Concert Setup

This is what needs to happen on the day of the concert. See ConcertAudioPreparation for preparation that should be done ahead of the concert.

Setup can begin when the van with equipment gets to the venue. This generally limits the time available for setup (i.e. volunteers could arrive earlier but they won't be able to do anything until the van arrives).

The following items need to be set up:

• Piano
• Orchestra seating
• Soloist area
• Microphone stands
• Microphones
• Microphone and instrument wiring
• PA speakers
• Monitor speakers
• Choir risers

Piano

Generally, piano is placed in the middle of the orchestra, which is also approximately in the center of the room laterally. If the piano is movable, it is moved in position. Depending on the complexity of the move it may require a number of people.

If the piano is immovable, it could be used from its fixed position.

If an acoustic piano is not available, TSC may use an electronic keyboard. This is called "keyboard" in mixer setup sheets.

Regardless of which instrument performs the function of piano, it requires a stool for the pianist to sit on.

Some venues have a microphone already attached to the piano, in which case using this microphone instead of a TSC microphone is likely preferable.

Because the piano is large, and normally placed in the center of the orchestra, it generally needs to be set up first at the venue.

Setup tasks:

• Identify piano location
• Move piano into position
• Locate and set up a piano stool

Orchestra Seating

Orchestra seating is generally handled after the piano is set up.

Each orchestra member needs a chair to sit on. They also need a music stand to hold their music, though some members could potentially share the stands if they play the same instrument. About half of the orchestra is mic'd; this is covered below under "Microphones".

Setup tasks:

• Obtain the needed number of chairs
• Place chairs sensibly for each orchestra member
• Unpack and assemble the needed number of music stands
• Place music stands for each orchestra member

Soloist Area

This is where the soloists are going to be standing for each song. The following equipment needs to be set up in it:

1. Microphone stands, one for each microphone. The number of microphones is equal to the maximum number of soloists in a single song.
2. Microphones. After the stands are assembled, place a microphone on each stand. The microphones are usually numbered from stage right to the left. Wired vocal microphones (Sennheiser E835) have "Solo 1", "Solo 2" and "Solo 3" written on them; the labels should match the order of microphones as they are standing up. Microphones should point diagonally up and toward the soloists (adjust stands/clips as necessary).
3. Solo monitor. This requires power and audio input. You would probably need to run a power extension cable from somewhere to the soloist area, then connect the monitor via the standard IEC power cable to the power outlet and run an XLR cable from the mixer to the monitor. Attach the XLR cable to the XLR input jack on the back of the monitor. The monitor has a pass-through XLR output jack; you won't be using this on the solo monitor. The female end of the XLR cable for the solo monitor goes into the mixer and the male end goes into the monitor.

Microphones

Microphone setup generally needs to be done after orchestra seating is configured and the soloist area is identified, otherwise chairs could be standing on top of cables which will be bad (and difficult to work with).

See MicrophoneSetup.

Electric Instruments

Electric instruments (keyboards, electric guitar, electric bass) require what is called a direct input box between the instrument and the mixer. The full setup procedure is performed for each of the keyboards present, and is described in KeyboardSetup. The process is essentially identical for electric guitar and electric bass except the musicians bring their own direct input box and so the setup volunteers only need to connect the respective direct input boxes to the mixer.