Festival Season 2026: The Complete Sound System Measurement Checklist

Pre-Show System Verification

Before the first act takes the stage, a methodical measurement pass prevents problems that are nearly impossible to fix once the audience arrives. Start with the system check workflow — it guides you through noise floor, frequency response, problem detection, and SPL baseline in a structured 15-minute sequence.

Measure the transfer function at FOH (front of house) and at least three audience positions: front, center, and rear of the coverage area. Look for coherence above 0.85 across the speech band (500 Hz – 4 kHz). Low coherence indicates alignment issues, reflections from stage structures, or interference between speaker arrays. Store each measurement as a named trace for later comparison.

SPL Compliance Monitoring

Nearly every festival permit includes noise limits measured at the nearest sensitive receptor. The SPL meter with A-weighting and slow time constant gives you the metrics regulators require: LAeq (average), LAFmax (maximum), and L10 (level exceeded 10% of the time). Set up continuous logging at the compliance position and monitor from FOH using the environmental noise monitor.

Critical thresholds vary by jurisdiction, but typical festival licenses specify 65-75 dBA LAeq at the property boundary during daytime and 55-65 dBA at night. The SPL compliance workflow lets you select your applicable standard and provides real-time pass/fail indication.

Frequency Response and Alignment

Outdoor festival rigs face unique alignment challenges. Temperature gradients, wind, and the absence of room reflections all affect the frequency response. Run the Tune PA workflow with pink noise through the main system. Focus on:

• Subwoofer alignment: check phase at the crossover frequency (typically 80-120 Hz) using the transfer function phase display
• Array coverage: measure at multiple positions to verify the predicted coverage pattern
• Delay tower timing: use the delay finder to set propagation delay for fills and delays

Feedback Risk Assessment

Open-air stages reduce feedback risk compared to enclosed venues, but monitor wedges, side fills, and front fills still need attention. Run the feedback elimination workflow with all stage microphones open at anticipated show levels. The problem detector identifies feedback-prone frequencies before they become audible.

Environmental Monitoring Throughout the Event

Temperature changes during a festival day (easily 20°C swing) shift sound speed by up to 12 m/s, affecting delay alignment. Wind can create 5-10 dB level variations at distant audience positions. Schedule re-measurement at least every 4 hours or when temperature changes exceed 10°C.

The noise monitor tracks SPL continuously, logging Lden and Ldn for EU and US compliance respectively. Set alert thresholds 3 dB below your permit limit to give yourself headroom for adjustment.

Documentation and Reporting

Every festival measurement should be documented. Use the report generator to create a technical commissioning report including all transfer function measurements, SPL compliance data, and system health scores. The SHA-256 verified certificate provides legal-grade documentation of system performance.

Store measurements against a venue profile for the festival site. Year-over-year trending via the acoustic trends dashboard reveals whether your festival rig is improving or degrading, and the before/after comparison quantifies changes between sets or between years.

Essential Equipment Checklist

• Laptop or phone with SonaVyx open in Chrome/Firefox
• Measurement microphone (or phone mic with calibration file imported)
• Audio interface (for loopback measurements)
• Long XLR cable or wireless system for distant measurement positions
• Weather protection for microphone (windscreen essential outdoors)