How to
Get Great Sound

A Guide for Performers.

4 Keys to Live Sound Success

When you hire a PA system, your goal is to sound as good as possible. Whether you've hired one of our technicians or you're running the sound yourselves, the relationship between the performers on stage and the person at the mixing desk is the most important factor in achieving a great show.

The person at the mixer is effectively the final "member" of your band. Here’s how you can work together to get a professional, stress-free result.

1. The Soundcheck: Your Key to Success

A soundcheck isn't just a warm-up; it's a vital, structured process. Don't just play your songs. Help the sound tech build your mix layer by layer.

Follow Their Lead: The tech will build the sound from the ground up. This almost always means starting with the drums (kick, snare, etc.), then bass, then guitars/keys, and finally, vocals.
Play When Asked: When it's your turn, play your instrument at the volume you intend to play at during the show.
Be Quiet When Not Asked: If the tech is trying to get a good kick drum sound, non-stop guitar noodling is distracting and unhelpful.
A "Line Check" is Not a Soundcheck: The first check ("test, one, two") is just to make sure the cable works. The real check is setting the tone (EQ) and level.
Drummers: Let the tech place the mics. They know how to get the best sound and avoid a stray hi-hat stand.

2. Manage Your On-Stage Volume (This is the Big One)

The most common point of conflict is on-stage volume. If the stage is too loud, the sound engineer (whether it's our tech or your friend) cannot give you a good "Front of House" mix for the audience.

Problem: The guitar amp is cranked up. The singer can't hear themselves. They ask for more vocals in their monitor. Now the monitors are screaming, which causes feedback. The tech has nowhere to go.
Solution: Turn the on-stage amps down. A smaller amp turned up to 3 is often better than a huge amp on 1. Trust that the PA system will do the work of making you loud for the audience. A quiet stage equals a clear mix.
Bassists: Low frequencies need space. You often can't hear your bass amp properly on stage because you're too close to it. Trust the DI box and the monitor mix.

3. Be Prepared: Your Gear is Your Responsibility

Your hired sound tech's job is to mix the sound you give them. It's your job to give them a good, consistent sound to work with.

Balance Your Patches: If you're a guitarist with 20 pedals or a keyboardist with 50 patches, you must balance their volumes at home. The tech cannot re-mix the show every time you change sounds. Your "clean" sound and your "solo" sound should be at logical, consistent levels.
Don't Use a Compressor as a Crutch: Never put a compressor at the end of your pedal chain just to even things out. This can destroy your sound's dynamics and make it harder to mix.
Bring Your Own Mics? If you love your vocal mic, that's great! But trust the tech. If they say it's not working well in that specific room and suggest using one of theirs, they're not insulting your gear—they're trying to solve a problem.

4. Communication is Everything

The person at the desk is your biggest ally. Treat them like one.

No "Paper Sliders": Don't just hand the tech a piece of paper and expect them to know your sound. Talk to them. Be polite. Use names. "Hi, I'm Dave, I play guitar. I'll need a bit of my vocals in my monitor, please."
Be Specific: Don't just say "it sounds weird." Try to be descriptive. "My monitor sounds a bit 'muddy,' can I have a little less bass in it?" or "I can't hear the keyboard's rhythm."
Trust Their Requests: If the tech asks you to turn your amp down, it's not a personal attack. It's because the guitar is the only thing the audience can hear, and it's ruining the mix for everyone.
Create a "Tech Rider" (Even a Simple One): If you're a band, have a simple document you can send us. It should include your band name, a contact name and number, a channel list (e.g., 4-piece drum kit, 1x bass amp, 2x vocal mics), and a simple stage plot (a drawing of who stands where). This is incredibly helpful.