Welcome to my SCC Live Sound Reinforcement (MUSM 306) Page.
Last updated 11/17/09.  This webpage is revised frequently - check often for updates.
Link to Main Page (has material applicable to both 342, 306, Audio Production)

My email is PankraS@scc.losrios.edu   My VoiceMail is: 916-568-3100 ext. 13234 (I check my email more often).
Office hours: 12-2p Mondays, by appointment, plus TBA hours around the concerts during the semester. By appointment only - I'll need to schedule it and figure a location based on what you need to go over (hands-on the gear, homework/text, test results, overall review, etc.).
URL of this page: http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~pankras/LiveSound.html   Course description  SCC Application

Watch for homework, quiz, etc. announcements here.
• Homework on Chapter 3 due 11/23/09 - see below.
• Takehome Quiz Chapters 6, 10 and 14 - due 11/23/09 - see below.
• Nov 17 '09 is the Last Day to Withdraw from Full Semester classes
• No homework due 11/16/09
• Homework on Chapter 14 due 11/9/09 - see below.
• Homework on Chapter 10 and Hafler amp due 11/2/09 10/26/09 - see below.
• No class 10/26/09

• FINAL: Monday, Dec 14th 5:45-7:45 pm
Upcoming concerts
• CANCELLED by DiverCity Tues Nov 17; Showtime 12:10p; DiverCity; Flagpole

Tues Nov 10; Showtime 12:10p; DiverCity; Flagpole CANCELLED
• Friday Nov 6th; Showtime 8p Pops Vocal Concert; A6
• Thurs Nov 5th; Showtime 12:10p; Pops Vocal Concert ; A6
• CANCELLED by DiverCity 12:10p Start; DiverCity; Flagpole
Click here for all Concerts info (link to the Concert Signup sheet from the clipboard, a Word doc that includes signups, setup and teardown times, etc.)

Some of what's on this page:
Textbooks Online
Link to Auditorium (Music, etc Bldg) Map
Class info
Homeworks, Handouts, etc.
The SCC Live Sound Gear
Manuals, data sheets for other SCC Sound Gear
Formulas, Additional Resources

Attendance and Homework are 40% of your grade! Homework will be corrected and returned, but not graded.
Due dates for homework and take-home quizzes are final - no late work accepted. Work is due at the beginning of class.

If you cannot return an assignment to me at classtimes, you may leave it BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF CLASS in my box in the HFA office (A19).
Occasionally, depending on circumstances, I may allow you to email your work to me; you MUST EMAIL IT BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS PERIOD in which it is due.

MUSM 306 is an alternative course for MUSM 342, the 1st Recording Studio Techniques class.
Either MUSM 306 or MUSM 342 may be used as the prerequisite for MUSM 344, the 2nd Recording Studio Techniques class.
MUSM 306 may also be taken for elective credit by those who have already taken MUSM 342.

Handouts, homeworks, etc: in appx chronological order. (REF: not required, for further study)
 REF Decibel cross-reference re distances, power, etc.
 REF Inverse-Square Law for Sound
 REF Inverse-square decibel worksheet
 REF A good description of hearing and the decibel scale
 REF Understanding Harmonics on stringed instruments
 REF Fletcher-Munson Equal Loudness Curves
 REF Distortion 101
 REF Haas Effect (aka Precedence Effect) at Wikipedia and Rane Glossary
  Syllabus
  Decibel Exposure Time Guide
  Line level: balanced = +4 dBu = 1.3V; unbalanced = -10 dBV = 0.3V
  Octaves, Harmonics, Wavelengths
  Freq's, Staves, and Piano graph
  Connectors handout
  Webpage access, Email, hearing protection due 8/31/09
  Homework Ch1, Ch2 due 8/31/09
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 REF Ribbon Microphones and Phantom Power: "Harmed or even destroyed"
 REF Some good graphics and explanations of Mic types
 REF EV RE20 dynamic mic (also known as PL20 - little proximity effect due to Variable-D design)
 REF How do VU and dB meters differ?
  SCC MackieSR Stereo Wiring (per 'system')
  SCC MackieSR Stereo Flowchart
  3Ds of Mic patterns
  Balanced vs unbalanced Audio
  Countryman Type 85 direct box (DI) data sheet   application notes
  Shure Beta 58 dynamic mic (voices)
  Homework on Chapter 4 - due 09/14/09
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   Takehome Quiz Chapters 1, 2, 4 - due 9/28/09
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 REF Patch Bays w half-normal, full-normal: info on dbx site and Sweetwater.com
  Mackie SR24•4 VLZ 24-channel mixer
  Homework on Chapter 11, Mackie mixer due 9/21/09
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 REF Q: Quality factor. The selectivity factor: the ratio of the center frequency f divided by the bandwidth BW (upper freq - lower freq at 3db down from peak value).
 REF Q vs Bandwidth Calculator
 REF Notes on Pink and White Noise
 REF Further info on effects
  Moulton Labs:Good explanation of phase cancellation/comb filtering
  EQ Article w Vocal and Instrument Freqs
  Ringing out monitors (getting rid of feedback)
  dbx 166XL Comp/Limiter/Gate: See Page 6
  Homework on Chapter 12 - due 10/5/09
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 REF Representation of Numbers (Binary, Decimal, etc.)
 REF Introduction to decimal, binary, hexadecimal
 REF Decimal/Binary/Hex Calculator
  Dithering:
 REF  Digital Audio and Wikipedia
  Dithering:
   at PC Recording
  Homework on Chapter 6 due 10/19/09
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 REF Amplifier Classes (general info - lots o' tech)
 REF  Power amp anatomy (lots o' tech)
 REF Amplifier damping factor explanation Marantz and Wikipedia
  Definition for Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) at Sweetwater
  Hafler Pro6000 amp
  AWG Wire Resistance
  Amplifier output hookups (stereo, bridged)
  Homework on Chapter 10 and Hafler amp due 11/2/09 10/26/09
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 REF Speakon Connectors explained    REF Speakon Connectors from Neutrik
 REF Top 10 Ways To "Toast" Speakers and Diaphragms
  Series vs parallel
  Speaker Combination Impedances
  Crossover basics Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
  dbx DriveRack Studio Cut sheet
  dbx DriveRack PA Cut sheet
  Homework on Chapter 14 due 11/9/09
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  Takehome Quiz Chapters 6, 10 and 14 due 11/23/09
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 REF DiY Acoustics
 REF Acoustic Treatment and Design for Recording Studios and Listening Rooms
 REF Rane Sound System Interconnection Note 110 (re ground loops, etc.)
  Recording Studio Room Acoustics and Helmholtz Resonators
  Helmholtz resonators, etc
  Ground loops (hum, noise)
  Homework on Chapter 3 due 11/23/09
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  Troubleshooting Worksheet .
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Some of these are Word and Excel docs I created, others are links to online Acrobat pdf's, gifs, jpegs, or html, etc websites. If you have any difficulties with the Excel or Word docs, please let me know. (IE opens them OK on my Win system, which doesn't have Excel on it)

Please let me know if any links don't work or have died. I run a linkchecker regularly, but some websites seem to get 'redecorated' constantly...

Manuals, data sheets for the Live Sound Gear:
  Shure SM57 dynamic mic (instruments) webpage and user guide
  Shure SM58 dynamic mic (vocals) webpage and user guide
  Shure Beta 57A dynamic mic (instruments)
  Shure Beta 58A dynamic mic (vocals)
  Shure L4 Diversity Wireless Receiver and Beta 58 Wireless mic
  Sennheiser MD421 II dynamic mic (we have originals, very similar)   PDF Spec
  AKG D112 dynamic mic (kick drum)
  Countryman Type 85 direct box (DI) data sheet   application notes
  Stewart ADB-1 direct box (DI) (not much here)
  Mackie SR24•4 VLZ 24-channel mixer
  dbx 215 EQ (Mains)
  Rane GE30 EQs (1st & 2nd monitor mixes)
  dbx 166 Compressor/Limiter/Gate
  TC Electronics M350 Dual-Engine Processor
  Behringer DSP1124P Feedback Destroyer Pro
  dbx 223XL stereo active crossover
  Crown Macro-Tech 2400 amp (Mains)
  Crown Micro-Tech 1200 amp (Subs)
  Hafler Pro6000 amp (Monitors)
  Yamaha C115V (Mains)
  JBL 4628B cabinets (Subs)
  JBL 4602B stage monitor (older)
  JBL MR802 stage monitors (newer)
  Furman PL-Plus Power Conditioner

Manuals, data sheets for other SCC Sound Gear:

Map of the SCC Auditorium (Music) Bldg (it's a maze)

Formulas :
Frequency = 1 / the period of one cycle   (Ex: 1 / 10 milliseconds = 100Hz)
  FYI: Period of one cycle = 1 / Frequency   (Ex: 1 / 100Hz = 0.010 seconds = 10 millisec's)
Wavelength (lambda, Λ) = Velocity / Frequency
     Wavelength = The distance it takes for a wave to complete one cycle, in feet or meters.
     Velocity = Speed of Sound (~1130 feet per second, ~1ft/msec, ~344 meters per second)
     Frequency = Cycles per second (Hz)

Simple Feedback Ear Trainer (for Windows only)
Other Reference/Resource Pages
ProSoundWeb: Old Soundman
PSW Sound Reinforcement Forums
The Classic Live Audio Forum
Harmony Central: PA Basics and Glossary for Newbies
Yorkville Basic P/A Systems Primer and P/A Basics and User Tips Guide

SCR dimmer

Musicians, this is for you - we can't get a good sound for your audience if you won't work with us!

"Allegro Audio" my personal audio webpage

Funny mp3 "Mr Soundman" by the Prairie Home Companion Guys All-Star Shoe Band
"2nd Most Horrible Sound in the World" - Feedback!
The Great Sound Guy Pet Peeve Post!

FREE FOH Magazine Subscription
FREE Live Sound International

Books Online:
Modern Recording Techniques: Author: Huber & Runstein ISBN10: 0240806255, ISBN13: 9780240806259; Edition/Copyright: 6th 2005; Publisher: Focal Press, Inc.; Cover: Paperback
   via bookfinder.com    Overstock.com Shipping: $2.95     Amazon     College Bookstore Online
This text is also available for in-library loan at the Learning Resource Center, but don't depend on that because you can't check it out for the open-book tests...

• The 'Yamaha' book: (NOT REQUIRED)
  via bookfinder     on Amazon
• The 'Mix' book: (NOT REQUIRED)
    at bookfinder.com    at Amazon

MacMade
i am a total geek