Behind The Scenes: A Day In The Life Of A Touring Sound Engineer At An Arena Show

[@jasonlee8497]

Sound Engineers have it a lot better than they used to. Equipment has become so streamlined. But one thing never changes…..passion. These guys love their jobs.

[@EpicenterEvents]

Hell yeah! Some of the greatest “adventures” ive been on were while I was tour. Nothing is more fun than maybe owning your own business. It’s always amazing in this industry, no matter who or how old you are.

[@nicefish10]

I think Sound Engineer are a different breed. You have to have a passion for putting together some thing with 10,000 moving parts, technology, music, and bringing joy to thousands of strangers every night. We were the conduit for the artists to the audience. I’ve been doing this for 39 years now I’ve been to 38 countries doing live performance shows. It hasn’t been all roses for sure but it’s been one hell of a ride! Do you want to get the best stories? Sit down and talk to touring sound crews…. We have to solve everybody’s problems, including the Lighting guys, most of the time! But we still do it for some weird reason! Rock on Brothers

[@dailybigs6714]

that's true! i don't know much about this job in other country. but, in my country, sound engineer is a intermediate income job. their paycheck didn't worth for their knowledge, their equipment cost and their dedication. i do respect for how they passioned to keep going on their job.

[@mrbig443]

Can you tell me how one would get started to obtain a job like this?

[@EpicenterEvents]

@@mrbig443 Apply for a job at local production company and work your way up through there. Go to bigger companies and do bigger things.

[@bill29-g3b]

I was a stagehand for four years down in Florida back in the 90's. Not only shows but also the Magic floor every home game. Thanks, this takes me back to the days. Chain motors. Speakers. Lights. GAK.

[@Feather1401]

\o/ Did it for 50 yrs. retired now. Miss it so much was so blessed to have a Sound Engineer job all my life … Peace and Light to all

[@Savage9816-o6t]

May I please ask how do you get get into sound engineering industry and do you require a lot of maths to do it? Thanks in advance

[@matthewdavis869]

@@Savage9816-o6t As someone who's working as a FOH tech at 200-400 cap venues, I'd get in contact with local techs and see if they'd let ya shadow them. Math isn't required much at smaller gigs from my experience, but it can be very helpful in some cases.

[@Feather1401]

@@Savage9816-o6t Yes np.. Well now maths you do need them. Things have changed a lot. 1.There are good sound schools now a days. 2. Being in the right place at the right time is still the way. How do you do that is by working hard and that will put you in the right place at the right time and must be smart enough to see the opportunity and take it when it comes. And you must be ready to starve...! 3. Find a small band (hang around get to know there soundman help out and work for free) starting and start with them or a small sound co and start as a runner. Brake a leg Bro, it is a hard road and you must do it for the love of it not the money. Find someone in there 30,s that is a working soundman and ask them I'm 69 now it is a different world. Peace and Light

[@RockDaNut]

@@Savage9816-o6t You don't need to learn complex maths, it's not necessary. I've been running sound for shows all around the UK for the last year and I'm shit at maths.

[@Frobiwan1965]

Honest question: how did you keep your hearing?!? Or did you???

[@stratjed]

No one else is fed at work like that. Music tours are a lot of perks to keep good solid help. Its like going to sea going on tour.

[@fv3video]

Being able to balance the mix with all that decay in the room is definitely a well earned skill. You guys are always in the band you mix, you are just on the opposite side.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

🙏🙏🙏

[@paulbradshaw431]

Absolutely great video. From the late 70s to the mid 80s I had a fairly successful sound and lighting company in Sydney and also freelanced FOH for JANDS, In 1982 I was FOH for the Aussie support on Cher's tour which was an unusual schedule. Two weeks in a venue in each major city and I did them all except Perth which was too much of a chunk of time away from my own life. We had a beast of an analog desk built by JANDS and the lighting was a mix of analog and digital which my then girlfriend and later wife ran for the support and then moved to a follow spot position for Cher. Cher's FOH who's name I can't remember let me sit with him often and was incredibly gracious. I learned more from him in those few weeks than I taught myself in years. I burned out and sold up in 1985 which was just as well because the Sydney live music scene died not long after.

[@gregmgm06]

Long long ago I used to play in bands, in clubs and a few outdoor venues. We opened for Iron Butterfly at one point. I never really saw what you guys did as sound engineers, so this video is really cool to see.

[@ducamuk]

I always wondered about the process of sound mixing at a concert venue. Thank you so much for posting! ❤

[@PowerChucker]

This is awesome! I love seeing how this all gets put together!

[@VictorMawhinney]

These are the guys that make ( THE SOUND GREAT ) the stuff you never see 👍👍👍

[@Moshavnik7272]

I was a sound tech/roadie and keyboards tech for a few bands in the Chicago area in late 70s. What a difference! No video screens then. Everything was done by ear: speakers check, monitors check, cables, mics, everything was wired, analog tape loop Echoplex…fun times.

[@JBarbarosa]

I LOVE my work in this industry. We are all so happy on the job. Show me any other industry where people work this hard and are in a continuous good mood

[@RattlinBonesClub]

🙏

[@nicefish10]

We are in a good mood as long as catering hasn’t packed up and left for the day, The loaders aren’t strung out on meth, and all of my fly points are exactly where they’re supposed to be!

[@jimcameron9258]

More like this be cool man.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks bro!

[@maximaler5466]

I absolutely love this kind of videos. It just gives so much of a perspective. Thanks for the great vd

[@graememcdonald6450]

IT'S THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!!!!! I was touring way back in 1997 did 90 Shows that year God do I miss it

[@JasDarc]

So nice to see a sound guy actually listening to the output. Went to a Joe Bonamassa gig in Cardiff a couple of years ago. Sat behind the desk two stages above and the sound was completely crap, all you could hear was his guitar, drums and the backing shriekers. The sound guy only used headphones. Walked out at half time and went out for dinner. Saved the evening.

[@midiwall]

Dream Theater at a shed show in Seattle, June 2010. FOH was on headphones all night, and the show sounded like it. Rudess was *pissed*. Nothing like getting caught yelling FK into a headset while on a video wall. I sooooo wanted to - - - grrr.

[@fredherfst8148]

When he walked out to hear the room…ya….he's good

[@RattlinBonesClub]

I took a walk around the whole arena while playing music, i even went all the way up to the top seats and the System tech showed me options of PA settings to hit those seats differently. Just an extra 20 minutes of my day might make the whole show for someone sat up there!

[@craig2907]

@@RattlinBonesClubCan be so hit and miss up in the back seats. Been in the same disabled access seats at Cardiff motorpoint for black stone cherry and slipknot. BSC sound was live album clear, slipknot was utter arse, weird bass reflection muddying everything but six feet to my right SN sound was great! Fortunately changed seats

[@michaelbauers8800]

I have sometimes found the best spot is where the sound engineers sit. Especially in outdoor venues, where sound can get a bit crap.

[@jobaecker9752]

Nice job, guys. Without you, there is no show.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

🙏

[@bikeenjoyer977]

I always thought I was a little crazy for using the smallrig stuff! Glad to see someone else on the camera mount train.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Yesssss, they are honestly great!

[@baronofgreymatter14]

This would be a dream job for me. Technology and art combined

[@tattoosinreview]

Awesome video. Reminds me how much I miss those days. Also reminds me how much work would go into a good show that no one ever knew about. The true heroes of a solid show. PS I love the fact that you tweaked and mixed until the end. Good man! I hate when sound guys stop doing that.

[@aurorastix1594]

im currently my schools audio engineer and i enjoy it a lot. seeing this video inspires me to become an audio engineer to this level, i just wouldn’t know how to get started

[@andrewliszak1072]

If you are already doing it at school then you are already started. You got this man

[@jong186]

Get with a company like PRG (or a smaller company that does hotel AV) and work hard. You’ll start as a grunt but take and make opportunities for yourself. I started at a company in 2001 as a driver delivering gear to our properties, (didn’t know anything about the industry, I just needed a job) within 2 years I was a project manager/audio tech/graphics tech/video engineer (first with the Folsom multi screen then to a Barco Encore blend screen system)/instructor. Did all of that for 15 years with some freelance in the middle. Perseverance and making a name for yourself while being humble and wanting to never stop learning will get you far in this industry.

[@TheRealCalijokes01]

@@jong186the story missing a few parts , delivering to all that wow

[@OliB150]

I’m a lampy by trade, mostly theatre based but the odd live event thrown in. I still got goosebumps as the main event started. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that!

[@gigsandguitars6921]

These videos are amazing! A real break down to what happens!

[@timothywilliamrose]

nothing i love more than seeing the snare slapping the red light. super cool vid. makes me want to get out on the road.

[@rustdoge]

Would love to hear the desk mix! One of my favourite bands of all time, so cool to see it from audio perspective too.

[@coops1964]

Brilliant video I’ve subscribed. As a failed rock star in my youth it was great to see how it’s all done on a bigger scale in modern times. I’d love to have tried as a sound engineer!

[@nicefish10]

Really surprised the drum kit is not packaged better than this. That was a ton of fiddling around for a touring set up.

[@joemartucci4786]

Love watching these videos. Last band I was in opened for Queensryche, Cinderella, Jason Bonham, Kiss etc. All techs ive had to deal with especially Kiss have been extremely accomodating & have always gotten soundchecks....thank you & all crews!!

[@doinok1149]

Insane! I still struggle plugging in my ps4 to the tv I’ve had for 10 years.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

😂

[@seannachaidh9999]

What an enjoyable video. Thank you for sharing it.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marshlandstudios1]

Always look forward to these videos! Cheers!

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Glad you like them!

[@dougtaylor7724]

Sound guys must love their jobs. Number one rule. If you aren’t totally happy and stoked about every day on tour you will never make it. They remind me of truck drivers. The job looks fun till you do it. After a while they are either saying I wouldn’t do anything else or I’ll never do this again. The equipment has changed so much since the 80’s. These guys make or break a tour.

[@RickyD1968]

All that work so humans can see and hear the band play for around two hours WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BigMoneyAl]

Im 66 now and still at it . enjoyed the video

[@WillGoring]

Loved this. As a studio engineer I've always been curious. My favourite bit is when they're still laughing like overgrown kids when bombing around with the flight cases on wheels, even though they've probably done it 1000 times before.

[@samuelkjernald4633]

Wow! This was so fun to watch! Keep up the awesome work!😍

[@mickbrown815]

Oh, life on the road. I miss it! 😢

[@pifw3272]

So great, thank you so much for your contents :)

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@simons.13]

Man - that Jennifer Warnes Song... Never gets old -.-

[@petervakulin3987]

It's interesting to see yet another audio engineer pushing the inputs way too hot on this D-Live console. This is something that I personally never do, although I don’t work with such a heavy style of music. It was very interesting to watch the wiring the stage and the console. Very convenient and fast, thank you for sharing these points.

[@solitaire5142]

Me thinks there is a serious gain structuring issue...

[@petervakulin3987]

The main output doesn't look too hot. It seems that the power of the amp's system is enough to gain the desired volume by standard line level. @@solitaire5142

[@SouthFloridaSound]

No time on D-Live but my Yamaha consoles would not be happy.

[@petervakulin3987]

@@SouthFloridaSound I work on Yamaha CL a lot and this console definitely doesn't like hot inputs. D-Live works better with hot signals. But in any case, you shouldn’t bring it to a clip with more then 10 dB of compression, like in this video. It looks like gain structuring issue, what was noted by @solitaire5142

[@SimRacingVeteran]

I’ve always found concerts sound best when you’re just in front of the sound engineer.

[@huskym6]

Awesome! loved this!🤘🤘🤘

[@simonandrews3809]

Nice to see Mr. Drew in the wild!

[@andypilkington-steele8573]

And.....Playing TOOL effin TOOL during the set up.... brilliant.

[@Had3rhitsLoud3rN0is]

Love the drum mic arm's, have a few myself and the drum kit stage box's. So nice to not have them flip over lol W1 for the win :)

[@callumc991]

This is my dream job trying to get into the industry properly been running sq5 at a local venue for some time now but trying to get to something like this (I’m 17)

[@EdgarSilva-ow8ml]

Really like that small rig arms your using for some of the drum mics. May steal that idea.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Do it! Ive bought enough to do allllll of my drums on them now, they work really well!

[@djabthrash]

@@RattlinBonesClub Is this the one you bought during the amazon sales thing ? And are you using this one for the kick out mic too ?

[@goldlizard6398]

The Hunter-Jennifer Warnes is a very good track for testing the PA. Love it!

[@jaylasvegas8445]

Every PA company uses it for demos.

[@riaan7836]

i so want to be sound engineer 2003 but was to young at the time, had to be 21 .the last couple of years it been on my mind to get in to this

[@livegospeltv6728]

Greatings to Pitie, Dan and Alfa from Solotech UK group I am from Rwanda

[@shanehuneycutt5905]

These are some of my fav. videos

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks! 🙏

[@DanielDunn1222Music]

What certifications and education does anyone/everyone recommend? I'm not so much into local AV Tech work setting up projectors and doing power point, I'm a musician and I absolutely love this video seeing the legit FoH Sound Engineer "work" I want to learn for my own live shows. Thank you for making this ⚡🤘

This is so cool. And I've almost never seen the linecheck done through the PA. Makes sense I guess to check against the acoustics of a full room vs the empty room?

[@snartzzb983]

Love it...thanks.

[@ianwollstein8974]

The best bit is “how to put a desk away!! no, no!!” 😂😂😂

[@D4NS80]

Gotta love listening to Tool on the bump in ;)

[@BenCallard-l6j]

I was there! It sounded great!

[@RattlinBonesClub]

THANKS!

[@djabthrash]

Amazing video ! As a TM for a smaller touring band and as an occasional stagehand for these kind of arena shows (the people with the neon jackets in your video :) ) it's great to see what happens from the perspective of the artist's/touring crew. Learnt a few things from watching your vid. Also : when the band's set was going on, what were you reaching for underneath the console sometimes ? Adjusting outboard gear or something ?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Nice! Yeah in my rack I had an SSL fusion and a waves maxxBCL i was just tweaking those every so often, but most the time these are pretty set and forget once dialled in

[@djabthrash]

@@RattlinBonesClub Thanks mate !

[@hunterwright4388]

I was looking forward to lunch and dinner 😂

[@terrybrodsky4948]

Much love to the sound crew.

[@fredherfst8148]

Really enjoyed, thanks. I did a lot of that for the several bar bands I was in. All analogue! Did it all like this guy, but on a much smaller scale. The other guys mostly stayed out of my way, xcpt…too long of a story

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@airzillarocks]

Emphasis on catering is always so funny, been there done that, always about the catering, lol... \m/

[@morleychallenged]

I miss it all too much. I should do some sit-ups and push-ups and take-out for awhile and see if I can make a come-back.

[@raywong9278]

HIi,James! I Watch you all Video. i learn mixing checking choice mic and more. please keep going i'm you big fans bro. from China.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks!🙏

[@markalexwhite]

I've watched that many Drumtech vids in a row before this I was wondering what you were doing rolling away with the FOH case!

[@RattlinBonesClub]

haha i know exactly which videos you just watched!

[@drowkavi8979]

*sees a digico "no need to look at that, rubbish!" 🤣🤣

[@RattlinBonesClub]

hahaha

[@robertbobotkac7914]

Yeah :) thats what we do 🤟🤟

[@NickGdrl]

Damn I luv this job… great vid dude 👍

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Arthur-ke9vz]

Awesome

[@Seanalbertt]

Man. It’s insane how much money Jennifer Warnes has to have made off “the hunter” almost every SE I know uses that song as a reference.😂😂

[@renantemagdale1460]

I like your job guys..

[@Rich6Brew]

The support band gets a sound check? How times have changed.

[@lsraudio]

LOVE to see a wild Scott Waters

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Always a pleasure to see a wild Scott around

[@majorredbeard]

This is amazing to see, thanks so much for taking the time to make this! How do you power your GoPro? Big battery, or mains power? I'd love to see what the LD was doing, too.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

GoPro is just the standard battery. I have 3 of them that i rotate around and keep inside a charging case during the day.

[@irrsinnrainer]

I think that beer in the end was well deserved. How many hours are we talking from getting off the bus to getting on the bus again?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

I went into the venue at 9am and probably finished around 1am

[@dougle03]

Am I showing my age if I say I worked a A&H GL4000-848 with three full height racks of outboard into an EAW KF850 rig...? 👀

[@nicefish10]

Yes you are. But so am I because I know exactly what you’re talking about! And I used to own that exact same desk ha.

[@FOH3663]

Beans, at the breakfast buffet? Nice!

[@mr.chisels729]

How much does the room tone change from empty SoundCloud check to a full arena? And I love the workflow on that desk!!

[@deetgeluid]

In my experience it depends on the hall. An arena doen’t have seats of course, but I worked in classical musichalls, where every seat had the same absortion factor as a human body. That helped!❤ oh and a good systemengineer.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Usually, it tightens up alot with a full area, but Cardiff arena is pretty well known for not really changing that much and it still sounds pretty roomy at show time, it's just something I've gotta deal with. The system tech did a great job of making the PA sound as direct as possible for me and from then it was just turn it up and ride it out!

[@tuchan2525]

dLive, good stuff !!

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Appreciate it!

[@F3PIZZA]

03:30 Tom Delonge, Ray Luzier, or II? I can’t figure it out.

[@williamboyle8918]

Beans with breakfast is criminal.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Beans all day every dayyyyy 🔥

[@Ky6Stringer]

More, please sir.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks! More coming soon!

[@galzajcytmu6659]

nice video! and 24:41, this guy looks just like the singer from hotmilk

[@RattlinBonesClub]

That is Jim, he is the singer of hot milk and also an amazing lighting designer ✌️

[@galzajcytmu6659]

knew it! i'm a huge fan of HM and i didn't know, he also does the lighting.

[@WeaselFace]

surprised you didn't have a FOH riser for the scale of the show. Even just a 300mm riser would have been nice I reckon. I moved out of tours about 2 years ago now to settle into a comfy venue job with some local freelancing...but I'm starting to get that itch again for cramped smelly busses and soggy rider breakfasts.

[@RattlinBonesClub]

I was given the option to have one but i wanted to be floor level so i was hearing what the audience was, i didnt want the riser affecting how i hear the mix.

[@nicefish10]

I did the same. I now have a comfy gig at a very large casino running EAW Line arrays with Lab Gruppen power and Midas ProX consoles…. No more 500 miles drives between shows and living in a stinky bus with 8 other people…..

[@houseonahillstudio4692]

I see you have a waves card but it looks like all of your processing was in the dLive. Are you doing anything with waves? Thanks man, loved the vid!

[@Is.aac.owlproductions]

Hiya mate, great work. what walkie talkie handset/ shoulder thingies are you using, I can’t seem to find one that’s long enough anywhere. Thanks in advance

[@cjtraywick]

Awesome video man! So I saw to your right at FOH looked like a system tech, maybe who works for the venue. Are you guys hot swapping outputs at changeovers, or does the house have a separate set for headliner that the house can just switch over?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Yeah to my right is the system tech, he works for the PA company that supplied for us that show. The desk on the left is for the main support act, we both input into the system techs rack and he could mute either desk from there!

[@cjtraywick]

@@RattlinBonesClub right on man! Thanks for the reply

[@spookie3000]

Wow, that is really at unity! Any reason to ask the system to be brought down instead of using the main fader? And those red lights at the drum channels... are they clipping or is that a light showing the compressor kicks in?

[@ytnsanw]

Can't believe they have you doing setup, soundcheck, show sound, teardown *and* pack-out. You should have a grunt to do your teardown and pack-out - go get some sleep...

[@welchy3213]

Looks great mate, is that Chris Drew on systems by any chance?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Indeed! He was great to work with!

[@sgbsvw]

Great to see you on the better side of the British Isles. Having said that, that room at the CIA/Motorpoint is fucking horrible to try and mix. Love to see vids like this.

[@callumvernon7053]

For real, was in there last week and forgot what a mess it sounded like

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Yeah its up there with one of the harder arenas to work in. haha

[@bhosterman]

Cool video!

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Thanks!

[@stevenshaneyfelt]

this is cool and all but i just looked up "funeral for a friend" live at hurricane festival last year... i'm curious what that experience was like..

[@RattlinBonesClub]

I didn’t do that show with them. I only joined recently for the latest tour.

[@mrpaman_Kwon]

this is our perfect life

[@F3PIZZA]

How much permission is involved with sharing all of this? I feel like you don’t get to do this unless everyone likes you, you’re good at your job, and you will properly represent the production; you’re an ambassador of excellence in your field. Am I right?

[@thebalkanjesus]

Hey man! Loved the video. How is the shout monitor set up?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

It’s run via an aux out from my desk which has all the crew talk lines routed to it, I can then compress this for when people shout louder during the show.

[@thebalkanjesus]

@@RattlinBonesClub Ohhh Thank you!

[@instrumentsaudioetc]

Cool vid. What are some differences, big or small, good or bad that you would encounter doing shows of this size compared to smaller club shows? I do mostly small 200-300 cap venues and want to start doing bigger rooms, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@morleychallenged]

I'll try a simple list of answers: 1) Insurance; 2) Contracts; 3) Contractors who do things you never tried to be qualified for; 4) Rigging into ceilings in venues, according to the riggers; 5)? IATSE...

[@RattlinBonesClub]

Mixing a bigger show is sometimes easier as the equipment gets better and the rooms are usually easier to mix. But your mix is more on show at bigger rooms, so there is always the pressure of that.

[@instrumentsaudioetc]

@@RattlinBonesClub glad to hear as I kinda assume that it would be easier.. bigger stage, means maybe the singer won't be stationed directly in front of all the cymbals.. must be nice haha

[@nicefish10]

A bigger stage certainly helps with bleed into vocal mics. And usually the gear is a lot better and often times you have a system tech that is very good at their job that makes your job much easier because you’re not fighting the PA. It’s a lot more fun when you’re mixing instead of fixing. But coming up through the smaller venues, teaches you a lot, so when you get into the bigger venues, you have a great appreciation for where you are.

[@LucasWasson]

Laughing at whoever has The Hunter has their system check song because I also use it these days

[@sounkpolk]

He set up the mics on the drums on the floor of the arena then when he plugged in the cables they were on the stage??

[@RattlinBonesClub]

The stage was still being built and lights in place, so we pre build and mic the kit off stage while that is happening to save time later.

[@kennyplay5982]

How are the lights changing but the light person isn't doing anything?

[@RattlinBonesClub]

the guy in shot during the gig is the PA system tech. The lighting engineer is behind me for the show