What are the best audio editing tools for live event sound production?

Live event sound production is a dynamic field that requires precision and adaptability. Whether you're mixing for a concert, conference, or any other live event, having the right audio editing tools at your disposal is crucial. These tools must not only provide high-quality sound but also be robust enough to handle the complexities of a live environment. In this article, you'll discover some of the top audio editing tools that can help you deliver an impeccable auditory experience to your audience.

1 Essential Features

When selecting audio editing tools for live events, you must look for features that cater to real-time processing and flexibility. Tools that offer a wide range of input and output options, support for various audio formats, and low-latency processing are invaluable. Additionally, the ability to quickly adjust equalization, add effects, and control dynamics on the fly can significantly enhance the live sound. The ease of use is also a critical factor, as you need to be able to make adjustments swiftly and accurately during the event.

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Fiona Ritchie MBE DHumLitt

Broadcaster, Writer, Producer
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I have always used Pro Tools (Avid) which provides every function required in my studio. It is intuitive to use and easily managed for importing sound files, editing, mixing and exporting completed productions.

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Del Mize

Pro musician, Songwriter, Studio owner
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Depends on the if your mixing analog or digital. Some folks still use the tried and true analog desks. For analog, all the obvious outboard gear with a couple of PCM92’s, H4000’s and whatever is on the artists rider. Digital - I prefer the WAVES plugin bundles with Soundgrid for processing. It’s like bringing the studio to the gig. For master EQ I still prefer the White 4650’s or Klark-Teknik DN360’s. They are Super ez to get to quick. I will also duplicate my analog EQ settings in the console GEQ so I can save it for returning to the venue.

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2 Digital Workstations

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are foundational in live event sound production. They allow you to mix, edit, and process audio with a level of control that's essential for live settings. A good DAW should provide a stable platform with an intuitive interface that enables real-time adjustments and automation. It should also be compatible with a range of hardware interfaces and controllers, giving you the flexibility to set up your sound environment exactly as needed for each unique event.

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Del Mize

Pro musician, Songwriter, Studio owner
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I think we’d all agree that Avid Pro Tools is the standard for most situations. It is the most widely used. It’s very easy to import artists multi tracks for performance playback or virtual sound checks.

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3 Sound Effects

Incorporating sound effects into a live event can add depth and excitement to the experience. Look for tools that offer a comprehensive library of sounds and the ability to trigger them seamlessly during a performance. The tool should allow for on-the-fly adjustments to the volume, pitch, and timing of effects to ensure they blend perfectly with the live audio. The ability to layer and customize effects in real-time is also a feature that can greatly enhance your sound production capabilities.

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Darren Taylor

Producer @ Substation
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giving a signal boost via limiter/compression hardware and/or software can pump more power into the speakers at a live event - this is also useful when mastering a studio recording

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Del Mize

Pro musician, Songwriter, Studio owner
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Typically, I don’t use sound effects unless there are some in the artists program material or it is requested. Most of the time these are downloaded and come in varying degrees of loudness. This means you have to ride the fader(s) to keep it consistent. If SFX were something we used in a production, we would typically put them into an Ableton sequence to manage it.

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4 Mixing Consoles

Mixing consoles are the heart of live sound production, providing hands-on control over every aspect of the audio. While the choice of console will depend on the specific needs of each event, it's important to have one that offers enough channels to accommodate all your inputs, as well as powerful equalization and effects routing capabilities. The console should also have an intuitive layout that allows for quick adjustments during the event, ensuring that you can respond to any audio challenges that arise.

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5 Monitoring Tools

Effective monitoring is crucial for managing live sound, and having tools that provide clear and accurate feedback on the audio output is essential. Look for monitoring tools that offer precise metering, spectrum analysis, and phase correlation checks. These tools should help you identify and fix issues like feedback, phase problems, or frequency imbalances before they affect the live sound. Good monitoring ensures that your audience hears the best possible audio quality throughout the event.

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Darren Taylor

Producer @ Substation
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one thing that is often overlooked is the phase transition between microphones/instruments, ie. when a singer or instrumentalist is recorded via a microphone or pickup/cable the pathway between the devices involved inverts so the recording is not a true image of the original sound - phase invert applications or hardware can correct this to allow a true recording

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6 Portability and Reliability

Lastly, the portability and reliability of your audio editing tools are key considerations for live events. You need tools that are easy to transport and set up in different venues, as well as durable enough to withstand the rigors of travel and live performance conditions. Reliability is also paramount; tools that offer backup options and redundancy can save you from potential disasters during a live event. Ensuring that your tools are both portable and reliable will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on delivering an excellent audio experience.

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Darren Taylor

Producer @ Substation
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the audio production tool ableton offers hotlinks, which trigger the softwares features such as punch in/out and tracks and effect/filters (etc...) , from both keyboard and MIDI hardware to assist both live and studio performances

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best audio editing tools for live event sound production?

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Essential Features

2 Digital Workstations

3 Sound Effects

4 Mixing Consoles

5 Monitoring Tools

6 Portability and Reliability

7 Here’s what else to consider

Live Events

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What are the best audio editing tools for live event sound production?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Essential Features

2 Digital Workstations

3 Sound Effects

4 Mixing Consoles

5 Monitoring Tools

6 Portability and Reliability

7 Here’s what else to consider

Live Events

Rate this article

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