Tech rider and stage plot explained: how to prepare a live show (with input list)
A clear tech rider, a readable stage plot and a tidy input list are what separate a calm soundcheck from an afternoon…
Features
Stereo miking techniques explained: XY, ORTF, AB, Blumlein and the 3:1 rule
A well-placed pair of mics captures space, depth and movement a single mic never will — if you pick the right technique.…
Automatic microphone mixing explained: gain-sharing, gating and mic attention
A debate panel, a round table, a multi-voice podcast: the moment mics multiply, the automixer becomes essential. Dugan-style gain-sharing or threshold gating,…
Power amps and system processing in live sound: presets, bi-amping and driver protection
The amplifier is no longer a box that just pushes watts, it is the brain of the PA. Speaker presets, active crossovers,…
Like the Yamaha DM5: 8 compact digital mixing consoles for the stage (2026)
The new Yamaha DM5 sets a high bar, and so does its price. Here are eight compact digital consoles that do the…
Delay speakers and fills explained: covering the whole room in live sound
However good it is, a main PA never covers a whole room evenly. Front fills, delays and out fills plug the level…
Compressor types explained: FET, opto, VCA and vari-mu
A compressor is not defined by its ratio or attack time alone: its gain topology shapes speed, colour and feel. Here is…
In-line vs split console explained: two studio desk architectures
In-line or split? Behind the jargon are two ways to organise a studio console, and two ways to think about recording and…
How to use scenes and snapshots on a digital live console
On a digital live console everything hinges on recall: moving from song to song without breaking the mix. Scenes, snapshots, scope and…
Double-system sound explained: timecode, jam sync and audio/video sync on set
Recording sound separately from the camera, then resyncing everything in the edit: that's double-system, the norm whenever you want clean sound on…