Unit 71 Roles and Responsibilities for Forthcoming

Music Events

Amy Vickers

Sound DesignerEssentially, the theatre sound designer is responsible for everything the audience hears. Exactly what that entails can vary considerably, depending on the type of show, the performers in the show and the performance venue. The Sound Designer may create sound effects, atmospheres, sonic textures and filmic ambiences that will create naturalistic and abstract worlds for the show's story, as well as aid the audience's emotional and dramatic connection with the performance. This might also include the use of props onstage or other offstage effects. The Sound Designer may choose edit and remix music; work with a composer to make original music; or work with live musicians in the theatre. The Sound Designer may advise on how to best hear the performers, which may involve acoustic adjustments to the theatre and set, or the addition and configuration of radio and/or float microphones for the performers. The Sound Designer will design a sound system, bespoke to the specific production and auditorium that will give the audience the best experience of the show.

Sound EngineerThe sound engineer confer with producers, performers, and others in order to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production such as a musical recording or a film. Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for pre-recorded events, using sound mixing boards. Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.

Sound ManagerThe Sound Manager oversees all audio aspects of a production. They will work alongside the Sound Designer and Sound engineer in the planning and mixing stages, choose and set up the equipment and, particularly in small theatres or on small productions, they may also run the sound during the performance itself.

Sound No.1, No.2 & No.3Within the sound crew there may be Sound no.1 , sound no.2 and sound no.3. Sound no.1 is the main front of house sound engineer. Sound no.2 is usually the monitor engineer or the sound technician. Sound no.3 is the systems engineer who looks after amp racks and radio mics.

When researching different members of a sound crew I came across some profiles on LinkedIn.

This is an example of a job description for a Sound no.1.

The Differences Between A Large-scale Event And A Smaller Scale Event

I am comparing a large scale event to a smaller scale event and the extent of their sound screws. Large events need a complete sound crew as there is more cues and effects to complete. For example, We Will Rock You has a complete sound crew as it is a complex show. ‘Artisound’ was a smaller event held in Hastings Alexandra Park put on by Rye Studio School. Artisound only had one sound engineer and one sound technician due to only having a small sound system and no sound effects.

Comparing Roles Within a Sound CrewComparing a Sound Designer to other roles: Responsibilities of a Sound Designer:• Responsible for everything the audience hears.• Create sound effects, atmospheres, sonic textures• Props onstage or other offstage effects• Edit and remix music• Advise on how to best hear the performers

A sound designer is different to other roles within a sound crew.The sound designer is different to the sound engineer because the sound designer strictly designs the sound effects and the sound engineer programs the sound. The sound designer is also different to the sound manager because the manager is not involved in the designing of the sound he/she oversees the project.

Comparing Roles Within a Sound CrewComparing a Sound Engineer to other roles:Sound Engineers responsibilities:• Confer with producers, performers, and others I• Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for pre-

recorded events, using sound mixing boards• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment• Programme sound effects

The sound engineer is different to other roles within a sound crew. The sound engineer is different to the sound manager because the sound engineer programmes the sound and the sound manager oversees the project. The sound engineer is also different to the sound No.3 because they have more responsibilities and more effects on the outcome of the show.

Comparing the Sound Manager to other roles:Sound Managers responsibilities:• The Sound Manager oversees all audio aspects of a production• Work alongside the Sound Designer and Sound engineer in the planning and mixing stages• Choose and set up the equipment • Particularly in small theatres or on small productions, they may also run the sound during the

performance itself

The sound manager is different to other roles within a sound crew. The sound manager has different responsibilities to sound No.1, No.2 and No.3. The sound manager is different to the other roles because they have more power on what happens to the project overall, they do not design or engineer the sound. However, the sound manager may take the role of a sound technician and sound engineer when the production is small and does not need a full sound crew.

Comparing Roles Within a Sound Crew

Comparing Roles Within a Sound CrewComparing Sound No.1Sound No.1 responsibilities: • To work with the Production Sound Engineer to co-ordinate the hire and preparation of equipment and venue supplies• To live mix the show from front of house during performances• To be responsible for supervising and scheduling staff within the Sound department and ensuring that the training of staff is carried out as set out in job specifications• To assist in the recruitment of staff if required• To attend production meetings and technical and dress rehearsals to ensure awareness of the sound requirements, and any resulting changes

The Sound No.1 is different to other roles within the sound team because they mix and program the show where the other roles design or manage the sound project. Sound No.1 is different to the sound designer because the sound No.1 doesn’t participate in the designing of the sound.