Front of House
Audio mixing position and equipment located in the audience area, responsible for controlling the sound that audiences hear during live performances.
Definition
Front of house encompasses the mixing console, engineer position, and speaker systems that deliver audio to the audience during live performances. The FOH engineer balances all instruments and vocals for optimal audience experience.
FOH positioning within the venue affects mixing decisions, as engineers hear the sound from the audience perspective and adjust levels, EQ, and effects to account for room acoustics and attendance variables.
Why It Matters
Quality front of house mixing directly impacts audience satisfaction and artist performance success. Poor FOH sound can ruin otherwise excellent performances and damage artist reputation with audiences and venues.
Effective FOH engineering maximizes the impact of live music by translating studio recordings into compelling live experiences that encourage repeat attendance and positive word-of-mouth promotion.
Examples in Practice
Arena tours employ experienced FOH engineers who travel with artists, using sophisticated digital mixing consoles and line arrays to deliver consistent sound quality across different venues and acoustic environments.
Club venues typically provide house FOH systems, requiring touring artists to work with local engineers who understand the room's acoustic characteristics and equipment capabilities.
Festival FOH positions serve multiple artists per stage, with engineers making rapid adjustments between sets to accommodate different musical styles and artist sound preferences within tight changeover windows.