[[TOC]]
= Audio Preparation for a Concert

The following items need to be prepared before the day of the concert (usually well in advance). See ConcertSetup for what needs to happen on the day of the concert.

== Venue Plan

Before setup can start at a concert, **where** everyone (orchestra, choir, etc.) will be positioned in the venue needs to be decided. Ideally this should be figured out in advance of the concert, but this properly requires a site visit (though planning and preparing in advance based on photos of the venue is still better than not preparing at all). For less significant concerts there could be no preparation performed at all and people figure out what to do once they arrive at the venue, which usually results in setup running late, sound check not being done properly and subsequently strings and woodwinds being inaudible for much of the actual concert.

== Concert Order

This is a list of songs that are going to be performed at the concert. If there are two (or more) performances in one day, they may have different sets of songs. This list is prepared by the director (Henric) and published because all participants need to know what will be performed.

Besides the simple list of songs, sound engineer needs also the following information:

- Vocal solos for each song - number and names of the soloists. Names are important because different voices require different equalization to be intelligible over the orchestra.
- Instrument solos for each song that has them.

== Reinforced Instrument List

This is a list given by director (Henric) to sound engineer (Oleg) of instruments that should be reinforced in the venue. These instruments are highest priority for microphone assignment and for microphone connection at the concert.

Generally speaking, every instrument requires their own microphone, or several microphones in case of drums.

== Orchestra Roster

This is a list of all musicians that are going to be present at the concert. From this list the sound engineer can figure out a plan for recording the concert for later mixing.

Orchestra roster is not needed for live sound reinforcement, but an incomplete roster will generally result in poor mixes of the concert.

== Recorded Instrument List

This is a list of instruments that Henric wants to record. It only materializes for the most significant concerts; for the majority of concerts nobody cares about recording the performance, thus there is no list.

In theory a list of instruments to be recorded shouldn't be needed as every instrument should be recorded. Due to political, planning, equipment and manpower limitations TSC is generally incapable of recording all instruments playing at any of its concerts (doesn't matter if the concert is big or small, small concerts have proportionally less manpower and less preparation and so don't run any better than large concerts).

== Equipment Assembly

TSC does not own enough equipment to mic all musicians present at a concert (and depending on the concert, does not have enough vocal equipment either). Oleg generally procures and brings the difference between what TSC owns and what is needed.

The equipment that may be requested/needed is listed in AudioServices#ConcertEquipment.

== Show Setup

The mixer configuration is prepared ahead of time and uploaded to the mixer at the concert. The configuration is done in Master Fader app and is associated with a "show".

The following is set up before the concert:

1. (Input) channel assignments. These are normally the same as microphone assignments. This involves:
   - Name each channel.
   - Set EQ and HPF for each channel. Vocal channels get a generic vocal EQ.
   - For solo vocal channels, set compressors.
   - For mic'd instruments, set gates. Gates are not needed on direct input channels (keyboards, electric instruments).
   - Set mic preamp gain for each channel. The values to be used are under development.
1. VCAs. These depend on the instruments present and how the choir is mic'd. Normally there is at least one VCA for all of the choir mics being actually used at the concert, to bring the level of choir up or down. If shotgun mics are used, they get their own VCA. Instrument groups can get VCAs if there are multiple instruments of the same kind (for example, 3 violins).
1. AUX output assignments. These are generally the same for each concert. Each AUX output goes to one of the monitors.
1. EQ and HPF for main output. Normally the HPF is the same for all concerts. EQ should be reset to flat before the concert, it is adjusted to reduce feedback at the concert.
1. USB output routing. Each input has to be routed to a USB output. If fewer than 32 inputs are being used, main output and monitor outputs can be routed to unused USB outputs for post-concert inspection.
1. A pair of AUX outputs should be set up as "house". These start out mirroring main left & right outputs. If the house sound engineer wishes to have pre-fader output there, this can be changed during the concert.

== Production Equipment

This is equipment that Oleg brings to each concert no matter who is being reinforced or recorded.

- iPad for controlling the mixer.
- Headphones, extension cable, 3.5 mm to 1/4" adapter.
- Audio-Technica Pro/88W wireless system.
- Laptop for recording audio to, USB cable.