MUIN 2662 - Live Sound Production
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42818,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Bryan Helsel
Email: bhelsel@ysu.edu
Course Description
2662. Live Sound Production. This course prepares students for how to configure, operate, and optimize live sound systems in order to amplify an ensemble of musicians in a variety of indoor and outdoor event productions. Prereq.: MUIN 1561 or permission of instructor. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Great live sound: A practical guide for every sound tech | James Wasem | 0996642323 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Getting to know each other. Getting to know the syllabus. Introduction to Live Sound | Please share something cool about you with me and the class. I’d like to know your talents, passions, prior knowledge of music tech, and what drew you to choose this major or this class. | |
| Thu | 8/27 | Read from the Foreward to the end of chapter 2 (pg. 18) | Inputs, outputs and audio sources Understanding equipment Class scavenger hunt | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 9/1 | Read chapters 5 & 6 (yes we jumped ahead) pp 39-65. | Discussion based on student questions and closer examination of our loudspeakers. Take some time to complete this form for our guitar center field trip. If you are driving, please complete this form. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Thu | 9/3 | Read chapters 3 & 4 (yes we jumped back) | Discussion based on student questions and closer look at amps that we have, their power, their uses and their features | Discussion questions due before class. Field Trip paperwork due |
| Tue | 9/8 | Read chapters 7 & 8 | Discussion based on student questions, and an in-depth look at our SSL origin console, as well as external mixers that we have, which will be on display in sections of the classroom. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Thu | 9/10 | Field trip to Guitar Center in Boardman. Car pool and maybe have lunch together somewhere after. Be sure to complete the university requirements for field trips listed on Blackboard as an assignment due. | Identify as many pieces of equipment as you can that pertain to live sound. Talk to the sales staff about live sound gear. Make a budget for an imaginary live sound company that you might create. Identify what you would buy, why you need it, and what it costs. We’ll present these next class. | |
| Tue | 9/15 | Presentations of everyone’s budget. | Due: Report from Guitar Center, your budget. | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Read Chapters 11 & 12 | Using student discussion questions, discuss aspects of the soundcheck and mixing to an open room verses full house. Time permitting, do a soundcheck. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 9/22 | Read chapters 9 & 10 | Discuss the chapters briefly based on student questions. Design a soundcheck situation with YSU equipment. Take a look at the digital mixer that we have. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Thu | 9/24 | Read chapters 25, 26, 27 on feedback | Discussion questions, then if time, set up some equipment and cause, then fix some feedback. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 9/29 | Let’s dedicate this whole class to feedback and practicing with it based on our previous reading. | Field trip paperwork is due | |
| Thu | 10/1 | Read chapters 13-14 | Discuss the reading, continued work with feedback, and apply that setup to mixing for monitors and in headphones. | Discussion questions due before class. Prepare questions to ask on-site sound techs. |
| Tue | 10/6 | Field trip to Stambaugh. We’ll walk over together, or transport yourself. There, we’ll see the venue and chat with the live sound techs. Have some questions prepared for a Q&A session that we’ll have with them. | Prepare some questions for the live sound engineers at Stambaugh. | |
| Thu | 10/8 | Tour of Ford Theater and the Behringer X-32 console there. Information about how you can help run sound (and lights) for their shows and get paid to do it. | Article summary # 1 due | |
| Tue | 10/13 | Read chapter 15 and 16, Mixing for Mains and Portable Sound Systems | Begin with a discussion of what we gained from visiting Stambaugh and Ford Theater. Present article summary Discussion questions… Then, consider different set-ups in our room from mono to other approaches. Listen to the differences and determine the best approach for you and for the room. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Thu | 10/15 | Read chapter 17 | This is a really short chapter, but we’ll dedicate the class to practicing live-streaming some audio | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 10/20 | Read chapter 18 | Another short chapter, and then continued work with livestreaming. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Thu | 10/22 | Read section 4, pg. 151 through chapters 19, 20, 21, and 22 (pp 151-168) | Discussion of EQ and a look at how it’s done on the SSL origin and in software | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 10/27 | Practice with EQ, challenges for everyone with pre-recorded simulated live-sound music. Students will rotate between practice on the SSL console and on two other EQ stations that will be set up in the classroom. | ||
| Thu | 10/29 | Read chapters 23 and 24 (pp 169-176) | Reading discussion and some EQ practice. | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 11/3 | Go over live sound plan assignment. Incorporate EQ into a planning session and a practice session for Live mix concert. | Receive email from client for Live Sound Plan assignment. Get working on this! | |
| Thu | 11/5 | Read section 6, chapters 28, 29, and 30 (pp 195-206) | Discussion followed by practice mixing voice and choir | Discussion questions due before class. |
| Tue | 11/10 | Rehearsal for Live sound concert – to the degree that a rehearsal is possible without necessary every performer being available. | ||
| Thu | 11/12 | Read chapter 31 | There is a ton of information in this chapter, which we’ll review quickly and then try some things with as many of these instruments as we can. This will continue next class and onward. | Discussion questions due before class. Article Summary #2 due |
| Tue | 11/17 | Present article summary. Continue exploring the above concepts instrument by instrument. Any necessary planning or practice for next week’s concert. | ||
| Thu | 11/19 | Read chapter 32 and 33 | After discussing text, set up some wireless mics and learn how to connect them to the mixer. | Discussion questions due before class. Live sound Plan due today. |
| Tue | 11/24 | Read section 7, chapters 34, 35, 36, 37 | Present live sound plan to class. Fun with some of these hacks. What’s in your survival sanity kit? Cable tester, discussion of soldering. Prep for tonight’s concert | Discussion questions due before class. Live sound Concert tonight |
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Break | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | No class today since you had evening concert responsibilities last Tuesday | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Go over the take home final Additional practice related to chapter 31 and other necessary wrap-up items. | Journal of Readings and Discoveries Due | |
| Tue | 12/8 | Turn in take-home final by Wednesday, 12/9 | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | Turn in take-home final by Wednesday, 12/9 |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.