Taking sound education to the next level

D

Daniel Postilnik

Junior
Jan 14, 2011
304
1
18
38
San Francisco, CA
Hi all, I'm currently working as what I guess would be called an "integrator" for a business whose 20 or so locations have install sound systems for playback and live vocals, the processing for which is accomplished with network controlled open architecture DSPs. Although I came from a primarily live / combat audio background I have learned a lot in the four months I've been working in this setting. My understanding of gain structure, signal path, equalization, fundamental acoustic theory, mixing, signal processing was already really solid.

However, as I have no formal degree in sound or engineering, I am really lacking in knowledge of system tuning, measurement, and prediction. What would be my best plan of action, other than learning how to use smaart, to acquire a deeper understanding of what will happen when you create sound in a room, what is happening with a sound system in a given room as well as a toolkit to improve a given system?

My supervisor asked me for a list of initiatives for 2014 and I think I might be able to get the department to pay for additional training/education.

Thanks!
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

Learning how to use Smaart is like learning how to use a calculator.. it doesn't mean you know math. It's a good start, but you'll get more out of it once you know what to do with it.

A good start might be an Ease course or something like that..
it sounds like you have a large company full of employees to ask. those that are smarter than you, ask then for advice. They'll be happy to tell you how they got where they are and they probably know best what level you are at and what you're ready for.

Jason
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

Jason Lavoie said:
Learning how to use Smaart is like learning how to use a calculator.. it doesn't mean you know math. It's a good start, but you'll get more out of it once you know what to do with it.

A good start might be an Ease course or something like that..
it sounds like you have a large company full of employees to ask. those that are smarter than you, ask then for advice. They'll be happy to tell you how they got where they are and they probably know best what level you are at and what you're ready for.

Jason
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My company has lots of employees, but I am the only one with any audio experience :). The company itself is not in the audio industry.
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

I would suggest any Syn-Aud-Con class you can attend. Sounds like the technician level as well as the digital courses would be most beneficial to you.
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

It is not something you are going to get all at once. It is all "bits and pieces" and putting them together.

Synaudcon classes would be a good start. Even the beginning classes are usually real eye openers for most people.

The system design classes require that previous classes be taken.

I would look into what types of software the company is presently using (both in measurement and prediction), get some additional seats for those and start to "play around" o your own time. Then as you have questions post them. But the questions need to be kinda specific-nobody wants to write an instruction manual on line.

The BIG thing to understand about both prediction and measurement is they will NOT tell you what to do. But rather they will show you the consequencies/results of your choice fo speaker placement or type and measurement.

It is up to YOU and YOUR KNOWLEDGE to be able to figure out what to do to get a better result.

All measurement systems basically do the same thing-just how they do it-what the controls are is the big difference. It is easy for somebody who understands how do make good measurements and understand what they mean to learn a new measurement system. It is a lot harder for somebody who does not know how to measure (and understand what the traces are telling you) to use any measurement system.

And the same thing for design. You have to understand the fundamentals before you start to just "throw speakers in a room". You HAVE to have a logical reason for placing a particular speaker where you do.

And books like Sound System Engineering (there are several editions) are a good start.

You also need to find out how far your employer is willing to go (cost wise) to help educate you.

I spent A LOT of my own time (weekends/evenings etc) playing around -reading and learning on my own. Yes my employer has taken care of the actual expenses-but it was a lot more valuable because of what I did on my own.

I also came from the rental world. I found out quickly that a lot of what I had learned in that world was simply wrong. When you learn the "real" truth, things become much clearer and make more sense than the many "wifes" (roadie) tales from the road that are passed around.

There will be a good bit of "relearning" and clearing out of some of your memory.
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

Daniel, I recommend 2 books. Both are probably somewhat above your current level of expertise and should be considered aspirational in nature. Sound System Engineering, 4th, Don Davis, Eugene Patronis, Pat Brown. Focal Press 2013. Sound Systems, Design and Optimization, 2nd, Bob McCarthy. Focal Press 2009.

Beyond the system-oriented books I suggest The Master Handbook of Acoustics, 5th, F. Alton Everest and Ken Pohlman. McGraw-Hill/TAB 2009.

These will not supplant other training or education but will give you a really good idea of what you don't know. Believe me, I find lots of that for myself...

SyAudCon classes, SMAART and/or SysTune training, any classes from Meyer taught by Bob McCarthy... all worth every penny.

You're approaching the point where all of the various aspects of physics and art will collide with your previous knowledge and experience. The blast is awesome... We'll probably see the Lightbulb of Enlightenment" come on over your head, just like in the cartoons. I hope we need to get the lampy to install a dimmer for yours. :)
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

Tim McCulloch said:
Daniel, I recommend 2 books. Both are probably somewhat above your current level of expertise and should be considered aspirational in nature. Sound System Engineering, 4th, Don Davis, Eugene Patronis, Pat Brown. Focal Press 2013. Sound Systems, Design and Optimization, 2nd, Bob McCarthy. Focal Press 2009.

Beyond the system-oriented books I suggest The Master Handbook of Acoustics, 5th, F. Alton Everest and Ken Pohlman. McGraw-Hill/TAB 2009.

These will not supplant other training or education but will give you a really good idea of what you don't know. Believe me, I find lots of that for myself...

SyAudCon classes, SMAART and/or SysTune training, any classes from Meyer taught by Bob McCarthy... all worth every penny.

You're approaching the point where all of the various aspects of physics and art will collide with your previous knowledge and experience. The blast is awesome... We'll probably see the Lightbulb of Enlightenment" come on over your head, just like in the cartoons. I hope we need to get the lampy to install a dimmer for yours. :)
Click to expand...

I've always found Music, Physics and Engineering a good contextual reference, especially for those starting out.
 
Re: Taking sound education to the next level

Tim McCulloch said:
Daniel, I recommend 2 books. Both are probably somewhat above your current level of expertise and should be considered aspirational in nature. Sound System Engineering, 4th, Don Davis, Eugene Patronis, Pat Brown. Focal Press 2013. Sound Systems, Design and Optimization, 2nd, Bob McCarthy. Focal Press 2009.

Beyond the system-oriented books I suggest The Master Handbook of Acoustics, 5th, F. Alton Everest and Ken Pohlman. McGraw-Hill/TAB 2009.

These will not supplant other training or education but will give you a really good idea of what you don't know. Believe me, I find lots of that for myself...

SyAudCon classes, SMAART and/or SysTune training, any classes from Meyer taught by Bob McCarthy... all worth every penny.

You're approaching the point where all of the various aspects of physics and art will collide with your previous knowledge and experience. The blast is awesome... We'll probably see the Lightbulb of Enlightenment" come on over your head, just like in the cartoons. I hope we need to get the lampy to install a dimmer for yours. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Tim, for the recommendations and the encouragement.
 
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