This is a real question technicians should ask in preparation for a concert.
Like many, I have a reasonable acoustic auditorium – not incredible, not bad by any stretch. As such, our production staff often supplements the acoustic sound of the choir with unobtrusive area mics. But over time, those mic levels get louder and louder, right to the edge of the headroom available before feedback.
To me, this goes against what I want to hear from an acoustic choral concert. I want the preponderance of sound for the audience to be heard acoustically from the stage. I want the students to feel like they are creating the sound that is heard. I want the direct connection that can only be felt with acoustic sound transmission. I want it to not feel amplified.
In filling in as an auditorium staff member today, I am working hard to ask and answer that question for myself, and I’ll be communicating it clearly to the student who will run the sound board during the concert. Additionally, I’m communicating this question as an essential starting place in preparing for the concert.
What should it sound like?
Artists don’t need to answer in technical terms – that’s the technician’s job. Artists need only communicate the feeling and impression they want to give, and then the technicians should work hard to execute it.
I’m confident that with sufficient communication and practice, the sound of the concerts I conduct will reflect the sound I imagine – but only if we ask the question. *
* this question is also fundamental to recording projects!