Michael Curtis
Michael Curtis
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Live Sound Mixing Fundamentals In Under 45 Minutes | Hands On Demo With Audio Examples
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit
Learn what all the knobs do an audio console in less time than it takes your drummer to set up his hi-hat (assuming he got there on time).
You probably learned live audio on the job with little formal training. I applaud you for diving in and simply "figuring things out", but sometimes this approach can leave cracks in your audio foundation. You've read, googled, or asked a colleague for the information you need to know in the moment to get things done. Nothing wrong with that!
However, sometimes it's good to start back at square one, and if you're there now, you're in great company. Much of the training out there assumes you have some audio experience and leaves you in the dust with advanced vocabulary and inside baseball. None of that today - I'll introduce concepts slowly and one at a time, giving them context as I go.
Today we'll cover the analog mixing console, the core piece of equipment in any audio gig. Knowing how to operate this with confidence gives you the key concepts understand the rest of the audio system (mics, speakers, etc.)
Let's jump in.
🔗 Links:
🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop
⚒️ Audio Toolkit - www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit
🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: ua-cam.com/play/PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi.html
💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme
🔊 Subwoofer Videos - ua-cam.com/play/PLqLfCybtxh0H7gaGak2Gfe3ogiyogc6bX.html
📕 Chapters:
00:00 - Intro & Video Roadmap
01:41 - What is an audio console/mixer?
05:53 - Starting To Build A Mix
06:31 - Gain Structure, The Decibel Scale, & Blowing Up A Preamp!
13:11 - Setting Drum Levels
16:43 - Panning Out Drums, Stereo Field Explained, PFL Explained
21:05 - Building The Full Mix
21:39 - Guitar Panning Decisions, Live vs Broadcast
25:21 - Understanding EQ - Your Most Powerful Audio Tool
38:03 - Aux Sends Explained, Pre Fader, Post Fader
#audioconsole #mixer #liveaudio #concertsound #audiomath #systemtuning #proaudio #soundengineering #soundtech #sounddesigner
Переглядів: 6 687

Відео

7 MUST HAVE Skillsets Of A World Class Live Audio Engineer
Переглядів 21 тис.14 днів тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit Master these seven skillsets you will become bulletproof. This is true even if you aren’t a pro (weekend warrior, church audio volunteer). And here’s the fun spoiler alert - Mixing is just one of them! Unfortunately, the barrier to entry is only getting steeper. The number of expected skillsets is great and their complexity is ...
How Smaart R U? | Reading Measurement Data Pop Quiz
Переглядів 3,9 тис.21 день тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit How about a measurement data pop quiz? Some of you are cheering, others are sweating. All of those squiggly lines can be intimidating, for sure. My hope is that you get 10% less confused by those squiggly lines after today’s video. Why is that important? So can move confidently, efficiently, and effectively when tuning your sys...
The Ultimate Corporate Breakout X32/M32 Console File Template
Переглядів 5 тис.28 днів тому
►► Get the corporate breakout console file template and IO sheet here: www.producedbymkc.com/breakout Mixing Corporate Breakouts is the fastest way to work your way into bigger and better shows. Even though it seems simple on the surface, there’s a ton of nuance and know how when it comes to pulling these gigs off. Your technical execution must be second nature that you can spend the majority o...
How I Move Ninja Fast In Smaart When Tuning Sound Systems
Переглядів 7 тис.Місяць тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit “I have all the time in the world to tune the system.” SAID NO ONE EVER. In live events time is always of the essence. The truck was late, it didn’t have all the gear you needed, soundcheck got moved up, and now your tuning window magically went from one hour to 15 minutes. We of course don’t want to rush and make mistakes, but...
This Simple Mistake RUINS Line Array Coverage (And How To Fix It)
Переглядів 23 тис.Місяць тому
Isn’t it funny that line arrays are rarely deployed in a straight line? Spoiler alert: there’s a good reason for that. Many engineers present line arrays as a panacea to all audio problems. It just might be the right tool for the job, but it must be designed and deployed correctly. Nailing the mechanical design first gets you 90% of the way there. Even with all the advancements in prediction so...
Low Ceilings Got You Down? Do THIS With Your Sound System.
Переглядів 6 тис.Місяць тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit Low ceiling venues makes it incredibly tough to get clear, consistent results from your sound systems. Once you get your speaker placement perfect you’re probably blocking the back row’s sight lines to the screen. Or the front row’s getting blasted while the back row can’t hear a thing! Today I want to give you a strategy for o...
How Much EQ Is Too Much For Lavs & Lecterns?
Переглядів 6 тис.Місяць тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit Getting crystal clear dialog in a live environment is notoriously hard (not to mention getting it right on broadcast and records as well). With one person speaking at a time there’s no mix to hide a problem source. We search for the perfect balance between intelligibility, stability, and naturalness. Sometimes with minimal work...
This Separates The BEST From The Rest Of Live Audio Engineers
Переглядів 4,8 тис.2 місяці тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit “How can I find a spouse?” - BAD QUESTION “How can I make myself the most dateable person ever?” - Better Question : ) We can draw the same analogy in the question, “How can I get better gigs?” How about a better question - “How can I make myself the best engineer for the gig?” I’ve distilled the top characteristics of the very...
How to Read Heat Maps In Sound System Prediction Software (Don’t Be Fooled)
Переглядів 3,5 тис.2 місяці тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit Heat Maps give us invaluable data in our system designs - if you know how to read them. Red means loud, blue means soft. Easy right? Not so fast! It’s easier than you think to either fool yourself, or be fooled by an integrator, on what the data is actually showing you. I’m assuming Hanlon’s Razor here (Never attribute to malic...
Jumpstart Your Live Audio Freelance Career | A 90 Day Experiment
Переглядів 2,5 тис.2 місяці тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit This is the exact 90 game plan I would hand to any new live audio engineer starting in the industry. It’s not near as scary as you think. I posted this poll last week and the results disheartened me: Out of almost 500 votes 60% of you wonderful people doubt you could make a reasonable living in the live event industry! You migh...
Choosing The Perfect Speaker Brand And Model For Your Gig (On Any Budget)
Переглядів 3,4 тис.2 місяці тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit It’s hard to think of a worse feeling than knowing the value of what you’ve purchased doesn’t live up to the dollars you traded for it. Most of us simply want a quality, reliable, and pleasing sounding set of speakers that get the job we’re asking them to do done well. That job may be your Kindergartner’s school play, your week...
Will My System Sound The Same Everywhere After Alignment?
Переглядів 3,7 тис.3 місяці тому
It’s our job as FOH and system engineers to minimize variance, but we’ve got to work within certain acceptable amounts of variance. We want every seat to sound like the front row. Today we walk through seven key things that change as you move throughout your audience and how to listen and evaluate them. ►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit ►► Ask a question for fu...
Faders Too Low On Your Live Mix? Turn Down HERE Instead
Переглядів 9 тис.4 місяці тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit 🔗 Links: 🏗️ System Tuning Workshop For Beginners - www.producedbymkc.com/systemtuningworkshop ⚒️ Audio Toolkit - www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit 🆕 New To Sound System Design? Start Here: ua-cam.com/play/PLqLfCybtxh0HTXmXl4nKZO64yHmQP0lRi.html 💼 Hire Me To Design & Tune Your System - www.producedbymkc.com/workwithme 🔊 Subwoof...
Dugan Automixers Explained: Get Crystal Clear Dialog With This UNREAL Tool
Переглядів 7 тис.5 місяців тому
►► Get over 20 free audio tools: www.producedbymkc.com/audiotoolkit Dan Dugan’s work has saved my bacon more times than I can count. I honestly don’t know how corporate gigs were mixed before the invention of the automixer. If you have to see the light (or don’t have much experience with the tool), I’ve got you covered. Today we’re going to dive deep into: - What is an automixer and why is it s...
The Live Audio VST Revolution: Game Changer or Giant Distraction?
Переглядів 8 тис.5 місяців тому
The Live Audio VST Revolution: Game Changer or Giant Distraction?
Can I be vulnerable with you?
Переглядів 4,2 тис.5 місяців тому
Can I be vulnerable with you?
Start to Finish Sound System Design Tutorial In EASE Focus 3
Переглядів 8 тис.5 місяців тому
Start to Finish Sound System Design Tutorial In EASE Focus 3
How I Use ANY Send FX Plugin On ANY Desk With Gig Performer
Переглядів 5 тис.6 місяців тому
How I Use ANY Send FX Plugin On ANY Desk With Gig Performer
Tele Tone & Transfer Functions | Dialing In MixWave's Benson Chimera
Переглядів 1,5 тис.6 місяців тому
Tele Tone & Transfer Functions | Dialing In MixWave's Benson Chimera
QLab Basics | Nail VOG & Walk-Up Tracks On Corporate Audio Gigs
Переглядів 4,7 тис.6 місяців тому
QLab Basics | Nail VOG & Walk-Up Tracks On Corporate Audio Gigs
Rock Your First Corporate A2 Gig With These 25 Pro Tips
Переглядів 4,3 тис.6 місяців тому
Rock Your First Corporate A2 Gig With These 25 Pro Tips
25 Pro Tips For Your First Corporate A1 Gig (It's Harder Than You Think)
Переглядів 13 тис.6 місяців тому
25 Pro Tips For Your First Corporate A1 Gig (It's Harder Than You Think)
Visualizing Analog EQ Curves With Open Sound Meter
Переглядів 4,3 тис.7 місяців тому
Visualizing Analog EQ Curves With Open Sound Meter
Learn Speaker EQ Step by Step With NO GEAR in Open Sound Meter
Переглядів 12 тис.7 місяців тому
Learn Speaker EQ Step by Step With NO GEAR in Open Sound Meter
Confused By Compression? Watch This 4-Step Workflow
Переглядів 6 тис.7 місяців тому
Confused By Compression? Watch This 4-Step Workflow
My Travel System Tuning Rig (And Why I Carry 500ft of XLR)
Переглядів 6 тис.7 місяців тому
My Travel System Tuning Rig (And Why I Carry 500ft of XLR)
SRX906LA Line Array | Did It Live Up To The Hype?
Переглядів 18 тис.8 місяців тому
SRX906LA Line Array | Did It Live Up To The Hype?
What Do You ACTUALLY Do With Measurement Data?
Переглядів 5 тис.8 місяців тому
What Do You ACTUALLY Do With Measurement Data?
Mixing The House AND Your Livestream At The Same Time? Don't Miss This.
Переглядів 7 тис.8 місяців тому
Mixing The House AND Your Livestream At The Same Time? Don't Miss This.

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @JohnMirandathesounddoctor
    @JohnMirandathesounddoctor 7 годин тому

    Great video, thank you for all the tips on good softwares that do work . ❤

  • @hopefulsyrus9326
    @hopefulsyrus9326 13 годин тому

    Hello Kindly help me understand why my M32 Midas main LR output has low sensitivity towards vocal signals even when the gain is cranked all way up. The channel shows it's clipping but not much is reaching the LR mains output. So because of this, the backup vocals usually sound too quiet in the live mix. Thank you.

  • @stevemail5239
    @stevemail5239 День тому

    Great videos Michael!, I’m a dj and I have future gig in a convention center and I can not compete with the main stage. I’m working space is 30’x30’ and my issue is I can not be louder than the main stage. I have smaller rig that I use for house party’s consists of 8” mains and 12” subs. Questions is is there a formula of putting 4 8” mains 90/60 coverage in 30’x30’ space in each corners to contain sound in this type of space? Will add two 12” or one15” sub there are no walls just open space with curtain piping to enclose the area.. also do smaller speaker have a smaller coverage?

  • @smpmusiclinksstudio2769
    @smpmusiclinksstudio2769 2 дні тому

    You should make alot of money knowing all this because it's serious knowledge/ work.

  • @revelationevents2323
    @revelationevents2323 2 дні тому

    What are the specific points to look at when defending the dm7 compact for example comparing it to the avantis solo? I’m still trying to decide. Thanks

  • @panca4238
    @panca4238 2 дні тому

    Hello, does this software also calculate sound distribution by considering sound reflections and room acoustics?

  • @TheRhettjohnson707
    @TheRhettjohnson707 2 дні тому

    I just don’t think I could ever be happy with a mono system. Nice video though!!!

  • @macfmradio1694
    @macfmradio1694 3 дні тому

    Am confused about which is my reference signal spectrums on reall time on 😢😢😢 wen I was opan pink . I can find only mic response I can't understand reference 😕😕

  • @oOBiohazardxOo
    @oOBiohazardxOo 3 дні тому

    the 4k sound laser

  • @LosTimmos
    @LosTimmos 3 дні тому

    Unfortunately not able to import the target trace into Smaart (Di2+new suite)... any help would be appreciated

  • @roshandigal582
    @roshandigal582 4 дні тому

    Hey sir can you suggest speakers for our church I can send the pictures of church

  • @PedjaStam
    @PedjaStam 4 дні тому

    Nice introduction video Michael! What I wonder is, how do you get separate signals of your recording for each channel? It's great way for practice if you have multitrack recording on your computer.

  • @gavinbarrett-hayes
    @gavinbarrett-hayes 4 дні тому

    My major shortcoming is understanding the dB ratio in terms of math, and soundsystem tuning - hope to learn that later. Also a major challenge for me has been / is getting hands on experience with the gear can be a bit of a challenge - for instance I'm Dante V2 L3 trained but haven't had the chance to use it in-person on a show site.

  • @abecoulter8550
    @abecoulter8550 4 дні тому

    with your survival spread sheet, is it offered in metric for the rest of the world?

  • @georgeogrady449
    @georgeogrady449 4 дні тому

    Stereo to digital

  • @donnycollins1797
    @donnycollins1797 4 дні тому

    Hi Michael! So...if the subs are placed up to one half the wavelength of the crossover point (I'm using 80 Hz), you're still able to avoid power alleys and valleys? I'm I getting that correct?

  • @georgeogrady449
    @georgeogrady449 4 дні тому

    Don't like them mixer they popping sound volume gose

  • @macfmradio1694
    @macfmradio1694 5 днів тому

    Hello sir i would like to learn more with assist you is there any chance to offline with you ?

  • @chrisloizou3972
    @chrisloizou3972 5 днів тому

    Great video!! This is a terrific guide for both beginner and veteran engineers. At times i can feel complacent about learning new skills, or equipment standards, or simply am not around other A1 engineers often enough to see what "they are doing." WEaknesses for me: i need to spend time improving my knowledge of networking equipment, and speed of room tuning with SMAART. My colleagues would likely say my STRENGTHS are mixing musically, Soft skills with talent/team.

  • @zBalistiqRain
    @zBalistiqRain 5 днів тому

    Super helpful and to the point especially when you mentioned how you calibrate your levels to use with BMD switchers as we use them and have been unsure if i was doing it correctly! So if i understood correctly if you hit ebu s2 standards the DBs should be at -16? Because i will meter externally to get -16 lufs but do dbs match the lufs metering or what? A bit confused here 😅

  • @finnrowden3341
    @finnrowden3341 5 днів тому

    this was amazing, thank you Michael

  • @robendj
    @robendj 5 днів тому

    Great video for beginners, would have loved this when I first started out. You should do a digital mixer like the Yamaha or DigiCo next, they're a lot of fun to unpack :)

  • @tobin_nathan
    @tobin_nathan 5 днів тому

    Yet again I learn so much from your videos. Thanks Michael! -you teased at how to get better data or coherence from a subwoofer trace capture, please do a video on that! I’ve been combing UA-cam for help on the subject

  • @perikodiff
    @perikodiff 5 днів тому

    Hello, if you only have time to do a single measurement, would you put the microphone in the center where the conttol foh?

  • @GerhardAlbinus
    @GerhardAlbinus 5 днів тому

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. Wonderfully explained! It helps out greatly for the live shows!

  • @Gershy13
    @Gershy13 5 днів тому

    Would love to see a version on a digital console like the x32, and incorporating some things you always get with digital (compression, busses/subgroups, etc)

  • @ArbyButNotTheRestaraunt
    @ArbyButNotTheRestaraunt 6 днів тому

    You constantly put out great content and are one of the best teachers I’ve seen in a while. Keep up the great work, Michael!

  • @FreeKeenan
    @FreeKeenan 6 днів тому

    Sounds as if guitar centers sold you too to the idiot world of space saving. Not even the best of best can dial in a super mix in under one song! You're delusional!

  • @intoxicode
    @intoxicode 6 днів тому

    my thing ive been struggling with lately is moving from stereo outs to mono outs, and pan settings..

  • @ladysmusic2932
    @ladysmusic2932 6 днів тому

    Untuk monitor apakah harus pre feder,terimah kasih

  • @Nobushido
    @Nobushido 6 днів тому

    The musical ability to fade subs up and down 5db throughout the show is the most effective way to keep people interested. Hands down.

  • @johnmatt5660
    @johnmatt5660 6 днів тому

    I use an A&H GLD-80 and have used a preamp control they call Trim that allow me to reduce the gain signal for the remainder of the signal path. This allows me to set a proper gain with my fader set to unity. If I’m not using this preamp feature correctly please let me know. As allows I appreciate your training and in-depth explanations.

  • @patrickdudgeon9315
    @patrickdudgeon9315 7 днів тому

    Excellent video as an introduction to mixing! Sharing with all the appys right now!

  • @jaken528
    @jaken528 7 днів тому

    Question for you, how many db difference should there be from the front to the back.. at our sound booth its about 7db quieter than underneath our arrays.. also sounds harsher underneath.. is this normal? Thank you!

  • @47Fruit
    @47Fruit 7 днів тому

    Just did sound for a music festival this weekend... Quick thinking, knowledge of the equipment and being accommodating can be funny at times. One of the larger bands asked, "Can we just have the main mix in our monitors?" (They usually use their own mixer and send the FOH guy a LR mix so the main mix is their usual monitor, but I had all their inputs and provided the monitor mixes.) I replied through the talkback mic, "Yes, of course." Then I said out loud, "Now how am I going to do that?!", which got a chuckle from the other tech guys. I talked through it to myself for :15 seconds, patched and routed it in :10 seconds and within :30 seconds of the request I replied through the TB mic, "There you go." One of the best compliments came from one of the drummers while he watched me sound check another band. He said, "Dude, you are a black belt at this." Not tooting my own horn here, but confirming that Michael's points are spot on, and when you have the skill set, people notice. Thanks again Michael!!

  • @nubb_o
    @nubb_o 7 днів тому

    My brief comment is that the chapters in the description don't show up on the video unless you start the list with 00:00 Just something helpful to fix lol

    • @MichaelCurtisAudio
      @MichaelCurtisAudio 7 днів тому

      Just got it fixed! Thank you so much for pointing that out. I was puzzled as to why they weren't pulling in and that answer it.

  • @rainbowgaming8441
    @rainbowgaming8441 7 днів тому

    this does not with a dj mixer today

  • @FreeKeenan
    @FreeKeenan 7 днів тому

    I can dial in a rock band in the fly in under 3 tunes, analog world warm, fat world, everything at your fingertips at birds eye view! Now harsh slow poking thru layers is a different pain. Logically, let's open up 10 ipads.

    • @rossberning6538
      @rossberning6538 6 днів тому

      I can dial in a band in one song on a tablet. So what’s your point? It’s all about how comfortable you become with the tools you have. I am waaay slower on an actual console than a tablet and I can have FOH setup and broke down in seconds compared to an actual console and it weighs less than a pound to carry not to mention it takes up way less space.

    • @robendj
      @robendj 6 днів тому

      Interesting flex. Thanks for sharing.

  • @MichaelNatrin
    @MichaelNatrin 7 днів тому

    Great video! Incredibly useful and concise. Bookmarked for helping teach others in the future 👍👍

  • @veniaminkalman
    @veniaminkalman 7 днів тому

    That's a very handful video for beginners!!!Of course, I would like it to be in Russian for my beginner friends who do not understand the video in English..🗿

    • @robendj
      @robendj 6 днів тому

      Not sure Michael can speak Russian

    • @veniaminkalman
      @veniaminkalman 6 днів тому

      @@robendj but AI can🤓

  • @StatiXonfirE
    @StatiXonfirE 7 днів тому

    I am definitely going to use this video for training purposes 😁 thanks so much Michael

  • @adrienlagarde8647
    @adrienlagarde8647 7 днів тому

    Soundvision autosplay and autofir is a good start to avoid mistakes

  • @natnaelbekele-lf1ey
    @natnaelbekele-lf1ey 7 днів тому

    i might be very late to watch this specific video but DEAR ! i learnt so much from both of you ! your videos has been so helpful for as a starter in the audio engineering business in Ethiopia .

  • @Kynect2Hymn
    @Kynect2Hymn 8 днів тому

    Have you ever messed with the EAW Adaptive stuff? We have the Anna's and they're pretty wild with the coverage front to back, while also being able to shoot down 90 degrees.

    • @MichaelCurtisAudio
      @MichaelCurtisAudio 8 днів тому

      I've only heard one EAW Adaptive rig for about 20 minutes. Two Anyas per side. I like the concept in theory and thought the rig sounded great, but want to get my hands on it!

    • @Kynect2Hymn
      @Kynect2Hymn 8 днів тому

      @@MichaelCurtisAudio We have three Anna's per side with a center QX, along with three SBX218 in an end-fire array. It sounds great and has amazing coverage!