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Soundchecks all that worthwhile???

S

Shaun_Bass0

Aug 11, 2008
155
6
Berkshire, UK
#1
I'm talking the bar gigs most of us do, not arena shows!!

It seems to me that sound checks nowadays have become so ingrained as part of the process that they barely serve a purpose anymore?. Case in point, I played as a sub with a trib band where the check lasted 1.5 hours, minus mic checks!. I showed up, tuned and set my levels, jammed a little for the sound guy to dial in the foh sound and was finished in 10 mins....is that so unusual?.

I know people have 'their' sound and can be quite protective of this and I'm not against that, but can't understand the need for hour plus sound checks for these types if show.

Anyone else in the same boat? I'm interested as to why so much goes into a show if the bar is either empty, full of drunks who don't care or guys who would rather the band shut up so they can watch the football?
 
#2
How many times have you heard, "It sounded fine at sound check"? Pretty much, it makes sense to make sure that everything is working ... but I refuse to show up to any bar gig (they're much rarer for me these days) more than 45-60 minutes early to set up. I can set up my amp, basses, mic and monitor in less than 10 minutes ... the rest of the time I grab a beer and relax before the show.
 
#3
I think sound checks are worth while if you know what you are doing. I played in a 4 piece cover band and we had it down pretty well. We could be ready to go in maybe 30 minutes. Keys, guitar and bass all direct, 3-4 mics on drums and a couple vocal mics.

We used a board that had a built in RTA/Noise setting that would "ring" out the room. We had our basic line levels so it just took a couple minutes to get those. If the room is EQ'ed and you have good line levels, the rest is pretty easy. We mixed from stage and never had many issues.
 
#6
You only have to NOT do it once to find out that you need to do it all the time, every gig. So yes, it is mandatory.

Some sound guys think they work an arena of course so will have some guy walking around "the arena" listening to the sounds and sign-languaging him on whether something is really bad from his location (5 meters away)
 
#7
For us, we simply make sure everyone is at a good level and everything is working correctly. We (rhythm guitarist and I) use wireless relays...we just walk into the audience, have everyone play a measure or two of a song, make minor tweaks (if necessary), and we're good to go. Setup + sound check = 15mins (give or take). If we're supplying the PA, add another 15mins for setup, and maybe another 15mins for troubleshooting.

And before one or more folks jump in and say those of us with short setup/soundcheck times aren't trying to sound as good as possible, that's total BS. If you have a good ear, know your gear and use practices to tweak any issues with tone, volume, etc, your setup/soundcheck should never been a complicated, drawn out process.
 
#9
I wish I got more than 2 minutes (if that) to do soundchecks. For some reason members in my band seem to loathe them. "Hey, sound check" "nah man, we'll just start" "well, we're going to sound like crap because none of the levels are set" "it'll be fine"

then usually I get the "I NEED MORE MONITOR!!!" calls as they start.

all this while trying to play bass and get the PA sounding good.

c'est la vie.

or the ever popular when we do sound check they wait until afterwards to ask for more monitor, less low end or some other thing they should have asked before.

grumble.
 
#10
I'd get very frustrated if a sound check lasted for 1.5 hours in one of the small bars where I run sound.

I try my best to give everyone "their sound", but sometimes, for whatever reason, "pretty close" is as good as it gets... And having two guitarists and a vocalist standing one feet in front of the stage facing the PA while playing/singing, while the club is empty and giving me the evil eye doesn't help one bit.

This doesn't happen that often though. Most bands I run sound for lets me worry about the FOH-sound, and are perfectly happy as long as everything sounds ok on stage. :) Most checks are over in under half an hour.
 
#11
I think if you don't like the mix after you start......pretty much too bad until the first break.

I guess I'm pretty slack about the stage monitors. We don't take much time for that and in my experience that's where it all bogs down. Someone who is really picky about their monitor and getting it all perfect drives me nuts. If I can hear a little vocals coming out of them, its good for me. We're a four piece and I can always hear my own amp and everyone else pretty good anyway.

What's important is what it sounds like out front.
 
#12
We try to do a sound check a half-hour before the show. It gives the sound man a chance to tweak a few things to get levels and EQ right for the room or outdoors. I've been to many A-level concerts at which the sound man didn't get everything ironed out until about the third song. That's OK with me, but if bad sound goes on much longer than that, it bothers me.

If we don't get a sound check, I expect the sound man to get the sound right in the first song. If I'm doing sound from the stage, it might take a couple songs. Sometimes if the load-in runs long, our sound check is the first song on the set list.
 
#13
In San Francisco, again in Arizona, and especially in L.A.

You get 45 mins, total. How ever long it takes for you to set up eats into your playing time. You'd be lucky to get vocals in the monitors, let alone a 'sound check'... if the guy happens to be at the mixer, he'll adjust things during the first song and if something isn't right he might wander up on stage between songs to change out a cable.... but more than likely he's at the bar.
 
#15
CrashCarlisle said:
The monitor thing is crazy. I've watched bands STOP in the middle of a song to bitch about the monitors.

Just accept that it won't sound perfect TO YOU....let the sound man do his job.
Click to expand...

This happened at the first show my current band played together. The vocalist for the headlining act was a complete douche...in the middle of their 2nd or 3rd song he stops everything and asks the sound guy his name. Then says "everyone turn around and ask Nate why the **** I can't hear myself through my monitors!!" Nate (sound guy) walked up on stage and started unplugging their equipment. They were subsequently kicked out of the venue. I felt horrible for the band...they were apologizing profusely and they seemed like decent guys, they just had a complete tool for a singer. Pretty sad. :rollno:
 
#16
Our lead singer drives me crazy with his monitor. The thing is always too loud and for some reason he wants effects in his. I like mine completely "dry". After our initial sound check the only thing I need is more or less in mine and since we don't have a sound man, instead of interrupting the middle of our 1st set I'll deal with it until in between sets. The guitarist runs our sound and has enough on his plate without me going goofy over my monitor mix in the middle of the set.
 
#17
kraigo said:
Usually for me sound checks verify that the channels are all working, get basic tones and play a song or two to rough in the levels. 20 minutes tops. An hour and a half? Only if something is spectacularly wrong.

KO
Click to expand...

+1

Once the gear is set up, soundcheck is 10-20 minutes tops. Its not uncommon to get it done in 5 minutes if we're only using FOH for vocals.

Mykk said:
In San Francisco, again in Arizona, and especially in L.A.
Click to expand...

All to often that is the case. Promoters try and cram too many bands into too short a time. When Im setting up a show its one band per hour for the night.

Mykk said:
You get 45 mins, total. How ever long it takes for you to set up eats into your playing time. You'd be lucky to get vocals in the monitors, let alone a 'sound check'... if the guy happens to be at the mixer, he'll adjust things during the first song and if something isn't right he might wander up on stage between songs to change out a cable.... but more than likely he's at the bar.
Click to expand...

We've been mostly lucky enough to work with guys who take care of their business and are ready once we're set up, and this is where the 5min. soundcheck thing comes into play, because more than likely our drummer took longer than expected, and we're eating into our set.

Tomorrows gig will be nice. We set the show up, and we're "headling" at 11pm. So we get to play as long as we like.

Waffles and Scotch said:
This happened at the first show my current band played together. The vocalist for the headlining act was a complete douche...in the middle of their 2nd or 3rd song he stops everything and asks the sound guy his name. Then says "everyone turn around and ask Nate why the **** I can't hear myself through my monitors!!" Nate (sound guy) walked up on stage and started unplugging their equipment. They were subsequently kicked out of the venue. I felt horrible for the band...they were apologizing profusely and they seemed like decent guys, they just had a complete tool for a singer. Pretty sad. :rollno:
Click to expand...

Wow, talk about douchetastic! I would have done the same as a soundguy, though. DONT **** WITH THE GUY WHO DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT YOUR BAND SOUNDS GOOD!
 
#18
TinIndian said:
Our lead singer drives me crazy with his monitor. The thing is always too loud and for some reason he wants effects in his. I like mine completely "dry". After our initial sound check the only thing I need is more or less in mine and since we don't have a sound man, instead of interrupting the middle of our 1st set I'll deal with it until in between sets. The guitarist runs our sound and has enough on his plate without me going goofy over my monitor mix in the middle of the set.
Click to expand...

I like just a touch of reverb (or whatever vocal effect Im using) in my monitor, but nowhere near the amount as FOH. Maybe 1/8th or so.
 
#19
I play original gigs (3 bands /night usually) with in house sound guys.
I have heard bands come out and kill with only a quick mic level check.
If sound check takes over 15 minutes, I'd suspect that someone involved doesn't know what they are doing.

Philosophically I accept that the room sound is fundamentally out of my hands.
Understanding your gear, having your tones dialed in, and practicing to play well even when conditions are not ideal can go a a loooong way.
 
#20
MatticusMania said:
I like just a touch of reverb (or whatever vocal effect Im using) in my monitor, but nowhere near the amount as FOH. Maybe 1/8th or so.
Click to expand...

I like mine dry because it makes it easier and faster to compensate if I'm out of pitch a little. All just a personal preference ultimately.

I should also note that my singer has really bad hearing in his right ear and that is part of the reason his monitor is so darn loud. The problem is the darn thing is always partly pointing at me! I really wish he'd switch to a set of Inner Ears or something.
 

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