Live Sound Checklist: Pre-Show System Verification

Before connecting any audio, verify all power circuits. Check that the total power draw of your system does not exceed the available circuit capacity. Verify that ground connections are intact on all power cables. Test every outlet with a circuit tester. Identify and label the circuit breakers that serve your system.

Ensure all speaker rigging is secure and certified for the load. Check that all cable runs are routed safely with no trip hazards. Verify that emergency exits are not blocked by equipment or cables. These safety checks are not optional and must be completed before any audio work begins.

Starting from the stage, verify signal flow through every component: microphone to stage box, stage box to console, console to processing, processing to amplifiers, amplifiers to speakers. Test each path individually using a known signal source. A systematic approach catches problems immediately rather than during the show.

Check every microphone for proper operation, phantom power requirement, and polarity. Verify that wireless systems have fresh batteries and clear frequencies. Test all input channels on the console with the signal generator or a handheld microphone. Mute any channels not in use to reduce noise floor.

With the signal chain verified, use SonaVyx to measure the system. Start with the transfer function measurement of the main speakers from the mix position. Check frequency response, phase, and coherence. Store the trace as your baseline for the venue.

Measure SPL at the mix position and at the farthest listener position. Verify that the system can deliver adequate level at the back of the room without exceeding comfort levels at the front. Check the subwoofer alignment with the mains using the delay finder and phase display.

Run all microphones at expected gain to check for feedback. The problem detector identifies frequencies approaching feedback before they become audible. Apply notch filters to the most sensitive frequencies.

If using stage monitors, check each mix independently. Walk to each monitor position and verify that the correct mix is playing from the correct monitor. Common errors include swapped monitor mixes and incorrect output routing on the console.

Ring out each monitor mix individually with the corresponding microphone at the performance position. The feedback frequencies for monitors differ from the mains because the speaker-microphone geometry is different. Document the monitor EQ settings so they can be recalled for the next event at the same venue.

Once the system is measured and optimized, bring in the performers for sound check. This is not the time for system tuning but rather for mix building and monitor adjustment. The system should already sound good with pink noise before any performer arrives.

During sound check, monitor the SPL meter to establish reference levels. Note the levels that the performers request in their monitors and verify these are achievable without feedback. Store a measurement trace during the sound check as a reference for the performance.

Power: All circuits tested, total load within capacity, grounds verified. Safety: Rigging certified, cables routed, exits clear. Signal chain: Every mic tested, every channel verified, wireless frequencies clear. System measurement: Transfer function captured, SPL verified, subs aligned, feedback addressed. Monitors: Each mix verified, ring-out complete, levels documented. Sound check: Performers satisfied, reference levels set, backup routes identified.

Print this checklist and physically check off each item. The discipline of a physical checklist prevents the most common oversight: assuming something works because it worked last time.