The main function of a sound technician is to support the sound engineer, and his only other significant duty is to pay attention. The only things after that major obligation are load in and load out. For more details please click here technology
Pay attention
Being aware has many different aspects. A good sound technician will prioritise the needs of the engineer. Paying attention is being attentive. The engineer and his tech shouldn’t have any trouble speaking at all. During performances, the following frequent methods of communication are employed:
Closed-circuit communications systems or two-way radios
mobile phones
SMS messages
Hand gestures
Nodding the head
A tech is required to follow his engineer’s direction and to check on him frequently to see if he needs anything. Any show’s engineer is constantly thinking. To produce outcomes that are truly professional, he must assume a lot of responsibility. The sound, the crowd, and the artists all require the engineer’s attention at once. Getting his tech’s attention is one thing he shouldn’t have to worry about. When the engineer and his tech can’t communicate, the tech is not performing his duties. The tech must pay attention; that is his or her obligation. After the artists come, the engineer shouldn’t ever have to get up from his chair. The sound engineer must be mindful of the requirements of the artists as well. The sound engineer must give the following while the performers are setting up:
Give each artist their cable and say something like, “This is for you,” or “You plug in here.”
The artists’ equipment is off limits to us, and vice versa (within reason of course.) We must touch the drums to mic them, but we kindly ask permission before doing so and make careful to check to see if any of our microphones are blocking the drummer. Naturally, singers will feel the need to touch our microphones, and that is also OK. However, it is the responsibility of the sound technician to modify microphone stands as needed to achieve each artist’s ideal positioning. A mic stand should never need to be adjusted by a performer. When such occurs, the sound technician is not performing his duties. The artist should just have to focus on his instrument and his performance. A musician’s performance will suffer if he becomes agitated while performing because he needs to adjust his mic stand because playing music is an emotional experience.
To accommodate the tastes of the artists, the sound engineer must modify the monitors. Sometimes they want them turned one way or another, closer or farther away. The monitors must not be pointed at microphones that could cause feedback in order to avoid getting caught in the feedback zone.
The sound technician isn’t doing his job when the engineer gets up from his chair to do their responsibilities. If the engineer also needs to handle the tech’s duties, he won’t be able to concentrate on setting up the board, the monitor mix, the artists, and the audience. Being vigilant is the sound technician’s most crucial responsibility. Being attentive entails more than just taking care of the artists’ and engineers’ requirements. Attending the show and staying focused are both examples of being attentive. Keep an ear out for any issues and let the engineer know if you hear anything.
Examine the system. The sound technician should identify an issue like that right away and fix it without delay if a speaker is off axis. The sound engineer should be aware of whatever message the artist is attempting to convey. While it is the engineer’s obligation to comprehend the artists’ messages throughout a performance, it is the sound technician’s responsibility to pay close attention to both the engineer’s and the artist’s needs. It can entail assisting the engineer in deciphering the artist’s intended meaning. Additionally, the sound technician must immediately repair any microphone stands that slip, shift out of place, or are knocked down.
Sound engineers dress in all black. This is partially due to the fact that they occasionally need to leave the stage during performances. Because black absorbs the least amount of light of any colour, it makes people less aware of them than, say, brilliant yellow would. But it also makes it clear to the audience that he is not a band member. He is a sound technician and is simply carrying out his duties. He is paying close attention to the requirements of the engineer or the artist, and he is performing a good job.
In conclusion, if you take nothing else away from this article, at least learn this. The main responsibility of a sound technician is to pay attention at all times and to other people’s demands with the only goal of producing a faultless performance.
