Convention for assignment of channels?

[TigerInATrance]

I do it the same way every time, but that is just me. I think the only convention is making sure that each channel is clearly labeled.

That said, I do things this way...

1 - Kick
2 - Snare
3 - HH
4 - Tom 1
5 - Tom 2
6 - Tom 3
7 - OH L
8 - OH R
9 - Bass
10 - Keys 1
11 - Keys 2
12 - Rhythm Guitar
13 - Lead Guitar
14 - Lead Vox
15 - Backing Vox 1
16 - Backing Vox 2

If there are other instruments they get grouped with similar things (ie. Percussion with drums, extra rhythm guitars with guitars...)

I think that most of it has to do with the way that you learned. I know that my system is a derivative of the system my teachers used...

 

[KingRazor]

What I usually see is drums on the far left, vocals on the far right, instruments inbetween.

 

[Zooberwerx]

In a related story…

I was once coaching a new sound person on learning to run sound for her brother's band. At the beginning of the night I dragged out my white tape and Sharpie to label the channel assignments on the board. She told me that she had wanted to do that but her brother told her that that would be "cheating".

There's nothing more professional-looking than ripping off an arm length's spread of tape whilst clenching a Sharpie between your teeth. Onlookers think "...my, this guy knows what he's doing!".

Riis

 

[ggunn]

There's nothing more professional-looking than ripping off an arm length's spread of tape whilst clenching a Sharpie between your teeth. Onlookers think "...my, this guy knows what he's doing!".

Riis

This stuff is great for labeling board channels:
http://www.amazon.com/Post-Labeling-Cover-Up-Inches-658/dp/B00006IF84

It's the same stuff as Post-It notes, only in a strip on a roll. You can write on it with anything and it leaves no residue.

 

[Zooberwerx]

This stuff is great for labeling board channels:
http://www.amazon.com/Post-Labeling-Cover-Up-Inches-658/dp/B00006IF84

It's the same stuff as Post-It notes, only in a strip on a roll. You can write on it with anything and it leaves no residue.

I actually used a label-maker and tagged all the channels. If handling another band as a courtesy, I just throw a length of mask tape over tape but those occasions are few and far-between.

Riis

 

[ggunn]

I actually used a label-maker and tagged all the channels. If handling another band as a courtesy, I just throw a length of mask tape over tape but those occasions are few and far-between.

Riis

I often use guest/rented boards. This stuff is great for that. I also do recording in my studio for different groups, and it works well for temporary labels on my board.