Fault Finding and Saftey.

Figure 1: Taped Down Cable.

This image depicts taped down cables leading to the mixing desk. These cables have been tied down to prevent slippages while walking around in the area. While this cabling is secure, there is other methods of keeping wires clear, such as rubber matting, and wrapping them around securely. 

During the process of this set up, the wires were individually checked by the people who were setting the equipment up. The cabling in the photograph works, how we checked this was by PAT Testing, checking for any tears within the wiring. If there was a fault within the wire, this wire would be deemed unsafe for use within the live sound environment.

P.A.T (Portable Appliance Testing) testing, is a process where every possible factor is checked carefully and monitored. In this instructional video by Environsafe PAT called PAT Testing Warwiick & Leamington Spa Environsafe DVD 

 

Assignment 2 - Mix Audio.

This is the audio from the mixing video, with slight edits to the audio. I cut the 16 minute audio down to 4 minutes and 10 seconds, with the complete effects and EQ used on the mix.

The mix was accomplished using multi-track recorded from pub band Rough Justice, performing Pink Floyd's - Time. 

The mix contained:-

Kick
Snare
Tom 1

Tom 2

Bass

Guitar
Guitar L

Guitar R 

Synth
Vocal - Matt
Vocal - Tom

To which, I added equalization (EQ), reverb, delay, and panning. 

The mix I did featured panned vocals to create difference within the mix, after the panning I began adding effects, the effects I used were applied to different levels and different settings. During the break towards the end of the track, this effect is heard the most.

https://soundcloud.com/jamesandrewharrisgrant/james-andrew-harris-assignment-2

 

Setting Up A PA System.

In the following video, I am helping my peers set up a basic system. For reference I am wearing a jumper with American imagery.





The video has me setting up a bass bin, a mid top, working on the crossover, and working with a monitor, I waited with the monitors until there was signal playing to set the volume correctly.  The scenario was to set up this PA system, so that individually we could operate the desk and work on our Mock mixes on the Rough Justice recording.

The process to do this, involved fault finding and tidying away the cables which could cause slippages and/or equipment damage.

After this system was set up, the mock mixes began. These mixes fully utilized all of the equipment shown in this video, including:-

Bass Bin
Mid-Top
Monitor
Jack to Jack
XLR
Speakon
Crossover






(*This video is supplied by one of my peers*)

Health and Saftey

While working/operating in a live sound environment health and safety is important to consider. As there can be accidents that range from non-serious to serious medical scenarios. Below is one of many diagrams that show a risk assessment.

Figure 1: Risk Matrix.

This form of a risk assessment requires a multiplication of the Likelihood against the Consequence which explains how to calculate and achieve a rating from the risk matrix.  

"Taking a likelihood of 4, which is classified as Probable, and multiplying this against a consequence of 2, which is classified as a Minor Injury 1st aid required, would give you and overall risk rating of 8, which would be risk rated as a low risk." - (On Safe Lines, 2012) 



The next form of a Risk Management is this, a risk assessment. This risk assessment looks at all of the possible risks that could occur during an event. This risk assessment depicts slippages as a risk that was thought serious enough to be assessed, to come up with an approachable solution/prevention method.

Figure 2: Risk Assessment.

Mixing Desks.

Mixing Desks:

Mixing desks are used to Combine and Route signals as well as allowing the user to adjust the level, timbre and the dynamics of audio signals.

Level – is how strong or weak the signal is.

Timbre – is the quality of the sound signal.

Dynamics – is how soft or loud the music is played.

They can be used to mix analogue or digital signals, depending on the desk. Mixing desks are used in recording studios, PA systems, sound reinforcement systems, broadcasting and film post-production. A simple example of the use of a mixing desk would be, to allow signals that originate from two separate microphones to be played back using a single set of speakers, this could be anything from a duet to a single vocalist and backing vocals. When used in live performances the signals are usually sent from the mixing desk directly to an amplifier, unless the speakers being used in conjunction with the desk are Active speakers.

Assignment 2 - Live Mix.

For this assignment I had to do a live mix, of a song recorded by pub band Rough Justice. The song contained:-

Drums
Guitars
Synthesizers
and
Vocals.

Here is the video of the mix below.

Cabling.

Cabling

In live sound, equipment is wired up using different cable types. This is because certain cables have different responses and different uses within the live sound environment.

XLR – Balanced

An XLR is a shielded and balanced cable with a 3-pin XLR Male and Female connectors. This cable is commonly used with live audio and lighting equipment. These cables can be used to connect live sound equipment together such as between the mixing desk and the crossover or between a microphone and the mixing desk. With these types of cables, the most common use for these are Vocal Microphones and or Talkback Microphones. 

Speakon –

An unshielded two-wire cable with a much larger gauge than the other cables used for instruments, mic’s etc. These cables carry a much higher voltage signals. These cables can be used to connect a Mid-Top to the Treble Amplifier. A speakon has a lock-in mechanism so if it is accidently pulled it won’t pull out unlike a Jack. This is to prevent accidents and damage to the cable shell.

Jack to Jack – Unbalanced

A Jack to Jack is mainly used for instruments such as Guitar’s, Bass, Keyboard’s etc. and connects them to it’s amplifier. It has a positive wire and shielding that serves as a ground. It is designed to carry low voltage signals. These cables can also be used to connect Bass Bin’s to the Bass Amplifier.

Crossovers

Crossover:

You will find a Crossover is a part of most live events and is usually found on a rack-mounted box with the amplifiers. Signals are sent from the mixing desk into the crossover which splits signals into two or more frequency bands e.g. Hi’s and Lows. Depending on the crossover for example if you had two inputs and four outputs you could then send the two hi outputs into the treble amp and two low inputs into the bass amp.

You can get crossovers in many different ways such as 2-way, 3-way stereo or 4-way mono.

The crossover also has mute switches for the Hi’s and Low’s on each Input so you can check individual (Bass Bins / Mid Tops) to make sure they are all working. You can also cut or boost the Low Frequencies, Mid / Hi Frequencies and sweep through the range of frequencies on each input.

Low Frequencies; 20hz – 180hz

Mid – Hi Frequencies; 180hz – 20khz

The crossover splits them twice so you will get a Low Frequency and Mid – Hi Frequency from each input. The crossover has been created to split these frequencies to prevent damage to the speakers and monitors that may not be able to support the frequencies provided by the signal. 

Introduction

The live project that is intended is a vocal act with a straightforward backline set-up. During this I intend to use a Bi-Amplified PA system, containing (1 Microphone [SM58] , 2 Mid Top speakers, 2 Bass Bin’s, 2 wedge monitors and a mixing desk, however there is no specific mixing desk in mind at this current stage. [Possibly the Yamaha LS9, due to this desk being digital based and its wide range of E.Q and FX settings limiting the amount of equipment used--or the Allen and Heath GL2400 because of its wider range of channels, and the larger capacity Front of House based effects and equalizers] Though, I will judge this at a later stage.) This live sound set up is going to be basic to demonstrate my ability at mixing and operation during a live mix. 

The mix is going to be conducted using multi-track recorded from pub band Rough Justice, performing Pink Floyd's - Time. 

The mix contained:-

Kick
Snare
Tom 1

Tom 2

Bass

Guitar
Guitar L

Guitar R 

Synth
Vocal - Matt
Vocal - Tom

There will be a Multi-Band EQ, a reverb unit, a Gate, and a Compressor unit, all of these products will be used simultaneously during the live mix. 

The mix contained full use of panning, EQ, and a full array of available equipment.