Production Arts BTEC Subject 2

By Connor Johnson

Sound

Desk Known as a P.A (Public Address system)

24 Input / Output sockets (Although this varies depending on the desk)

Mono & Stereo Channels

Can control all elements of the sound and can be used to manipulate sound.

‘Faders’ can be used to adjust the volume of each channel

‘Gain’ can be used to adjust depth of volume.

A ‘Peak Monitor’ can be used to determine the amount of volume sent to the speakers. (the GREENlights must turnYELLOW sporadically, RED lights mean the frequency will become DISTORTED!

Reverb = amount of echo used (Reverberation).

Turn ‘Pan’ dials (Left dial turn left so that sound comes out the left speaker. right dial turn right so that sound comes out the right speaker.

‘EQ’ is used to change the different frequencies to make a voice sound more natural.

Desk Dials1. White = Gain (Controls amount of sound that goes into desk).

2. Green = EQ (Used to make voices sound natural)

3. Red = Pan (used to control direction of sound to speakers)

Pan

EQ

Gain

Other Desk Functions

Peak Monitor

Faders

Master Fader

Channel Power switch

This controls the

master volume of

all the faders.

These control the volume

of each individual

channel.

Controls power on each

channel.

This is used to

show the amount

of volume being

sent to each

speaker.

Cables 1. Figure-8 Cable

2. XLR Cable – used to connect sound board to speakers.

3. Audio Jack – the pinhead on a Phono lead used to connect to the sound source.

4. Phono Lead

5. Kettle Lead (AKA an I.E.C.)

6. Speakon Cable

7. Quarter-Inch Jack

3. 4.2.

5. 6. 7.

1.

Compare & Contrast

Active Speaker Passive Speaker

Has a built in amplifier.

Only needs power source

Is considerably heavy.

I would use this speaker over the Passive speaker

as it does not need as many wires with its built

in amp and is ideal for someone setting up a

small music gig because of this.

Needs a separate amp (as it is not built in)

Not as heavy.

I would use this speaker over the Active Speaker as this one would be better used higher up because it has an external amp on the ground meaning it can be controlled without needing to go up to the rigging.