Soundcheck
Encyclopedia
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, speech
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House
Front of House
Front of house is primarily a theatrical term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venues, it typically refers to the auditorium and foyer, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas...
" (FOH) and stage monitor sound systems is clear and at the right volume and tonal frequencies. Soundchecks are especially important for popular and other musical genres that use heavily-amplified PA
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
systems; having correct sound is crucial to the success of such events. A soundcheck remains a difficult science, because the acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
of a venue often change somewhat once it is filled with an audience.
Soundchecks are often conducted prior to audience entry to the venue. The sound check should start with the rhythm section, and then go on to the melody section and vocalists.
After technical adjustments have been completed by the sound crew
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, the performers leave the stage and the audience is admitted. In other instances, soundchecks take place in front of the audience, and can be followed immediately by the performance itself.
Some acts will do multi-track audio recordings of one or more soundchecks. Those recordings will be used as the sound sources for future soundchecks, to reduce or possibly eliminate the need for the performers to be present. Such 'virtual soundchecks' are also sometimes used to tune the PA system to accommodate the acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
of a new venue.
If there is more than one artist performing, soundchecks can be more complicated.
Artists sometimes perform light-hearted or off-beat numbers during soundchecks; some such as Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
later include a few of these on their live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
s. Artists who change their set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
during the course of a concert tour often use soundchecks as a rehearsal
Rehearsal
For other uses, see Rehearsal or Dress rehearsal A rehearsal is a preparatory event in music and theatre that is performed before the official public performance, as a form of practice, and to ensure that all details of the performance are adequately prepared and coordinated for professional...
opportunity to try out new material or revive old material, to see if they want to introduce such material into the concert proper. Devoted fans sometimes try to sneak into or otherwise gain knowledge of soundchecks, to gain a foreshadowing of show surprises to come.