Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Help me to think "Theater"

Message

   Hello there Green Roomers.

I’m familiar with live sound engineering and sound system design but not at all familiar with sound for theatrical performance.  I have recently been hired onto the tech staff at a local community college and have discovered that our theater has had no staff support whatsoever and is in a shambles.  I would like to provide sound consulting/training for our production classes, but am aware that I do not yet have the required “theater sound mindset”, nor experience.  I would like to learn how to prepare students who have been assigned to  audio crew for opening day - from coordinating with production directorship, to methods of initial sound design, to effects design, to miking technique, to  building and managing audio cue sheets and all of the other theatrical sound aspects I am not familiar with.  Though I have purchased several theater related books, none of them seem to have the comprehensive real world theater audio prep info that I need.  

Does anyone know of any good theater audio prep information – whether in book form or online (or?)?  I realize my first production will be trial by fire, but I want to lessen the “burn” a bit if possible.  I want the very best for our students who work very hard on these productions.

Thanks much.

Mark

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Sledge Walk-On Joined: 10/17/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Topic: Help me to think "Theater" Posted: 10/17/08 at 12:24pm
	Hello there Green Roomers. I’m familiar with live sound engineering and sound system design but not at all familiar with sound for theatrical performance. I have recently been hired onto the tech staff at a local community college and have discovered that our theater has had no staff support whatsoever and is in a shambles. I would like to provide sound consulting/training for our production classes, but am aware that I do not yet have the required “theater sound mindset”, nor experience. I would like to learn how to prepare students who have been assigned to audio crew for opening day - from coordinating with production directorship, to methods of initial sound design, to effects design, to miking technique, to building and managing audio cue sheets and all of the other theatrical sound aspects I am not familiar with. Though I have purchased several theater related books, none of them seem to have the comprehensive real world theater audio prep info that I need. Does anyone know of any good theater audio prep information – whether in book form or online (or?)? I realize my first production will be trial by fire, but I want to lessen the “burn” a bit if possible. I want the very best for our students who work very hard on these productions. Thanks much. Mark

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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 10/17/08 at 9:46pm
	G'day Mark & welcome! As I'm not one of the 'Nios Bois' in theatre, I can't help that much, but the biggest failing in Comeatres is in setting the sound levels. These site may assist your endeavours:- http://www.soundcraft.com/palz.asp Line Level - Wikepedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_level http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/WrappedTextDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D48551%252526CTID%25253D227500,00.html Also checkout the 'Blueroom WIKI';- http://www.blue-room.org.uk/wiki/Category:Sound There is a myriad of info with book suggestions & other tips.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Sledge Walk-On Joined: 10/17/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 10/20/08 at 4:28pm
	JoeMc - thank you for the effort you put into your response. Much appreciated. I was able to find a book (Theater Sound - by John Leonard) that looks promising via one of the links you provided. I already have John Bracewell's "Sound Design in the Theatre", which is needlessly heavy on the Physics of Sound/Electro-Acoustic Theory and provides some but not a lot of real-world theater production mix/setup/prep info. Also, much of the info is aimed toward older technology (Tape splicing, Moog analog synth programming, etc.) I'm good to go with gain structure concerns thanks to my sound contracting days. I'm mainly looking for information which will allow me to get all the sound and sound design aspects organized and eventually realized during the performance. Regards Mark
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Lights and Sound
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