Creating good sound at a concert is not an easy task . Basically , sound quality falls entirely on the shoulders of the sound engineer , who is responsible for how the mix will sound in that particular room . But if there is sound for the viewer , then there is also a special sound for musicians , for which even more serious requirements are imposed .
Stage sound is created using monitors on stage , which allow the musicians to hear themselves .
The sound in the hall is most often unified and adjusted according to certain patterns ( depending on the genre , type of room , etc .). The sound on stage is individual for each musician in the group . Monitoring on stage is carried out using separate monitors - floor-mounted , wall-mounted , or ear-mounted .
Monitors allow musicians to hear themselves and other band members . Each band member ideally has a personal monitor on stage .
Types of Stage Monitors
• Drum Fill monitors are monitors for the drummer , installed to the left or right of the drum kit . Moreover , drum monitors require quite a lot of space on stage and significantly affect the sound in the hall .
• Side Fill monitors allow musicians to hear the sound that concert goers hear .
• Floor monitors have a wedge shape for easier installation / location on stage . Floor monitors are designed for the most accurate sound transmission on stage . The sound from floor monitors and the sound in the room can be different .
• In-ear monitors are the most expensive and convenient means of monitoring on stage . In-ear monitors give musicians freedom to move around the stage and protect their hearing from amplifiers or other monitors on stage , while allowing them to clearly understand how the mix sounds at the moment .
How are monitors set up ?
• Sound tuning is a whole science and one short article will not be enough to explain all the points , but we will try to give the basics .
• The stage sound is distinguished by its purity and “ honesty ”. In the hall , spectators almost always hear sound embellished with various effects .
• The monitors are set up even before the performer ’ s sound check - the electroacoustic signal is calibrated , which makes it possible to achieve the same sound in all monitors . The second point is the prevention of acoustic feedback . In other words , your guitar should not and will not “ start ” on stage .
• To set up monitors , use a condenser microphone and a laptop with a pre-installed special program for analyzing the sound spectrum .
• After adjustment , the monitors should produce dry sound with a lack of low frequencies and produce the same frequency response . Accordingly , all instruments and vocals should sound the same from all monitors .
How to place monitors on stage ?
• ●Point the monitors toward the performer ’ s head
• Do not point monitors toward microphones
• Monitors for the drummer are placed on the side of the kit and turned on its side , which makes the sound more concentrated and narrowly focused
• Do not place monitors right next to each other
• Consider the direction of monitors and amplification equipment - up , sideways , down , etc . The tilt of the amplifier or monitor to the side allows you to achieve an even clearer sound
• Signals from identical instruments must be sent to different monitors to avoid conflicts of sounds on stage .
Providing correct and highquality sound on stage is not an easy task , but it is completely solvable . Only the interaction of the sound engineer and musicians will allow us to achieve that “ tube and warm ” ( or at least just clean ) sound . Mixing will allow musicians to hear themselves and give the most vivid performance on stage , and correct volume settings will protect the musicians ’ hearing .
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