Sound Check
Pre-show rehearsal where performers and sound engineers test and adjust audio levels, monitor mixes, and equipment before audience arrival.
Definition
Sound check is the technical rehearsal that occurs before a live music performance, during which the artist and their sound engineer test and adjust all audio equipment, set proper volume levels for each instrument and vocal, configure monitor mixes, and ensure every technical element is optimized for the performance. This process typically happens hours before doors open, allowing time to identify and solve any audio issues in an empty venue.
During sound check, each band member plays their instrument or sings while the front-of-house engineer adjusts levels, EQ, compression, and effects to achieve the desired sound for the audience. Simultaneously, the monitor engineer creates custom monitor mixes for each performer based on their preferences—some want more vocals, others more bass, others primarily their own instrument. The process includes testing wireless systems, checking for feedback issues, and ensuring all technical cues work properly.
Why It Matters
Sound check is the difference between a professional-sounding performance and an audio disaster. Without proper sound check, performers can't hear themselves correctly through monitors, which affects their ability to stay in tune and on time. The audience hears poorly balanced or distorted sound. Technical issues that could be solved in 10 minutes during sound check become unsolvable crises during the performance.
For touring artists, sound check is also valuable rehearsal time in an unfamiliar space with local audio equipment and acoustics. What worked perfectly in the previous venue might need significant adjustments in a new room. Professional acts budget 1-2 hours for sound check even for relatively simple setups, understanding this time investment protects the performance quality and audience experience.
Examples in Practice
A headline act arrives at 2 PM for an 8 PM show, allocating 90 minutes for sound check. They discover the venue's monitor system has a bad cable creating intermittent signal loss. The issue is identified and fixed during sound check with house equipment—if discovered during the show, it would have been a disaster. The thorough check prevents the problem from affecting the performance.
An opening band shows up 30 minutes before doors open, leaving only 10 minutes for line check instead of proper sound check. During their performance, the lead singer can't hear herself in the monitors and sings increasingly sharp. The guitars are too loud, drowning out vocals in the front-of-house mix. The bass drum lacks punch because it wasn't properly EQ'd. The set receives poor reviews blaming "sound issues" that proper sound check would have prevented.
A festival schedules 15-minute changeovers between acts, using previous sound checks and advanced preparation to make rapid transitions possible. Each act conducts abbreviated sound checks earlier in the day, with all settings saved digitally and recalled during changeover. This planning allows 12 acts to perform seamlessly despite minimal changeover time.