soundchecks

A soundcheck is a procedure performed before a live performance or recording session to verify audio levels, signal routing, and overall sound quality. The goal is to ensure intelligibility for the audience and a comfortable monitoring environment for performers, while identifying potential issues related to equipment, signal flow, or venue acoustics.

In live settings, soundchecks typically involve a line check and a microphone check, sometimes followed by a short run-through. A line check verifies the signal path from stage sources through the mixing console to the front-of-house system and stage monitors, using a test tone or recorded material. A microphone check involves testing each microphone or instrument with a performer to set gain, apply initial equalization, and address problems such as feedback, hiss, or phase issues. After these checks, engineers may adjust the monitor mix, apply dynamics processing, and configure any feedback suppression tools. When time allows, a brief performance is played to assess balance across channels and to judge how the venue’s acoustics affect the sound.

In studio contexts, a soundcheck (often called a pre-roll or pre-record) focuses on balancing levels for recording, confirming cueing and headphone or in-ear monitor mixes, and ensuring consistent monitoring during takes. Key components across both contexts include gain staging, equalization, dynamic processing, signal routing, monitoring setups, and any required DI boxes or microphones. Common concerns addressed during soundchecks include feedback control, phase issues, consistent monitor levels, and clean cueing.

Overall, soundchecks aim to establish a stable baseline so performances can proceed with fewer interruptions and more predictable sound in the venue’s acoustic environment.