Events

Lavalier (Lapel) vs Headset Microphones

Which is Best and Why? Ok, hopefully that question got your attention. However, when deciding between a lavalier (lav) (lapel) or headset (headworn) microphone the better question to ask is, “Which mic is best for the application?” If you were to ask me or most pro audio sales engineers on whether to choose a lavalier … Read More

Best Practices When Using In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)

When it comes to using in-ear monitors, there are two camps of thought; Those who like them and those who don’t. Either way, many musicians will be confronted with the prospect of having to use in-ear monitors (IEMs) at some point. For example, a venue that requires the volume threshold to be kept under a … Read More

Why is Dynamic Range so important?

Every genre of music is associated with a certain dynamic range, meaning the difference between the loudest and softest passages. The word “dynamic” is defined as “a force that stimulates change or progress within a system of process”. It defines how versatile a piece of music or a piece of gear behaves (musical instrument, amplifier, … Read More

How to mitigate Sound Propagation through Materials in Live Sound Settings

You may remember from your science classes in school that the speed of sound is a constant, but this statement is entirely dependent on the material through which sound is propagating. Different medium transmit sound at very different speeds. So, let’s look at some typical materials that most people would encounter in indoor live sound … Read More

Setting Subwoofer Level correctly in your PA System

Subwoofers are great solutions to extend the low frequency performance of your PA system, and there are three aspects to consider carefully when setting up a subwoofer. In the following order. Subwoofer Placement If subwoofers are used in many portable and installed PA applications to enhance the overall listening and performance experience, their placement in … Read More

What Causes Loudspeaker Hum and Hiss and How to eliminate it

If you are familiar attending any type of live show, concert or performance using PA loudspeakers, you will most likely also agree that loudspeakers’ humming, hissing or buzzing noise can quickly ruin a performance. This article reviews each of the common causes of audible (and irritating) loudspeakers’ hum and hiss, and discusses effective strategies to … Read More

Understanding Closed, Vented and Band-pass Subwoofer Designs

The history of the subwoofer is inextricably linked with the evolution of the full-range loudspeaker. In the mid-1950s, various manufacturers of hi-fi loudspeakers began to introduce compact, closed-box enclosures that featured long-throw woofers, and in the early 1970s a talented engineer working at Jensen, named James Novak, developed the equations describing a bass reflex (or … Read More

What is Auto Mixing on a Digital Mixer?

An auto mixer, or automatic microphone mixer, is a live sound-mixing tool that automatically reduces the volume level of a microphone’s audio signal when it is not used. This is particularly valuable when several microphones are open at the same time, reducing extraneous noise. In this article, we will describe how the Auto Mixer function … Read More