Backline & Live Sound Glossary: Terms Every Production Should Know

Live production has its own language, and riders assume you speak it. This glossary covers the terms you're most likely to see on a rider, an advance or a show-day schedule. Bookmark it for your next production.

A–C

Advance — Confirming every detail of a show with the venue, vendors and act before show day. See the production advance.

AES50 — A digital audio protocol used by Midas and Klark Teknik to carry many channels of audio and clock over shielded Cat5e between a console and stage boxes. See AES50 and the DL32.

Ambient mics — Microphones that capture the crowd and room, mixed into in-ears so performers don't feel isolated.

Antenna distribution — A unit that splits signal from one set of antennas to multiple wireless receivers.

Backline — The instruments and personal audio gear the act needs on stage: keys, amps, drums, wireless and in-ears. See what is backline?

Bodypack — A small wireless transmitter (for a lavalier, headset or instrument) or receiver (for in-ears) worn by a performer.

Capsule — The interchangeable microphone head on a wireless handheld transmitter.

Changeover — The time between acts when one band's gear comes off stage and the next goes on.

Click — A metronome track sent to performers' in-ears to keep time with playback or each other.

Combiner — A device that merges several in-ear transmitters into one antenna.

Compander — The compression-and-expansion process analog wireless systems use to reduce noise.

D–F

DCA — Digitally controlled amplifier: a fader that controls the level of a group of channels without summing them.

DI (direct input) box — Converts an instrument or keyboard signal into a balanced mic-level signal for the console. See DI boxes explained.

Digital trim — A level control after the preamp, used when two consoles share preamps.

Drum fill — A dedicated monitor speaker for the drummer.

Fly date — A show where the act flies in and rents most gear locally. See fly dates in LA.

Fly pack — A compact rack system designed to travel as airline baggage or freight.

FOH (front of house) — The main mix position in the audience area, and the engineer who mixes the PA.

Frequency coordination — Planning wireless mic and in-ear frequencies so they don't interfere with each other or local TV stations. See frequency coordination.

G–L

Gain sharing — When two consoles share one set of preamps; one console controls gain and the other uses digital trim.

gigaACE — Allen & Heath's digital link between a dLive surface and MixRack.

Ground loop — A hum caused by multiple paths to ground between connected equipment. See stage power.

Hammer action — Weighted keyboard action that mimics an acoustic piano.

IEM (in-ear monitor) — A wireless or wired system that sends a personal mix to earphones. See IEM setup.

Input list — The rider page listing every console channel, its source and mic.

Intermodulation (IMD) — Unwanted signals created when wireless transmitters mix together, which can interfere with other channels.

Lavalier — A small clip-on microphone, usually worn on a presenter's clothing.

Line check — Checking every input and output works, before soundcheck.

Load-in / load-out — Moving equipment into and out of the venue.

M–R

Matrix — A console output that mixes buses together, often used for fills, delays and recording feeds.

MixRack — The processing and I/O unit of an Allen & Heath dLive system. See dLive C1500 + CDM48.

Monitor engineer — The engineer who mixes what performers hear on stage.

Multitrack — A recording with each input on its own track, used for mixing later or virtual soundcheck.

Production manager — The person responsible for the technical side of a tour or event.

Rider — The act's document of technical and hospitality requirements. See how to read a tech rider.

Riser — A platform that raises drums, keys or other performers above the stage.

Run of show — The minute-by-minute schedule of an event.

S–Z

Scene / show file — A saved console state containing all mix settings. See bringing a show file.

Side-fill — Speakers at the sides of the stage providing a general monitor mix.

Soundcheck — Rehearsal time for the act and engineers to set levels and mixes.

Spare — An extra item ready to replace a critical piece of gear immediately.

Stage box — A box on stage with inputs and outputs, connected digitally to the console. The Midas DL32 is an example.

Stage left / stage right — Directions from the performer's perspective, facing the audience.

Stage plot — An overhead drawing of the stage showing performer and gear positions.

Talkback — A microphone the engineer or musical director uses to talk to performers or crew.

True diversity — A wireless receiver design with two antennas and two receiver circuits, which picks the stronger signal to reduce dropouts.

UHF — The frequency range most professional wireless microphones and IEMs operate in.

Virtual soundcheck — Playing a multitrack recording back through the console to refine a mix without the band.

Walk test — Walking the stage with each wireless transmitter to check for dropouts.

Wedge — A floor monitor speaker angled up at a performer.

Have a rider full of terms and need a hand? Send it to us, and browse our catalog of wireless, mixing and keys available across Greater Los Angeles.