Live Sound Engineering

Live Sound Engineering Overview

SSR’s Live Sound education is the most current and comprehensive, industry led Live Sound training course in the UK. We were the first educational institution to offer a course of this kind and we remain the leading experts in the field.

The Live Sound course has been developed in conjunction with, and is supported by, some of the UK’s biggest live sound and PA companies, giving our students the comfort of knowing that their training is in line with industry practice and requirements.

Vast amounts of equipment, technology and expertise have been provided for this course, to allow SSR to educate students to a level valued by potential employers, and fill a gap that has become recognised by the industry itself. The course also makes extensive use of the Avid Virtual Mixing system. This facility, one of the only two in the world (the other being in Los Angeles), features a D-Show console and allows students to perform ‘Virtual Live Mixing’ of pre-recorded live events.

In addition, Health and Safety certification is also provided as part of the course, which is an essential tool to gaining employment upon graduation and something that is often missed by other institutions.

Pro Tools 110V and 210V certification are now available as optional extras as part of the Live Sound course at SSR.

Key players from within the live sound field provide seminars, guest lectures, demonstrations, advice and practical opportunities including soundchecks at a commercial venue as part of the course. Former guest lecturers have included Rupert Neve, Keith Farmer (Ian Brown, The Prodigy), Ray Furze (Spice Girls, Pixies), Steve Jones (d&b Audiotechnik) John Brookes (Madonna) and Jim Cousins (Glastonbury system design) to name just a few.

Our past venue visits have included Slayer, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Marilyn Manson, Elbow, Doves and Kate Nash at Manchester Academy 1, MEN Arena and Manchester Central (G-Mex) venues, providing priceless access all areas opportunities for students to see what really goes on behind the scenes of large scale touring productions.

The Live Sound Engineering course at SSR has a phenomenal success rate and is the ideal platform to launch you into a career in the Live Sound industry.

Please see our success stories for information on past graduates of SSR.

Live Sound Engineering detailed course description

The course is taught in SSR Manchester’s purpose built 2,000 sq ft, 200 capacity venue, housing a state of the art live PA System. What makes this venue unique is that it is exclusively used by SSR as a teaching facility which can also be used by students for their own projects. We also hold special events and live sessions regularly where a full student crew is always used. This gives the Live Sound students the valuable experience they need when looking for employment upon graduation.

Please note: the entire contents of the Live Sound Engineering course are included in the Audio Engineering Techniques & Technology course if you choose to specialise in Live Sound in Phase 3.

Live Sound Engineering course modules

• Mains Power Distribution and Electrical Safety
• PA System Components
• Introduction to Venue Equipment
• Cables and Connectors 1 & 2
• Soldering
• Live Mic and Mic Placement
• Mixing Consoles 1 & 2
• PA Practical – Set up and pack down 1 & 2
• Stage Monitoring 1, 2 & 3
• Front of House Mixing 1 & 2
• Live Processing 1 & 2
• Audio Networking 1 & 2
• Live Sound for TV (Guest lecture 3sixty Media)
• Live Mixing for Broadcast
• AVID D-show Training 1,2,3 & 4 (certification optional)
• UHF (wireless) Intro
• UHF frequency Planning and Licensing
• Acoustics 1 & 2
• PA System Design 1, 2 & 3
• PA Design - Guest lecture from D&B Audiotechnik
• PA Design - Guest lecture from Martin Audio
• PA Design - Guest lecture from L-Acoustics
• SMAART – PA System Analysis
• Being Self Employed
• Sound Monitoring
• Special Guest Lecture – a day in the life of a touring sound engineer

FAQ

Who is the Live Sound Engineering course for?
If you want to bring your skills right up to date or expand on your current skills as a live sound engineer then this course is for you. Suitable for beginners, degree post graduates and those with relevant experience or education, the course starts from first principles and requires little or no prior knowledge.

Are there any pre-requisites?
No formal qualifications are required just a passion for sound.

When will I study?
Afternoon or evening study - Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-6pm or 7-10pm, 2 x 3 hour lectures plus flexible weekly studio time, same day or pre-booked to suit your availability. SSR’s generous opening hours fit in with our students’ lives.
Monday-Thursday – 8.30-10.00pm (and on occasions we can extend to midnight)
Friday 8.30-6.00
Saturday and Sunday 9.00 -8.00pm

Who will teach me?
You will be taught by industry active tutors who are currently working with musicians, TV and film companies, computer games companies. Our tutors have worked for Snow Patrol; the Doves; Warner Brothers; Granada; 3sixtymedia; LioneyesTV; BBC; Peter Kay; The Royale Family. In addition our tutors are world expert instructors in Pro Tools.

Where will the Live Sound Engineering course lead me?
As a successful graduate of the Live Sound Engineering course you will have a number of career options available to you. Many freelance sound engineers work in live sound, , TV broadcast or a combination of these areas

What is the success rate of this course?
Our pass rate on this course is impressive. Of those who complete the course 98% will successfully pass all exams and meet the professional standards that the course demands. Students emerge with an SSR diploma and a showreel to impress employers. Our careers department offers support to students, and through our impressive industry connections and creative partners we are able to successfully place students into some impressive jobs, working for companies such as WIGWAM; Granada; BBC; Sumners; GMAZ; Hummingbird sound; MUTV, as well as leading bands and musicians such as Radiohead, Girls Aloud; Take That; Amy Winehouse and Westlife.

As one of our students recently commented: “Other organisations have got a toe in the water of the industry SSR is fully immersed.” For more information on student success stories click here.

What facilities and studios will I use?
We have some impressive and highly professional equipment and resources that are used in the industry including:

• The Neve console VRP48 series, housed in our impressive 1500 sq ft Spirit studio.
• The Digi-design ICON console
• The D-Show Live consol
• A Digico DS-00 consol
• Pro-Tools High Definition systems
• Final Cut edit suites with Fibre Channel
• 9 introduction and intermediate studios
• A dedicated post production facility which includes a foley studio, the only one in the north west
• A 2000sq ft live venue
• DJ booths
• Computer facilities including a dedicated Mac suite
• The Green Room – the student common room

In addition to the teaching what extra features does the Live Sound Engineering course have?
Students on the Live Sound Engineering course can expect to have field trips to highly exciting music venues and events, recording studios and media companies, to see what goes on behind the scenes and meet key people in the industry. Some recent examples include Elbow; Girls Aloud and Westlife, as well as trips to Granada. We also have regular guest lectures from key experts from the music industry and the TV and film world. Some examples are; the sound engineers for Prince, Def Lepard and Ian Brown, and the post production staff for Peter Kay and Steve Coogan.

Once I leave is that it?
We have a saying at SSR: "Once an SSR student always an SSR student" and through our Graduate Support Programme you can expect to receive additional services from SSR. This includes continued access to our careers service and introductions to our creative partners; information on job opportunities; use of studios and edit suites including our Neve facility at heavily discounted rates; special discounted rates on continued training courses such as Pro Tools and Apple software.

Live Sound Engineering entry requirements & applications

To apply for a course, you will need to print this application form.

Please then complete both pages of the form and return it, with the appropriate enrolment fee to:

Applications
SSR
65 - 69 Downing Street
Manchester
M1 7JE

Upon receipt of your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview or to confirm your acceptance onto the course.

If you require specific information about this course please contact Jay Beard on 0161 276 2100 or email jay.beard@s-s-r.com