Sound
A relatively new area of technical theatre, the art of sound design wasn't recognised in the UK Olivier Awards until 2004.
Other languages: geluiden (Dutch)
NEW: Podcast episode with Simon Wood, sound technician at the London Palladium and other London venues between 1969 and 1984.
Relevant pages on Theatrecrafts.com
- Audio Effects and Outboard Equipment
- Audio Networking
- Binaural Sound
- Connections and Networking
- Digital Audio File Formats
- Headphone Theatre
- Microphone History and Evolution
- Microphones & Techniques
- MIDI Control of Sound and Light
- Mixing Desks
- Phone Calls on Stage
- Quadrophonic / Surround Sound
- Radio Drama
- Sound and Media Playback Software
- Sound Design - The Process
- Sound Design Paperwork
- Sound Effects for the Stage
- Sound Effects Workflow
- Sound Engineer
- Tony Awards - Sound Design
- What is Sound Design?
History & Developments
- Microphones (including Radio Microphones)
LSI: Heritage Pathways: The PA System (February 2024)
[External Website]
From Lighting & Sound International
Sound Designers and Engineers
Documents
Video
Aeliophone / Wind Machine
Video: Click on thumbnail
Foley Artist John Roesch, Skywalker Sound
Video: Click on thumbnail
Making War Horse: Sound Design
Video: Click on thumbnail
PLASA: Evolution of Sound Design with Martin Levan and Gareth Owen
Video: Click on thumbnail
Sound and Video Supervisor - Careers at the National Theatre
Video: Click on thumbnail
Sound Design for Musicals
Video: Click on thumbnail
Sound Engineering on the soundtrack for Les Miserables on screen
Video: Click on thumbnail
Theatrical Microphone Concealment Techniques
Video: Click on thumbnail
Thunder Run at the Bristol Old Vic
Video: Click on thumbnail
Amazon Shop
External Links
Access Equipment
- Aluminium Access Products Tallescope manufacturers [UK]
- Genie Lifts and Access Equipment [Worldwide]
- Slingsby Access ladders [UK]
- Zarges Access ladders & towers [Germany & UK]
Designers
- Adrienne Quartly Sound Design for Performance [UK]
- Alma Kelliher Sound Design [UK]
- Gareth Fry Sound Design for Theatre [London UK]
- Gareth Owen Sound Designer [Worldwide]
- John Leonard Theatre Sound and Show Control [UK]
- Mic Pool Sound and Video Design for Theatre
- Paul Arditti Sound Design [UK]
- Simon Baker Sound Design [UK]
- Steven Brown Sound Design
Discussion Forums
- in 1: the podcast The Lives of Theatrical Designers
- Podcast: Production Meetings Essential listening
- Podcast: Theatrewolf History and Innovation in a wide range of technical theatre areas
- The Blue Room Technical Discussion Forum [UK]
Equipment
- 101 Uses for Gaffa Tape (Photo gallery)
- 101 Uses for Gaffer Tape (List)
- Ironclad Performance Work Gloves [Los Angeles, CA, USA]
- Pockit Utility holsters & accessories for your tools [USA]
- Setwear Gloves, belts, bags [CA, USA] Flightcases / Touring >> 3D Flight Cases Professional UK flight case manufacturers [UK] Flightcases / Touring >> BCS Manufacturing Flightcases Flightcases / Touring >> Packhorse Flightcases [Peterborough, UK]
Health & Safety
- RU Safe? information and guidance about safety in small venues [UK]
- Theatre Safety Blog
Installation
- Cable Organizer Cable Raceways [USA]
- Kirei ECHOPanel sustainable acoustic panel [USA]
- MTX Engineering Metalwork and Accessories [UK]
Jobs
- Gallowglass Event Crews in UK & Mainland Europe [UK & Europe]
- Parents & Carers In Performing Arts [UK]
- SoundGirls.org Empowering the next generation of women in audio
- Mandy.com (formerly StageJobsPro) Theatre and Stage Jobs for UK Professionals [UK]
Manufacturers
- Allen & Heath Mixing Desks [UK]
- AMS Neve Mixing desks and outboard equipment [USA]
- Bartlett Audio Microphones [USA]
- Behringer Mixing desks and outboard equipment [Germany, Europe]
- Cadac Mixing Desks [UK]
- Clear-Com Headsets [USA]
- Countryman Microphones & Accessories [CA, USA]
- DiGiCo Digital mixers [USA]
- Eartec Wireless Headsets [USA]
- Luminex (IT Networks for AV) [Belgium]
- Mackie Mixing Desks, Outboard equipment, speakers [USA]
- MC2 Audio Amplifiers and installation [Honiton, Devon, UK]
- Midas Consoles Mixers
- Sennheiser Microphones [Germany]
- Soundcraft Mixing Desks [UK]
- Telex Wireless & wired intercoms [Australia]
- Williams Sound Wireless communication technology [USA]
- Yamaha Pro Audio Mixers, Speakers, Outboard Equipment
Music
- BenSound Royalty Free Music
- Free Music Archive Royalty Free Music
- London Arrangements Backing tracks and arrangements
- mobygratis Free music from Moby
- Pixabay Royalty Free Music
- StoryBlocks Stock Music & Sound Effects
Publications
Resources
- A Sound Effect Independent Sound Effects Collections
- Allan Chapman & James Insurance Public Liability Insurance etc. [UK]
- Bartlett Audio - Learn More About Audio Helpful Guides
- BBC Sound Effects Collection
- Binaural Audio - Virtual Barber Shop listen with headphones
- Crew Cover Insurance Public Liability Insurance etc. [UK]
- Designing Sound Art and technique of sound design
- Essential Kit for a Sound Engineer
- Freesound Sound Library
- Guide to Sound Effects How to create realistic foley sounds
- How to be a theatrical sound engineer The Guardian, August 2012
- La Playa UK Public Liability Insurance etc. [UK / USA]
- Load-In International Live Touring Industry magazine [UK]
- Media College Audio Tutorials & Reference
- Multipoint Suspension - not as easy as it seems Essential reading!
- Soundcraft Guide To Mixing Essential and free to download
- SoundDogs Downloadable Sound Effects
- Soundsnap Sound Effects Online
- Soundworks Collection Sound for Film
- Step By Step Guide to Sound Design by Mic Pool [UK]
- Theatre Digs Booker Touring Accommodation Finder [UK]
- Theatre's Revolution in Sound Design The Guardian, October 2008
- Walk - Listen - Create Sound Walks Resources and Events
- Whispers to thunderstorms: the world of sound designer Max Pappenheim Guardian, April 2021
- Wrightsure Insurance Public Liability Insurance [UK]
Research
- Foley Article at theStudioTour.com
- Greek Theatre Acoustics from The Guardian
- Infrasound linked to spooky effects NBC
- StageWork Resources about the backstage work of the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep [UK]
Software
- Ableton Music & Soundscape production
- Ardour Open Source Digital Audio Workstation
- Audio Toolset 2 Vectorworks Plug-in
- BandLab Free app/browser-based sound editing and multi-track composition
- Baxel Data - Cue Player Software for Windows
- Bitwig Studio Digital Audio Workstation
- ClipChamp Free Online Video Editor
- CSC Show Control from CTR Electronics [UK]
- Drafty App for lighting, sound & video designers [USA]
- KM Player Audio & Video media player for Windows
- Mic Pool's QLab Cook Book Hints and Tips for Serious Users [UK]
- Mitti Video Cue Playback
- Multiplay Sound Playback
- Procedural Audio Resources
- Q-Widget USB Remote for Qlab [USA]
- Radial Theater Project: Audio Cues Cue Playback for Android / Chromebook
- Reaper Digital Audio Workstation [NY, USA]
- Sound Byte Computerised cart rack for radio stations & entertainment
- StageCaller Make your cellphone ring via wifi
- Traktor Digital DJing
- Vivien - Cast Lighting Event Design & Planning Software
- X-Keys Computer Input Devices Buttons to control Qlab etc. [USA] Projection Mapping >> HeavyM Easy Projection Mapping software [France] Projection Mapping >> MadMapper Video & Light Mapping Software Show Control >> Qlab Event-driven media playback for Mac Show Control >> Trigger Audio & Video playback [UK] Free Software for Sound Editing >> Audacity Free Audio Editor for Windows & Mac
Suppliers
- AED Group
- Audio Gold Vintage Hi-Fi and Audio [London, UK]
- Audio Light Systems [Edinburgh, Scotland, UK]
- AudioLinks Services [USA]
- Autograph Sound [London, UK]
- Canford Audio Radio Mic Pouches [UK]
- Flints Theatrical Chandlers Tools and Supplies [London, UK]
- Full Compass Supplier [UK ]
- Gear Source Europe Secondhand / Used Equipment [Kent, UK]
- Orbital Sound [London, UK / New York, USA]
- Planet DJ Lighting, Sound & DJ Equipment [NV, USA]
- Pro Sound & Stage Lighting Sales [CA, USA]
- SLX Lighting, Sound, Scenic Hire and Events [UK]
- Thomann [Germany, Europe]
- Warwick Corporate Events [Devon, UK]
Unions / Associations
- AAPTLE Alliance of Associations & Professionals in Theatre and Live Events [UK]
- ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians) Training, Advice, Membership [London, UK]
- Actors Equity [American actors and stage managers] [USA]
- ALIA Australasian Lighting Industry Association [Australasia]
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers [USA]
- Association of Sound Designers [UK]
- BECTU Broadcasting, Entertainment & Cinematograph Trade Union (UK) [London, UK]
- LPA Live Performance Australia
- MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA)
- NCDT (National Council for Drama Training) [London, UK]
- PLASA UK Professional Lighting & Sound Association [UK]
- Skillset [London, UK]
- USITT United States Institute for Theatre Technology [USA]