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Acoustical Layering
Basically, a recipe is a list of ingredients and directions. We found a RECIPE that works for sound! But, it takes more than a good recipe to make a great meal or dessert. For the best results, you need the best ingredients and the best directions possible. You also have to understand the expectations of those who are going to taste the results of your effort. For example, a chef may like extra spicy food. But, when preparing food for others, s/he must take into consideration the guests s/he will be serving. The chef may need to vary the recipe slightly.  The Ingredients: If a recipe calls for cream, it's not essential to use Alpine milk from hand-milked Bavarian cows. But, if you try to use skim milk instead of cream, you may jeopardize the final results. The same holds true for sound reinforcement. A microphone designed for hand-held vocals used as a lectern microphone simply isn't the ingredient for the recipe - it won't create the desired results. Here is a list of ingredients for your sound system: - Well-Designed, Properly Installed Main Speaker System
- Quality Microphones for Speech
- Quality Microphones for Music Vocals
- High Quality Microphones and Direct Boxes for Musical Instruments
- Low-Noise Main Mixer with Sufficient Inputs and Outputs,Gain and Headroom
- Quality Equalizer(s) of the Right Type and Configuration
- Well-Built, Well-Maintained Cables
- Quality Monitor Speakers
- Quality Playback Cassette Decks and CD Players
- And, the Icing for the Cake (your mixing skills)
The Directions For A Great Mix: Let's start with the basics (eggs, flour, milk. . .): It is vital to understand the acoustical elements of the sound mix and their effect on each other. A multilayer cake represents the concept that each ingredient builds on the other and they all work together to create a desired outcome. It should be pointed out that you may not use all these layers. However, the principals remain the same. | 
| ...ambient noise in the room establishes the base layer of sound. | 
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The bottom layer (ambient noise) is already established for you. The amount of ambient noise in the room establishes the base layer of sound. In other words, the air system, conversations, babies crying, people moving, etc. creates noise the sound system must overcome. The ambient noise will also change levels. For example, an empty room is much quieter than one filled with people. The second layer is acoustical instruments. It is important to begin first with the main instrument(s) like the piano, then add the drums, and finally add any other acoustical instruments. For example, if the two main instruments are guitar and piano, begin with the pianist playing a selection. Have the guitarist join after the first verse. If you have trouble hearing the guitar, reposition him/her. If the guitar is still not loud enough, then a microphone will need to be added. Please note, we advise natural acoustical solutions before adding sound reinforcement. When using drums during a special event, test them next. Have the piano begin playing. Then begin the drummer after a minute or two. Listen first to determine if you can still hear the piano (hint: the higher octaves of the piano are usually easier to hear over other instruments). If the piano starts to get buried, increase the microphone level on the piano gradually. Again, try natural solutions before adding microphones or raising volumes. Finally, test any other acoustical instruments including acoustical guitar, woodwinds and brass. The third level consists of electronic instruments such as keyboards, electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic instruments with electronic pickups, electronic drums, etc. The piano is usually the primary acoustical instrument, and you have already set the piano level. Now add any electronic keyboards to the mix. At this point, you can have the drummer and other acoustic musicians take five. Use the same procedure as before. Begin with piano and add one keyboard at a time. Then continue with any other electronic instruments. When you have finished, take a break. Try to leave the room and listen to silence for five minutes. Then go back and listen to the whole instrumental mix. Last, but certainly not least, are the vocals. Beginning with the background vocals, add each vocalist one at a time as you did the instruments. Finally, add the primary vocalists. Obviously, it is vital that the primary vocalist(s) are heard and understood above all the other instruments and background vocals. |
| ...you...may need to vary this recipe slightly. |
| A Personalized Touch: As in our example of the chef varying the recipe slightly; you, as the sound operator, may need to vary this recipe slightly. You know what your audience likes to hear. Also, you know the demands of your specific event. So, if you would like the background vocalist to be as pronounced as the primary vocalist, add your personalized touch! A Few Tips From The Chef: - Always listen for what is too loud as well as what is too soft.
- If a musician or vocalist says s/he needs more of themselves in the monitors, first think of turning other instruments or vocals down ...just a bit. Ask them what is too loud.
- Always make level changes to the monitor mix or channel gain trim control when the musician or vocalist is not active.
- Make small, gradual changes.
- Occasionally turn down the master levels for the main system and listen to the monitor system to see how loud it is. The monitor system may be causing the main system to sound poor. Also, walk to the first few seats to see if you hear more sound from the monitors than the main system.
A Final Word: Communicate with the musicians. Let them know this recipe may take several attempts before creating a cake that deserves icing. It will take extra time, effort and patience on everybody's part. But the results will be worth it! by Travis Ludwig © 1996 Internet Sound Institute (www.soundinstitute.com). This article is for personal use only. Any commercial reproduction is not permitted without permission. To obtain permission, contact ISI at hopi@soundinstitute.com
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