Engineer’s job easy by taking care of the science of sound, so the FOH engineer can master the art of sound.

A Day in the life of an SE: The SE is usually one of the first people to arrive to the venue. Normally arriving with the Production Manager and Rigging Team. They are responsible for working with the Production Manager and Head Rigger to determine, based on Ticket Sales and Set design, the optimal placement to hang speakers.

Armed with a range finder and computer software, the SE will take measurements of the room, input this data into proprietary software and create a plan for the rest of the audio team.

Once all of the speakers have been hung and angled correctly, the SE will begin to take sound measurements to time align all of the speakers, and to adjust individual frequencies to create the optimal environment for the FOH engineer to begin his job mixing.

While a Great SE is very meticulous and strategic in their process, they must remain flexible and able to adapt to changes and issues as they arise.

Front of House Engineer:

Location: Positioned at the front of the venue, typically in the middle of the audience between the

The role of the FOH Engineer is to ensure that the audience experiences clear, balanced, and high-quality sound during a live performance. To achieve this, the FOH Engineer must have the right tools, and a combination of technical expertise, artistic sensibility, and the ability to adapt to the unique challenges of each venue and performance. Under normal circumstances, the FOH is the captain of the ship, they must be able to communicate effectively with the Monitor Engineer, Lighting Director, Musical Director, Production Managers, and even the Artist to ensure they are delivering the perfect mix to keep everyone happy.

Conclusion:

Live Sound Engineering is a harmonious blend of technical precision and artistic finesse. Behind the scenes, the system engineer lays the groundwork, shaping the sonic canvas for the FOH Engineer. Together, these professionals work to deliver quality sound.

Sound Engineers, like the Quarterback in Football, may get all the glory when things go right, but without a quality System Engineer by their side, they will undoubtedly get all the blame for a horrible sound.