sound engineering 101

Sound Engineering 101Adegoke Obasa

CASOR OAU Organising Subgroup Retreat 2017

About Me

Software and DevOps Engineer

Front of House (FOH) Engineer HCC Metro Church

Graduated ‘14 set in ‘15

Chrisimos Generation FYB Chairman

FOH Engineer UJCM Organising

Organising Secretary CASOR OAU x2

Assistant Organising Secretary - CASOR OAUCASOR OAU Organising Subgroup Retreat 2017

What is Sound?

Sound is simply an airborne version of vibration.

Sound is a pressure wave which is created by a vibrating object.


Transducers

A transducer is a sensor that changes energy from one form to another. More

technically a transducer converts a physical parameter into another form.

Input (a microphone)

Output (a speaker)


Signal Path

Image Credit: http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/training_support/selftraining/pa_guide_beginner/


Microphones

A microphone is an example of a transducer, a device that changes information

from one form to another. Sound information exists as patterns of air pressure; the

microphone changes this information into patterns of electric current.


Mixers

Mixers are items of equipment that arrange multiple input audio signals in a

suitable balance, and they adjust tone quality so that the output audio is easy for

the audience to listen to.

Types

Analog

Digital

Powered Mixer

L - R: Analog, Digital and Powered Mixers


Amplifiers

Power amplifiers are devices that amplify electrical signals that have been

adjusted to an appropriate volume and tone sent from the mixer, to a level that

can be converted to acoustic sounds by the speakers.


Types of Amplifiers

Stand Alone

Powered Mixer

Powered Speakers


Speakers

Speakers are devices that convert electrical signals amplified by the amplifier, into

vibrations of air that can be heard by humans as sound.


Speaker types by amplification

Active (Powered) - Has internal amplification

Passive - Need a separate power amplifier

Passive SpeakersActive Speakers


Speaker types by use

Main Speakers

Subwoofers

Monitor Speakers

Monitor

Main Speaker

Subwoofers


Cables

Electrical signals can be sent to different devices within the PA system when using

these connectors, as either unbalanced or balanced signals.

Balanced - Good at eliminating noise

Unbalanced - Prone to noise interference


Connectors

The ¼” (Quarter Inch) Jack Connector

The ¼” Balanced Jack (Or Stereo Jack)

Connector

The Stereo Minijack Connector

RCA Connector

The XLR Connector

Speakon

RCA

Jacks

Speakon


Other Important Equipment

Processors

Compressors

Loudspeaker Management

Equalizers

Sound Effects

Crossovers

DI BoxesCASOR OAU Organising Subgroup Retreat 2017

General Tips

Soft Skills

Patience

Communication

Power

Maintenance

Tools

Prayer

Trust in GODCASOR OAU Organising Subgroup Retreat 2017

Scope and Career Opportunities

Media Houses

Churches

Media Agencies

Lots of events, so there will always be need for Sound Engineers


Hands On Session

Starting up

Order of switching on equipment

Cabling

Ensuring no breakages

Proper connections

Mixing

Gain Structure

Listening Ear

Amplification


References

http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~gpenn/csc401/soundASR.pdf

Book - Audio Engineering - Know It All

http://artsites.ucsc.edu/ems/music/tech_background/te-20/teces_20.html

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/training_support/selftraining/pa_guid

e_beginner


http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~gpenn/csc401/soundASR.pdf

http://artsites.ucsc.edu/ems/music/tech_background/te-20/teces_20.html

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/training_support/selftraining/pa_guide_beginner

Q&A

What are Transducers?

What are the different types of transducers?

Mention 5 equipment used in Sound Engineering.

What are the two major section a mixer has?

What are the various ways to classify speakers?

What kinds of speakers do we have?

What kind of mixers do we have?

What do you understand by the signal path.


Thanks

Adegoke Obasa

[email protected]

@goke_epapa

mailto:[email protected]