Band Tip #1 - Sound Check

This first band tip is to clear up the mystery that surrounds 'Sound Check' and how a band can make the most of one.

First off, what the heck is a 'Sound Check'? I did a quick Google search and one of the first hits was this one from a band web site:

"sound check” is that institution of necessity involving the setup and plugging-in of all the band’s instruments and microphones and such, ensuring that they all function properly and that the respective noises emitted are successfully making the journey to and through the speakers that the crowd will be listening to and also ensuring that these sounds are exiting the speakers that the band will be listening to as this will greatly aid the band in the victorious production of what will be met with the ear of those persons facing them.

I think that sums it up quite well. As the sound guy, I will point out that while it can be helpful for me to know the stage setup, the most important part of the sound check is setting the monitor levels. Most house sound techs are familiar with how a guitar amp or vocal mic is going to sound in the room - in fact, they probably have sound gear that is used specifically for these inputs, so it's almost a no-brainer. What we may not be familiar with, however, is what is needed in the monitors.

This gets to the point of this tip - the sound check is an opportunity to have everything sounding the way it needs to sound before there's an audience.

For the sound tech, it's a chance to find out what is needed as far as stage setup and monitor levels.
For the band, it's a chance to set monitor levels.

I can't tell you how many bands have done a monitor check thinking that it's to make sure the monitors are working. The sound tech knows that they're working - the point is to set them to the required levels.
While it is acceptable for musicians to not know what is needed in the monitors without running through a song, that becomes less acceptable after they have a few shows under their belts. After playing a few shows, musicians should have a good idea of what they need to hear from the monitors. The key then is to communicate that to the sound tech.

A few pointers on monitors:
There are a couple of things that 99% of the time will not be needed in monitors -
1. Drums
2. Amplified instruments

(An exception to this would be the drummer's monitor(s).)


There are a couple of things that are needed in the monitors 99.99% of the time -
1. Vocals
2. Acoustic and non-amplified instruments
3. Kick drum for the drummer

Beyond those guidelines, every setup is unique - a bass player may want to hear some kick drum, a singer may want to hear some bass, etc.

Again, the key for musicians is to have a good idea of what is needed in the monitors and tell the sound tech. Moaning about the fact that you couldn't hear the keyboard the whole time on stage doesn't sit well with the sound tech when you never mentioned it while on stage.



So that's what a Sound Check is - part 2 is a walkthrough of a typical check.