Full List of Courses
Contact Details
ALCHEMEA COLLEGE
The Windsor Centre
Windsor Street T: 020 7359 3986
London N1 8QG E: info@alchemea.com
Live Sound Engineering Courses from Alchemea College
£5,250 (16-weeks)
450 Guided Learning Hours separated into:
- 200 hours of lectures in classroom.
- 250 hours of supervised practical time.
- + Structured work experience at various London venues.
Click here for information about how to apply for a full time course at Alchemea.
Click here for forthcoming Live Sound Diploma course dates
This course includes a Live Sound Toolkit. It is essential that a good live sound engineer has the correct tools for the job. We will provide you with a multmeter, multitool, maglight, ear protectors, sharpie and electrical tape (and a crew t-shirt).
FULL TIME COURSE BROCHURE
Full Time Audio Course Brochure April 2010.pdf
With the music industry relying more and more on live performance for profitability, the scope for employment in the live sound industry is proportionately increasing. Nearly half of all jobs lie in the live sector and the explosion of events and festivals large and small has led to a shortage of competent, trained live sound engineers. Record labels have also adjusted their strategies to put live events at the heart of their business models. After all, a gig is one product you can't pirate.
Alchemea have therefore developed an exciting new Live Sound course. This is an extremely intensive practically focused 4-month program, which can be taken in addition to our SAC and Diploma courses or as a stand-alone module.
All training takes place out of our historic London Venue "The Fridge" in Brixton. The Fridge has a 1700 capacity, is speced with one of the country's best sound systems. Students will gain valuable work experience working as assistants on big shows at The Fridge and events and London nightclubs Heaven and 93ft East.
Click here for the latest images of the Fridge Nightclub.
A great venue and a world class PA are obviously very important but critically our Live Sound Diploma Tutors have worked their way round the globe many times with some of the biggest acts in the business. Over the 4-months they will be passing on their knowledge to the next generation of live sound engineers. Click here for more information about our Live Sound Tutors.
Feedback from our First Live Sound Course Students and Venues
COURSE AIM:
Our Live Sound Diploma Course aims to produce confident, skilled and employable personnel for the live sound industry – from Rock and Roll venues and hire companies, to theatre and corporate functions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Work safely with a clear understanding of the Health and Safety at Work regulations
- Confidently set up both small and large sound systems and configure them as per requirements (separate monitor and front of house/monitors run form front of house)
- Understand the principles and have practiced mixing both front of house and monitors, including using live musicians
- Confidently “ring out” a system to prevent feedback
- Understand the nature of sound and make intelligent decisions regarding loudspeaker placement, mix position placement and the best way to approach a space
- Be familiar with the standard range of microphones found in almost all live situations, know how to select the best microphone for the job and how to get the best sound out of it
- Have an in-depth understanding of cabling and connectors and be able to make up and maintain their own
- Understand how to safely distribute mains power on a stage
- Have an in-depth understanding of analogue mixers and two commonly found digital mixers (the Yamaha M7CL and Digidesign Venue)
- Understand and effectively use: EQ, Dynamics (compressors, limiters and gates) and all kinds of effects
- Understand how sound systems are put together and how to design their own to a given set of requirements
- Understand how to find the fault in a system that is not working
- Do a live multi-track recording in Protools via the Digidesign desk
- Have a basic understanding of loudspeaker design, and how to match amplifiers and loudspeakers
- Analyse a system within a space
- Understand the processes involved in rigging a large system
- Perform a Risk Assessment
- Have a basic knowledge of live sound for theatre and be introduced to this discipline as a possible career path
- Understand how a big show is put together, the personnel and roles involved and procedures for “getting in” and “getting out”
- Have a basic understanding of lighting in order to make our graduates more employable in small venues
- Set up DJs properly for club nights
- Run, as a group, a three-bands-and-a-DJ night from scratch. Students will be able to effectively communicate with the artistes, decide on the PA and monitor requirements, organise running orders for soundchecks and performances, stage manage the night, run all the mixes and pack away properly
Here is what you will cover:
Theoretical lectures:
- Health & Safety
- Nature of sound
- Capturing sound: Mics and Dis
- Interconnections and cable maintenance/repair
- Mains power
- Analogue mixing consoles and outboard (Midas XL3)
- Terminology, signal flow, EQ, Dynamics, FX, Routing
- Mixing Monitors
- Mixing FOH
- Wireless mics and in-ear monitoring
- Digital Theory
- Digital mixing consoles (Yamaha LS9 and Digidesign Venue)
- Recording shows
- Sound systems – from artist to loudspeakers
- Loudspeaker design (cabinets)
- Sound system design (point source v line array)
- Analysing PA
- Analysing rooms
- Specing PAs for events
- Rigging
- Onstage patching
- Theatre
- Lighting for Sound People
- Surround Sound
- Getting work, freelance working practice
- Advanced scenarios
- Tricks of the Trade
Practical Work
- Health & Safety
- Students will be setting up and breaking down the PA in various configurations every day.
- Microphone techniques
- Soldering and cable maintenance
- DJ set-ups
- Signal flow practice on all mixing consoles
- Feedback control
- FX parameters
- Dynamics
- Setting up separate FOH and monitor systems
- Setting up FOH and monitors to be operated from FOH
- Practice with wireless mic, in-ears and frequency changing
- Mixing practice – both FOH and monitors, using multi-track playback and live musicians
- Analogue and digital comparisons
- Using the mixing consoles in different set-ups
- Recording shows – both simple 2-track and multitrack- with live band
- Delay stacks
- Taking apart loudspeakers to see how they work
DIGIDESIGN VENUE TRAINING INCLUDEDDigidesign's offical VENUE 110V & 210V courses and certification exams are integrated into our Live Sound Diploma Course. These module focuses on configuration, operation, mixing techniques and record/playback with Pro Tools systems. Gaining VENUE certification will boost your CV and ultimately make you more employable.
110V Topics include:
- The VENUE concept — The VENUE product line and design goals, differences between analog and digital console architecture, components of a VENUE system
- D-Show control software — Software functions; using the software in stand-alone mode; the D-Show user interface; system configuration; using busses; saving, loading, and transferring Show files
- Control surface overview — Differences between the D-Show, Profile, and SC48 control surfaces; input channel controls and encoders; Assignable Channel Section controls; the SC48 Flex Channel; output section controls; master and global controls
- Built-in effects processing — Dynamics processing (compressor/limiter, expander/gate, settings and presets), standard EQ processing (EQs for inputs, graphic EQs for outputs, settings and presets), signal routing through on-board processing (changing the processing order, bypassing effects with Input Direct, using multi-select)
- TDM plug-ins and VENUE — Overview of included plug-ins, installing plug-ins, plug-in rack overview, assigning and routing plug-ins, controlling and adjusting plug-in parameters, saving and loading plug-in presets
- Mixing with VENUE — Configuring busses for mixing (main bus configuration, center divergence, aux/group bus configuration); using groups; using aux busses; using mute groups; talkback, 2-track, and oscillator controls
- Matrix Mixers — Matrix mixer overview, configuring user inputs for a matrix mixer, working with matrix input channels (routing inputs, enabling input channels, copying/resetting/clearing mixes), routing and adjusting matrix outputs
- VENUE and Pro Tools LE — Overview of the VENUE-to-Pro Tools connection, interface options, recording a show to Pro Tools LE, playing back tracks from Pro Tools (supplemental playback and virtual soundcheck)
VENUE 110V Table of Contents.pdf210V Topics include:
- Expanded VENUE systems — D-Show control surface expansion, installing option cards in Stage Rack/FOH Rack configurations, installing option cards in Mix Rack, making VENUE connections, mix engine configurations, installing mix engine cards
- Advanced console controls — Advanced input section controls, advanced control surface techniques, resetting channels and parameters, using ECx for remote control of VENUE
- Advanced built-in and TDM processing concepts — Advanced plug-in management (installing plug-ins manually, removing plug-ins, deleting uninstalled plug-ins), authorizing plug-ins and setting up an iLok account, advanced DSP processing, using plug-ins with direct outs, manually compensating for input delays, deactivating plug-ins, understanding DSP Processing architecture in VENUE
- Advanced mixing concepts — Advanced group options, working with Simple and Expert modes, using VCAs, using solo bus modes (AFL, PFL, and SIP), understanding the solo bus, using solo switch options, enabling solo safe
- Advanced monitor mixing workflows — Overview VENUE monitor mixing options; setting up and working with the Personal Q (PQ) system: recognizing PQ hardware components, configuring the PQ system, adjusting a PQ mix from a PQ controller, calling the console from a PQ controller; using the A-Net Output (ANO) card: stereo linking output channels, routing output signals to the ANO card, testing the ANO card, muting ANO card channels using the Events list
- Snapshots and Events — Overview of the Snapshots page (Snapshots list, command buttons, scope controls); Snapshot controls on the control surface; using the Snapshots list; creating, recalling, and managing Snapshots; modifying and previewing Snapshots; other Snapshot operations (undoing commands, disabling and suspending Snapshots, adding MIDI messages and plug-in data to Snapshots); Events overview; defining an Event; defining a trigger; editing triggers; adding actions to an Event; testing Events
- VENUE and Pro Tools|HD — Overview of the VENUE-to-Pro Tools connection, interface options, recording a show to Pro Tools HD, playing back tracks from Pro Tools HD (supplemental playback and virtual soundcheck), using Timecode to sync VENUE and Pro Tools
VENUE 210V Table of Contents.pdfTHE SAFETY PASSPORT
Crew involved in the production of live events should have a solid grasp of Health & Safety regulations. Our Live Sound Course students will gain a recognised "Safety Passport" through the Safety Pass Alliance and the Production Services Association (PSA).
LIVE SOUND TOOLKIT
It is essential that a good live sound engineer has the correct tools for the job. We provide all Live Sound Course students with a multmeter, multitool, maglight, ear protectors, sharpie and electrical tape (and a crew t-shirt).
COURSE DURATION:
4-months full time intensive (5 days p/week +) This course can be taken on its own or in combination at a discounted price with our Studio Sound Diploma or Studio Assistant Certificate Course (SAC).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A certain level of maturity is required, both physically and mentally to be successful on this course. The course also takes place on a licensed premises with a condition on the license that no under 18 events may take place. For this reason the minimum age requirement for our Live Sound Diploma Course is 18.
It should be noted that a career in Live Sound is not the same as working in a controlled environment like a recording studio. A career in Live Sound is physically quite demanding, at every "load in" and "get out" heavy pieces of equipment will need to be moved, flight cased and stored. The people that get far are those that are always willing to lend a hand and "grab a corner" to help move items like mixing consoles, in fact it is expected in live sound crews that everyone will help out and that they don't mind getting their hands dirty!
Our Live Sound Diploma Course, which is based in a real working venue, with real work experience on shows and events requires that you are ready, willing and able to take up that challenge. The reward of that hard graft on the other hand is considerable, looking at the show in action and thinking "I helped to make that happen" is something people in more traditional careers will never
know.
Please refer to our “How To Apply” page in this pack for more detailed entry requirement information.
COURSE GRADING
A 3 point grading scale is used - Fail/Pass/Distinction. Alchemea College refers exclusively to industry standards (see Employer Involvement) as the benchmark for Pass/Distinction, where Pass is suitable for work that would be acceptable in the industry, and Distinction is suitable for work that would be acceptable in the industry and shows flair and creativity beyond the basic requirements of the assignment brief. By ensuring that the course directly meets the requirements of employers, the course meets National Occupational Standards, as laid out by Creative and Cultural Skills, the Sector Skills Agency responsible for music.
STATEMENT OF LEVEL EQUIVALENCE
Although Alchemea is an independent college and the Diploma course has been developed independently by live sound industry professionals, it is equivalent in all respects to a qualification at level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF), and meets (and in some cases exceeds) the definition of a ʻDiplomaʼ on the QCF. The facilities and resources available at Alchemea far exceed the requirements of a level 3 course, and would put many degree courses to shame.
INTERESTED?
Please contact our friendly College Registrar Tony Garston on +44(0)20 7359 3986 or email
Tony will be able to answer initial questions and arrange a time for you to visit the Fridge where you can check out the club, pa system and talk in depth with our tutors about the course. Once you have decided to enrol Tony will be able to reserve seat for you and process your application. Please also refer to our “How To Apply” page in the pack.