A practical guide to understanding PA systems, applications and operation
Exploring Sound Reinforcement is a major work produced by Keyfax NewMedia in conjunction with Yamaha Corporation of America that looks at all aspects of buying, assembling, and operating sound reinforcement systems. Starting with the individual pieces of PA equipment, Exploring Sound Reinforcement looks at microphones, mixers, power amplifiers, loudspeakers, and effects, and explains the crucial features and options in logical signal-flow' style. Next is Putting It All Together; a section that takes you through the physical process of set up from positioning, to cabling, to running a sound check, to a major section on the pleasures and perils of monitoring systems. PA systems can be coffee-shop powered monitors to a concert stadium rig and the third section of the DVD looks at the practicalities of buying and using different gear for different applications through the eyes of an acoustic duo playing restaurants and clubs, to a medium sized church, to an international concert artist. Finally comes a series of tips and advice segments under the headings Good Working Practices, and Troubleshooting.
The program, shot on location and in Keyfax studios in Santa Cruz during 2004, is riddled with authentic live examples, expert advice from industry pros, simple explanatory diagrams, pop-up boxes, and good music. While the equipment used in the making of the program is predominantly made by Yamaha, great care was taken to ensure that the DVD is applicable to users of any make or model of equipment. Finally Exploring Sound Reinforcement can be viewed in Japanese with German text if you want! The entire program has voice-over in no fewer than six languages, with individually controllable supporting text boxes. Whatever your role in music, from a teacher, to a student, to a band member, to a club owner, to a trainee sound engineer, Exploring Sound Reinforcement will guide you through the maze using simple terminology, and in great style.
