Sound Check...before or during event?

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TwinSpinDJ

TwinSpinDJ

Up-lighting
ODJT Supporter
Jan 21, 2010
2,846
2,230
West Melbourne, Florida 32904
www.twinspindj.com
How many arrive at their event in time to do a system Sound Check? Do you change settings once guests have arrived? How do you deal with "slapback?"

I try to be setup at most events with at least 45 minutes remaining until guests begin to arrive at the venue. You probably think 45 minutes is too long. Well, it would be if you didn't allow for time to change clothes. I'm my own roadie, sweat a lot, so the last 30 minutes of the 45 min alloted for Soundcheck is to cool down and change clothes. The first 15 of the 45 is for checking out the sound and EQ the room. (I EQ by ear) Some of you EQ by using a Driverack PA or other device.

Once guests have arrived and the room accoustics change I do another "walk around" to adjust my EQ and loudness accordingly.

On occasion, during the dancing segments of the Reception program, I have gotten that "Rat-tat-tat" coming back at me when a certain song is played. I have tried to cancel it out by EQ but that doesn't do much. I've even attempted to re-angle the speakers. It seems to occur when playing across a short wall, i.e. rectangle.

What is the easiest way to avoid the "slapback" (Rat-tat-tat)?
How long do you spend "ringing" out your system (sound check)?
Do you wait until guests have arrived and then adjust volume and EQ?
 
Are your speakers in phase?
Are you overdriving them with too high a gain?
 
I always test (sound heck) before an event and make adjustments thrughout the event. I walke around and here what my system sounds like at different parts of the room (now made easy with a app that can run VDJ from my Ipad) I usually only takes the tone control on my mixer/preamp. A properly set up system should sound more or less the same at most venues, just a bit of tweaking needed. My system likes big rooms or outdoors.
 
What is the easiest way to avoid the "slapback" (Rat-tat-tat)?

We've had some success in reducing slapback by re-aiming the tops or mid-tops. Also, lowering the gain to the top cabinets can help in smaller venues and/or when a significant number of guests is seated. Height is important ~ make sure the tops are barely over the heads of the crowd.

How long do you spend "ringing" out your system (sound check)?

Usually, a half hour or so. That's while BSing on the phone with Mr. Tuck during sound checks. :) It's always good to hear from Jon. We really don't have much in the way of ringing out to do ~ the compressor/limiter and EQ are "set and forget" to reject feedback.

Do you wait until guests have arrived and then adjust volume and EQ?

Volume can always be adjusted on the fly. The EQ is never touched. The only reason for adjusting EQ settings would be if you're running a different set of speaker cabinets than usual or your mic practice (number of mics needed or type of mics) has changed since the last show.
 
Houston...never have a problem driving my system hard. Most of the time I barely reach -0- or 12 O'clock High.

Phase. Well...I do have a button on each subwoofer (Active) that is for phase adjust. As long as they are both "out" everything seems to be OK. You are referring to "push" / "Pull" correct? One system is a matched set (RCF) tops/subs. I can definitely tell when the sub isn't pushing! But, I do check the buttons at every setup.

Is there an easy way to determine "out-of-phase"?
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
Is there an easy way to determine "out-of-phase"?
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Place the leads from a multimeter or low voltage battery, pos to pos and neg to neg to the terminals on a speaker. Watch to see if the cone goes out or in first. Do the same to the other speaker. If the cones from both go in the same direction when you touch the lead to the speaker terminal, they are in phase. If one goes in and the other goes out they are out of phase so one of the terminal connections need to be reversed either at the speaker end or at the amp output. When they are out of phase you will get less bass.
 
We arrive at a venue 1.5 - 2 hours before guest arrival. It allows us to check out the room, load in, setup, take some pictures, chat a bit with the staff, sound check, go over agendas with the room captain, change clothes and relax for about 15-20 minutes before its time to go. This also builds in some time for things out of our control, detours, etc.

We are constantly checking our sound levels throughout the night and normally only adjust faders, but if need be tweak the EQ. What's nice since Ducky and I both go to every gig, one of us can walk the room and using hand signals relay any changes back to the board. Once a client told us afterwards it looked like we were baseball coaches giving the signs. But they enjoyed the fact that we were checking the sound levels.
 
During setup I have on occasion cut myself short of time to change clothes and freshen-up. I have been "miffed" because of not getting sound from the laptop channel where external sound card connects to mixer. If I don't power up the system in a certain order I don't get sound through my computer to mixer. I have a powered external HD with USB input to computer and a Gigaport AG input to computer. Normally, I turn on computer and when it is up and running, plug in the USB to Sound Care and then USB to ext HD. Works fine. If I make the mistake and have all plugged in at the same time and turn on computer, I don't get sound to the mixer from Laptop. When this happens I have to shut the computer down, and plug in the Sound Card and then external HD. Anyone else have a similar problem?

Second issue, on occasion, is due to one of the RCA channel connections (left or right) don't always get "fully" plugged. And, when you are running short of time at the end of setup this is certainly annoying because you don't know which connection is the problem. I have been using an "in-line" hum remover that connects between the Sound Card and Mixer Leads. Since I fixed my microphone line noise problem a few months ago, I have not tried the Sound Card to Mixer Lead connection without the "middle man" (hum remover). Guess I should do that next time out. I may not need it any longer?

The bottom line is to leave yourself some extra time to resolve technical issues AND change clothes. :)
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
During setup I have on occasion cut myself short of time to change clothes and freshen-up. I have been "miffed" because of not getting sound from the laptop channel where external sound card connects to mixer. If I don't power up the system in a certain order I don't get sound through my computer to mixer. I have a powered external HD with USB input to computer and a Gigaport AG input to computer. Normally, I turn on computer and when it is up and running, plug in the USB to Sound Care and then USB to ext HD. Works fine. If I make the mistake and have all plugged in at the same time and turn on computer, I don't get sound to the mixer from Laptop. When this happens I have to shut the computer down, and plug in the Sound Card and then external HD. Anyone else have a similar problem?

Second issue, on occasion, is due to one of the RCA channel connections (left or right) don't always get "fully" plugged. And, when you are running short of time at the end of setup this is certainly annoying because you don't know which connection is the problem. I have been using an "in-line" hum remover that connects between the Sound Card and Mixer Leads. Since I fixed my microphone line noise problem a few months ago, I have not tried the Sound Card to Mixer Lead connection without the "middle man" (hum remover). Guess I should do that next time out. I may not need it any longer?

The bottom line is to leave yourself some extra time to resolve technical issues AND change clothes. :)
Click to expand...

I prefer to have my HD on first before I turn on my Laptop. This way, the laptop searches for any devices, new or old and sets it up. If you turn on the HD afterwards it takes a bit longer because now the lappy has the read/import the contents into its memory.

It is also a good idea to plug in the same devices in the same ports each and every time.
 
I arrive 30 minutes before the start, hook up in 15 minutes, turn on in time.
Everything so sweet sounds
 
Ok then answer this


do you see bands doing a sound check after all the people have paid and arrived to hear them and the gear isnt working 100%
I dont think so

you ALWAYS have sound checks before anyone arrives


have a nice day
 
LOL at Dennis! Tell 'em man!
have-a-nice-day-black-cat-ag1.gif
 
You can skip sound checks.......................................................................but it's pretty stupid.
You can get there just in time to setup and play..........................................but it's pretty stupid.
You can plug-in, see if there's sound, then turn it off until show time...............but it's pretty stupid.
You can download needed songs after you get there.....................................but it's pretty stupid.

Arrival, 2 hours in advance of the first guest. Get sound up and let it run 20-30 minutes. Get lights up, let them run a while as well. Personally, WHEN technical glitches happen I prefer them in the privacy of my own panic. Not in front of the guests or client.
 
Another short story about arriving early. Outdoor/under cover wedding. Long day (2:00 - 9:00 pm). Got there plenty early 'cause I was doing sound for Ceremony, too. I arrived at 10:30 am. Got everything setup and working, both systems. Was satisfied with sound. It was about noon or after. Cool. I can go take shower and dress with no problem. Wait! I forgot to check out the microphone. Went over to the dj station and discovered that the power supply was missing, but the receiver and mic were there. Crap! I could see it as clear as day...it was still sitting on my table in the office (home/office) where I had put it during load up. Fortunately, my wife was at home and she was able to meet me about 15 minutes from where I was playing. She left to meet me and I left to meet her at that predetermined location. I raced back to the site, hooked up the mic and tested...no problem...thank goodness. I had less than 15 minutes to change before guests would be arriving for the Ceremony. Needless to say, no shower, but quick wash-off and cologne. Good thing it wasn't a warm day. Moral to the story...in addition to arriving early in case of technical gaffs make sure you load EVERYTHING that you need.
I know...loading plan! I have one...but I got careless and didn't put the mic power supply in the road case. I now have two mic power supplies. :)
 
I gain great connection with the folks who get to hear me first. Play a song or two for them before and also when the cleanup crew is winding down and Im wrapping up my lights etc. Warning is a great way to keep the peace.
 
well I say dont like it put your fingers in your ears for a min or three!
or you can stick a broom where ya mother never kissed ya!
 
I do also like to have a few of those quiet moments to look over the situation before, the gig starts, always on a gig if its an hour or 2 or so, I allow an extra 1 1/2 hr for any thing that could and has happened, wreck with traffic backed up, etc, and I have 45 minutes extra time to test the gig site, intro myself to vendors,(great source for leads) and so on,,
 
JPDJSC50 said:
I do also like to have a few of those quiet moments to look over the situation before, the gig starts, always on a gig if its an hour or 2 or so, I allow an extra 1 1/2 hr for any thing that could and has happened, wreck with traffic backed up, etc, and I have 45 minutes extra time to test the gig site, intro myself to vendors,(great source for leads) and so on,,
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+1 on this one;)
 
Same here I arrive at venue no sooner than 2 hours prior to insure any delays and I have time to cool down by my Honeywell and build relations with my fellow vendors. Also get my game face on and the music refresher for the nights specific choices.
 
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