10 Tips For Live Sound Engineers

[@billparker4815]

One of my favorites is “systems bring success”. Learn not only how to do things but how they fit together and then build repeatable processes from that. A systematic approach to setup, mixing, problem solving, load out, etc will mean that you’re less likely to forget steps and will likely make you faster in every aspect of your job.

[@nicosantone8026]

This is so important. Thank you for making the video that every live sound engineer wants to make

[@OffshoreAudio]

My pleasure!

[@matthewcselby]

I heard it recently before this video but "no one leaves humming the kick drum" really made take a step back and reflect on my mixes. All of these tips are so good and great reminders - thanks for making this video 🤘

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks for the content! Glad you enjoyed.

[@Live-Interaction-832]

Heard this from James Attaway

[@alanlowe9716]

Enjoyed your video, if only to hear someone else talking about the things we go through most of the time. From the "really great" to the "get me the hell out of here". Sometimes you can feel so alone when you are the only one to rely on and you just wish you had a mentor standing by. But we learn all the time and somehow, we get through the gig. Keep bringing more like this 😀

[@OffshoreAudio]

So true! It can be a very isolated job. Especially when you're freelance. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@FOHguy]

The most important tip, Find Catering! 😁 Seriously. Great video.

[@julieipaty2139]

Tusen takk, Andrew. I'm just at the beginning of my way of being a sound engineer and I found your video very helpful. Take care of your back ! ❤

[@OffshoreAudio]

Great to hear! I hope you enjoy your sound engineering journey :) just let me know if there's anything you need to know and I'll try make a video about it. As for my back, I started taking better care of it so thank you 😊

[@bruce49684]

This all made so much sense. It is exactly the same here across the pond!

[@ralphdeonarine9133]

Some of these surprised me in terms of they weren't what I would expect to hear, such as "don't run". But the advice is all solid gold! Good stuff Andrew.

[@OffshoreAudio]

Aw thanks! really happy to hear you liked it :)

[@ReinhardtKipp]

Thanks a lot, I've lookin for this for a while

[@plantfan2739]

great video, being kind and calm is the most important!!

[@mothersgauri4137]

People may not remember what you said, or what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel. Your last point is spot on.❤👍 ( and next to that I'd say it definitely helps to label things !!)😊

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks 🙂

[@matthewlee6051]

Don't be a dick is th best advice. I learn more from letting people tell me why they do things with certain gear, even if I don't agree with their methods. I enjoyed your video.

[@OffshoreAudio]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@zaacosoi7908]

Nice hearing from you bro

[@briantjasink542]

Loved every part... Your number 1 about being a nice person is the most difficult... With all responsibility on your shoulders the stress levels are up. Before the band arrives I'm the total perfectionist having marked all powered and audio placed at each musicians placement on stage, the tape marker to the point of the musicians first name... Seems each musician believes he she is a sound engineer in their own right! As I can't be everywhere at the same time I subsequently find musicians pulling plugs coz they brought other contraptions not given in the brief including noisy cell phone chargers now plugged on the audio line and secondary stage guitar amps polightly plugged into my moving head light circuit... Sense of humour failures become rife. Yo bro what you doing! Speak to me and I will provide... All good to meet the band and be cool and friendly then ruin the friendship by playing with my wires 🤣

[@briantjasink542]

A Pre brief before walking on stage would be ideal but can someone tell me why musicians are always late! This is my experience of who rocks up first! 1. The principle vocalist 2. The lead guitarist. 3. Keys. 4. Drummer. 5. Bass. The time period between first and last is often 40 minutes even though they were all told exactly what time... The drummer at least an hour before the rest! This results in an unrefined soundcheck still on the go with early guests arriving. Tough love does not make me the most popular on the day. Mabe I should down a couple of shooters and smoke a green one before the band arrives!

[@OffshoreAudio]

Hey, thanks for the comment. It's a tough one, dealing with people who act this way. I think we just need to remember that not everyone knows what we know and if we're working with people less experienced than us then our job is also as a guide and mentor. At the end of the day, it's not about us, it's about them and we're just facilitating. That's how I like to look at it anyway.

[@LewisMcDonaldBass]

Great video Andrew and important reminders for me.

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@calebwabwire4081]

Mix with ear not eyes 😊 thank you for this

[@hezekiahcharles6754]

Solid advice....👍

[@OffshoreAudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gudbeat]

great content!

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks!

[@DavidAudio_lycksele]

So good! Would be interesting to hear more about how you do a sound check with a band? Do you start with monitor before FoH for example?

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks so much. I'd love to film a soundcheck, it's just a bit hectic. I tend to line check, get in FOH, sort EQ, comp, FX etc. Then I'll add some basics in the Mons, keys, tracks, a little vocal. Then I'll encourage them to play a song before asking for more. It's difficult to say how much of something they need without hearing the PA at the same time. Sometimes artists will ask me to mute the PA to work on the monitors. I tend to discourage this. They're never going to hear the monitors without the PA during the show. Of course all of this changes for in ears. I elaborate a bit more in these videos: Learn How To Mix A Gig On X32 kzbin.info/aero/PLwvkPlNXGXW4kdTsGB3dRe3LuYtDWFBOU They're some of the first I did though so it's probably time to revisit the topic. Hope that helps!

[@rodringame724]

Thank you sir

[@OffshoreAudio]

Very welcome

[@vahaksakadjian4271]

You have a great teaching gift !!!!

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thank you so much :)

[@djabthrash]

Good points.

[@OffshoreAudio]

Glad you think so!

[@norbertsmallegange6331]

You talked about networking.... I do fail on this, please explain me how you do it

[@rar3lotus]

Do you personally recommend getting a audio engineering degree? Or do you think you can just learn stuff online and do small shows and work your way up??

[@OffshoreAudio]

Great Question, with a long, hard answer. The short answer is I recommend it but there's a caveat: University tuition was free for me so there was no downside. Longer answer: I don't recommend going into large amounts of debt for it. It opens a lot of doors. The university experience itself was incredible, It changed the way I think, matured me, gave me perspective, and I met some of my best friends. You also get a very broad and detailed understanding of audio and other things around it, along with potential connections for future work. You might be able to say why something happens in sound as opposed to just making it happen. But purely from a mixing shows view, I don't think it's strictly necessary. You can learn the basics online and nothing replaces real-world experience. But if you want to transition to something else within audio in 10 years it might be worthwhile. I hope that helped. Hard question. I can make a video about it. I didn't realise I had so much to say.

[@rar3lotus]

@@OffshoreAudio if u would make a video on it that would be fantastic. Much love and thank u for the comment and the insight. Ur the only one I see breaking this profession down like this

[@OffshoreAudio]

Ah thanks so much that means a lot. I filmed a quick video today because it was fresh in my mind. I'll edit it and get it out next week so keep your eyes peeled.

[@BrokeWeekends]

good video man. Just simple basic, but still important advice that can be forgotten. Cheers

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks a lot, appreciate the comment

[@jessica_video_projects]

Yup…