Acclaimed as the leaders in real-world audio education, Syn-Aud-Con returns to LDI2009 in Orlando, FL, with two of the best courses for audio pros, both taught by Syn-Aud-Con president, Pat Brown*:
I. Core Principles of Audio
Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 17 and 18
$500 ($1,050 if combined with Syn-Aud-Con’s Sound Reinforcement for Technicians course on November 19 & 20)
In this enjoyable and information-packed seminar, you’ll acquire knowledge that is essential for working with sound systems. Important subjects such as microphone selection and placement, mixer setup and signal flow are extensively covered. The emphasis is on the practical rather than the theoretical, using real-world explanations of potentially complex subjects. Multimedia listening demonstrations drive the points home and convey a level of understanding that will help you head off sound problems before they occur.
Watch a seven-minute video to get a detailed description of the course outline.
Target Audience
This is core material for anyone involved in sound reinforcement. It covers the essential principals. Many attendees are seasoned pros. They have told us that this course has filled important gaps in their audio knowledge
Session Highlights
1. Practical use of essential audio vocabulary, including decibels, frequency, wavelength and many others.
2. A brand-independent understanding of the important functions of each component in the audio signal chain. Why are they there? What do they do?
3. How to use good judgment in the selection and placement of loudspeakers for portable sound reinforcement.
4. An "in the trenches" effective equalization technique that can be done in minutes.
5. The strengths and weaknesses of various audio-interfacing practices, including balanced and unbalanced interconnects.
6. How to get up to speed fast on any console - analog or digital.
7. The best ways to connect guitars, amps, iPods and other devices into sound systems.
8. Selecting and placing microphones to get the best sound and adequate gain-before-feedback.
9. Setting sensible monitor levels.
10. How to recognize phase interference and what to do about it.
II. Sound Reinforcement for Technicians
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19 and 20
$600 ($1,050 if combined with Syn-Aud-Con’s Core Principle of Audio course on November 17 & 18)
This two-day seminar covers the theory behind how systems work, and demonstrates how to use instrumentation to look "under the hood" to troubleshoot systems. Advanced topics such a crossover adjustments and equalization are presented in a technical, yet practical manner. Learn what "tools of the trade" are needed by today’s audio professional.
Completely revised for 2009, SR for Technicians now includes "hands-on" exercises. Attendees will use a tool kit that includes meters and other items that are needed to test and troubleshoot systems.
The class also goes into detail on how to use modern dual-channel FFT measurement platforms. At the end of day two, we perform a complete setup of a 3-way triamped loudspeaker, including polarity testing, equalization, crossover selection and signal alignment. The principles presented in the technicians course are built upon those presented in the Core Principles of Audio course. Syn-Aud-Con strongly recommends the Core seminar as a prerequisite for Sound Reinforcement for Technicians. For a more detailed course outline, please watch the video.
Target Audience
This course is for those who install, configure and calibrate sound reinforcement systems.
Session Highlights
1. The inner workings of audio interfaces, including a practical exposure to voltage, current, impedance, power and other signal characteristics.
2. How to interface digital audio components.
3. How to select loudspeaker cables based on loudspeaker impedance and required cable length.
4. How to establish an optimum system gain structure using both "on the fly" and in-depth approaches.
5. How to know how much power you are feeding a loudspeaker, and how to stay below the loudspeaker’s power limits.
6. The proper use of peak and RMS metering to track audio signals.
7. How to figure out if you should run your power amplifier in dual-channel or bridge-mono mode.
8. The principles of grounding and shielding for quiet and safe interfaces.
9. The essential and common principles of all room measurement systems, enabling you to use any of them to their fullest potential.
10. An equalization strategy that gets at what you can fix, and avoids "over equalizing" the sound system.
11. How to calibrate a loudspeaker signal processing chain, including crossover, equalizer, delay and compressor/limiter.
12. How 70-volt systems work, and how to make sure they’re working correctly.
Register online today, as space in these classes is limited.
*Pat Brown is a 1978 graduate of the University of Louisville with a degree in electrical engineering technology. With a background as a musician, sound technician, retail music store owner, contractor, and consultant, he is familiar with the many aspects of audio. He served as an associate instructor to audio legend and Syn-Aud-Con founder, Don Davis. Pat has the unique gift of being able to share his knowledge of complex technical topics in an easy-to-understand manner. Pat brings with him an impressive array of equipment to help him demonstrate different real world problems and solutions to them. Pat has invested a significant amount of time in preparing audible and visual displays to demonstrate sound principles. He is well known for his practical approach to engineering problems and his innovative ways of solving them.