PA system
A PA system carries sound from microphones and instruments to the audience. Learn how to brief coverage, inputs and onstage monitoring for a live event.
What it includes
A public address system can include microphones, a mixer, amplification, speakers and processing. A compact talk might only need a pair of speakers and a microphone, while a concert may use several speaker zones and separate monitoring.
What to put in the brief
Share the audience area, the type of performance and any venue sound limits. Speaker count alone says little about coverage; the crew needs to know where people will be listening.
One event, several listening needs
Imagine a reception that begins with background music, moves to speeches and ends with a performance. Include each use in the brief, even if it happens in the same room. Mark where the audience will sit or stand and where the speakers or performers will be. This gives the sound team a clearer starting point than a request for a particular number of speakers.
Questions for the sound brief
- Which areas need sound, and are they used at the same time?
- Which microphones, instruments or playback devices need connecting?
- Does the venue provide equipment that the team needs to assess?
Before the event
Is a PA the same as the performer’s monitor?
The audience system and the performer’s listening setup serve different positions. Include both needs in the brief rather than assuming that an audience speaker also covers what the performer needs to hear.
Can I plan from guest count alone?
Guest count helps, but add the room or outdoor layout, programme and audience positions. Those details explain how the space will actually be used.
Further reading: Yamaha’s guide to PA systems and their applications