Unit 49-Setting Up a Live Performance and Recording Equipment

Setting up sound technology is an essential part of almost all of the music industry, and so in this assignment we were tasked with setting up the equipment as though we were preparing for a live event.

1. The first step was to remove all of the lids and cases from the mixing desk and power supply as this allowed us to access the equipment for the process to continue.
2. We then made sure that the lids were kept safely in view but out of the way as to not cause tripping hazards for the sound technicians.
3. After this we positioned the mixing desk and power supply to the side of the stage as to make sure we kept it out of the way of the performance and out of the audiences view. This also allowed us to have an unoccupied space to use. We made sure to keep the desk on the power supply at all times as to not use up unnecessary space. We also locked the wheels on the desk and supply stack as the not cause a potential risk where the stack could move off the stage or fall and hurt someone.
4. The next step was to move the base speakers left and right in order to create a full and even sound in the venue. They are also much larger and are used as the bases for the speaker stacks.
5. We then added the pillars for the main speakers to be placed on top, making sure that they we screwed in and tightened them fully to avoid the risk of the speakers falling down, potentially damaging them or hurting people around them.
6. We then added the main speakers to the setup.
7. After this we connected the speakon wires to the amp. These are essentially mix XLR cables but they are powered which allows them to power the amps.
8. We then positioned the wires around the outside of the stage and taped them tightly to the floor as to prevent any tripping hazards that could be caused by loose wires.
9. After this we proceeded to connect the mixing desk to the amp via the jack leads, ensuring that everything was balanced.
10. Once all of this was completed we plugged the power supply into the mains and turned it on.
11. We also made sure to flat line the desk to prevent any unpleasant noises that may arise. 
12. Then we plugged in an XLR cable and connected a mic.
13. We then turned on the mixing desk and did a desk check.
14. After this we turned on the power supply to the speakers and tested the levels, changing the EQ of the frequencies accordingly.
15. Then finally we tested out and added some different effects that were available on the mixing desk.

Hazard	Danger	Precautions
Live wires	Damaged/exposed wires can be dangerous electrical hazards that can cause injuries and even death via electrocution.	Avoid using any damaged wires at any time. If unavoidable ensure that the exposed/damaged section of the wire is thoroughly wrapped in electrical tape.
Liquids and electricity	Liquids when spilled on electrical equipment can not only damage the equipment but also potentially cause injury.	Avoid having any liquids or drinks near the equipment at any time.
Heavy equipment	If lifted in an improper fashion, heavy equipment can cause injury. If heavy equipment is dropped it can cause injury to those around it.	Always lift in the correct stance with your knees so that a majority of the pressure is kept away from your back. Also make sure to always lift with at least one other person.
Tripping	Lids and loose wires can be dangerous tripping hazards. This can cause injury.	Make sure to keep wires tightly taped to the floor, and to keep lids together and out of the way of the peoples feet.
Noise	When noise levels are too high the hearing of the people in the vicinity could be damaged.	Ensure that noise levels are never at or over 120dB.  If possible, try to ensure that the noise doesn’t get to that point as prolonged exposure to those volumes can cause permanent damage.

Risk Assessment

There are also many laws relating to noise control.

Noise nuisance and neighboursJump to table of contentsNight hours
Resolving problems with noise
Mediation

• Mediation Northern Ireland

Complaining about noise to the council

• issue a warning

• issue a fixed penalty notice

• seize noisemaking equipment

• damaging to health

• causing a statutory nuisance

Statutory nuisance
Noise abatement

• the noise must stop

• the noise is limited to certain hours

Noise and planning applications
Objecting to a planning application

• The planning system and development management

Commercial noise
Noise from loudspeakers

• advertising

• entertainment

• trade

• business

Complaints about dogs barking

• Local councils in Northern Ireland

• Buying a dog and responsible dog ownership

Legal action about noise

• you don’t complain to the district council about noise

• the district council doesn’t do anything about your complaint

If everyone liked the same sounds, noise would not be a problem. What's music to your ears, your neighbour might dislike. Entertainment venues and neighbours can cause a noise nuisance. Your local council can help resolve noise problems.

Night hours are 11.00 pm until 7.00 am. To reduce noise nuisance from houses and premises, the law defines a maximum amount of noise which is acceptable during night hours.

When noise exceeds the permitted level, the district council can investigate and take action against the neighbour or other noise source.

If possible, talk to the person causing the noise. People often reduce the noise once they realise it's causing annoyance

You can use mediation to resolve the matter. In mediation an independent, third party listens to your views and your neighbour’s to help you reach an agreement.

It is important to try and resolve matters informally. This demonstrates to a court you have acted reasonably if later you need to take legal action.

If informal attempts don’t work, you can complain about noise to your local council.

Under the Noise Act, when a council investigates a noise complaint about a neighbour, entertainment venue, pub, club or restaurant during night hours, they can:

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act gives district councils authority to deal with noise from land and premises, which they consider:

A statutory nuisance is more than an annoyance or irritation.It is a disturbance that interferes significantly with your right to enjoy your home.

If you complain about noise to the council, an environmental health officer can investigate. They can assess the noise level.

If a noise nuisance exists, the council can serve an Abatement Notice on the person making the noise or the owner or occupier of the premises.

The notice requires either of the following:

Using the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, district councils can designate all or part of a district an alarm notification area. This applies to security alarms in occupied and empty residential and commercial premises.

The owner or occupier must have a nominated keyholder and give the keyholder’s contact details to the district council.

To check if you live in an alarm notification area, contact your council.

Most buildings or developments need planning permission. Noise can be treated as a significant factor by planners making a planning decision.

When planners assess a planning application where noise is identified as a significant factor, the developer applying for planning permission might need to submit a noise report to the planners.

The report assesses potential noise impacts on health and well being and recommends how to lessen or remove noise impacts.

Sometimes a building or development, such as proposed renewable energy facilities, waste plants, quarries and transport networks, may require environmental impact assessment.

The developer must submit an environmental statement to planners. The statement should deal with identified noise issues.

Anyone can submit a written comment on any aspect of a planning application, as a supporter or objector. For people concerned about noise issues linked to a planning application, they can comment on the noise report or environmental statement.

Planners can grant planning permission with or without conditions for a building or development.  Conditional planning permission can include compulsory measures to lessen potential excessive noise impacts.

If a developer does not apply the measures, planners can take enforcement action.

To run music events, a pub  or club must hold an entertainment licence. If you’re disturbed by loud music or patrons at pubs and clubs, you can report this to the district council.

If the council issues a warning about noise which the venue ignores, the council can take action against a venue for breaking their entertainment licence.

The council can impose a fine, prosecute the venue or withdraw the venue’s entertainment licence.

Police, ambulance and fire brigade can use loudspeakers at any time, day or night. For other organisations, there are restrictions.

It is illegal to use loudspeakers for:

Chimes from ice cream vans are only allowed between 12 noon and 7.00 pm.

It can be annoying and disturbing to hear a dog’s constant bark, howl or whine.

If a neighbour’s barking dog disturbs you or causes a nuisance, you can complain to the dog warden in your council.

You can take legal action in the magistrates’ court if:

You don’t need a solicitor but you should ask Citizens Advice for help in preparing your complaint. You need to prove that the noise is a statutory nuisance.