 |
A Beginner’s Guide to Live Audio
Ever been handed a mixing console and somehow become the person responsible for making everything sound good? You’re not alone!
Live Sound 101 is a video series designed for beginners, volunteers, hobbyists, and anyone who wants to understand the basics of live sound and professional audio. Whether you’re running sound at your church, helping a local band, working with a theater group, or just curious about how it all works, this series will help you build a solid foundation.
We’ll cover audio terminology, signal types, sound reinforcement systems, signal flow, and more. Along the way, we’ll connect the technical theory to real-world situations so you can better understand the equipment you’re using and make more informed decisions.
You don’t need to know everything before you start. The goal is to learn, experiment, listen carefully, and get a little better every time you get behind the console.
Watch the Live Sound 101 Series
Watch the videos in order to follow the course from the fundamentals onward, or jump directly to a topic you want to learn more about.
Watch the Live Sound 101 playlist on YouTube
P1: Introduction
Every journey has to start somewhere, and this one starts with the basics. In this introduction, I explain who Live Sound 101 is for, what we’ll cover throughout the series, and why so many people find themselves running sound without formal training.
We’ll talk about the importance of listening critically, understanding music and musicians, and learning how to work with performers to get a better sound check. I’ll also share a little of my own background in live sound, recording, and audio system design, along with some recommended books for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
What you’ll learn: What to expect from the series, why listening matters, and how a little musical understanding can make you a better live sound engineer.
P2: Lingo and Jargon
This episode introduces common live sound terms, equipment names, stage directions, audio connectors, and other expressions you’re likely to encounter. We’ll also look at a real-world example of why understanding basic music terminology can help you handle unexpected changes during a performance.
What you’ll learn: The meaning of terms such as snake, monitor, backline, front of house (FOH), line array, in-ear monitors, XLR, TRS, and more.
P3: More Terms to Know
We’re building our audio vocabulary with another round of essential terminology. This time, we get into concepts that help you understand what’s happening to your signal as it travels through a sound system.
We’ll cover balanced and unbalanced audio, feedback, decibels, frequency, faders, headroom, meters, MIDI, pads, and potentiometers. These aren’t just words to memorize. Understanding them gives you a better foundation for troubleshooting problems and operating your equipment with confidence.
What you’ll learn: More of the language of audio, including concepts that will become especially useful as we explore signal flow and sound system operation.
P4: Analog Audio Signal Types
Not all audio signals are created equal! Understanding the difference between microphone-level, line-level, and speaker-level signals is essential to connecting equipment correctly.
In this episode, we break down these three common types of analog audio signals, explain how they differ in level, and look at the kinds of equipment that use each one. We’ll keep things approachable while establishing an important rule: match the signal to the input or connection designed to handle it.
What you’ll learn: The differences between microphone, line, and speaker-level signals—and why connecting the wrong signal to the wrong equipment can cause problems.
P5: Sound Reinforcement Systems
Now let’s connect the dots. What actually makes a live sound system a sound reinforcement system?
We’ll follow the signal from its starting point as acoustic energy, through microphones and other input devices, into mixing and processing equipment, through amplification, and finally back into the room through speakers. We’ll also look at why equipment specifications matter, using a real-world question about professional and consumer line-level signals as an example.
What you’ll learn: The basic building blocks of a live sound system, how the pieces work together, and why understanding your equipment’s input and output levels matters.
P6: Schematic & Block Diagrams
Ever opened an equipment manual and found a diagram that looks like a plate of electronic spaghetti? Those diagrams can tell you a lot once you know how to read them.
In this episode, we compare schematic diagrams with block diagrams and look at examples from microphones, guitar amplifiers, mixing consoles, bass amplifiers, and an entire live sound system. We’ll explore how signal flows through equipment, what the diagrams reveal, and when each type is useful.
What you’ll learn: How to follow signal flow, recognize the difference between detailed circuit schematics and simplified block diagrams, and use equipment documentation to better understand your system.
P7: Do The Best You Can With What You Have
In live sound, the ideal equipment list and the ideal working conditions don’t always show up together. Sometimes you have to work with the gear available, adapt to changing circumstances, and find a practical solution under pressure.
This episode focuses on the mindset behind making the best of what you have. It’s a useful reminder that experience, resourcefulness, and the ability to think on your feet are important parts of becoming a capable live sound engineer.
What you’ll learn: The importance of adaptability and making the most of the equipment and resources available to you.
P8: Community, Comments & Questions Answered
Live sound is a field where you never stop learning—and other people’s experiences can be just as valuable as your own.
In this episode, I respond to viewer comments and questions, discuss the Live Sound 101 community, and explore practical topics such as AV technician roles, powered speakers, microphone inputs, and working with limited equipment. We’ll also hear from a touring sound professional about the reality of adapting to whatever a production throws your way.
The goal is to learn together, share different perspectives, and recognize that nobody has all the answers. Even experienced professionals encounter unfamiliar problems.
What you’ll learn: Practical insights from real questions, the value of community, and why critical thinking and problem-solving are essential skills in live sound.
Keep Learning with Live Sound 101
The best way to improve is to keep learning, ask questions, and put what you learn into practice. Watch the videos, explore the topics that interest you, and come back to the material whenever you need a refresher.
Thanks for watching, and remember: you don’t have to know everything to get started. Listen carefully, keep learning, and do the best you can with what you have.
Want to Go Deeper? Check Out the Volunteer Tech Vlog!
Still hungry to learn more about live sound? I've got you covered!
The Volunteer Tech Vlog is a collection of 240 videos where I take a different approach. Instead of standing in front of a camera for a formal lesson, I'm talking candidly to a dash camera while driving to and from the church where I volunteered as a live sound tech.
Think of it as riding along with me. I'll share things I've learned, talk through real-world challenges, and dig deeper into topics that deserve more than a quick explanation. It's less formal, more conversational, and hopefully feels like chatting with a fellow tech who wants to help you get better at what you do.
So if you've made it through all eight parts of Live Sound 101 and you're ready for more, buckle up!
Watch the Volunteer Tech Vlog on YouTube