1) You are mixing FOH at a venue that has a 90 db A weighted limit, averaged over 10 minute intervals, maximum 20 db peaks, measured from FOH mix position, which of the following would be a valid approach for achieving the best sounding show?
Make a point of introducing yourself to the sound monitoring person, find out the rules and show interest in their job.
Radio to production for a case of beer and a bottle of Jack.
Yell obscenities and stomp around like a little kid.
Ignore the irritating sound cop and crank it up.
Go back to the bus.

2) Really old sound gear does not actually sound that great:
Unless it has tubes which means that it sounds amazing.
Unless it looks cool, which means it sounds amazing.
Age is not as relevant as the quality of the design.
True.

3) Big huge mics are better because they capture more sound:
Of course.
Especially if they have a tube.
No, but they definitely fall over easier on a tripod stand.
Yikes.

4) A large scale digital console is best suited for:
Replacing a smaller, lighter, less expensive analog console on a tour that ships worldwide and only one engineer uses it.
A rental company to put on festivals so all the engineers can share one console and learn to use it at the same time.
Award shows with multiple acts and cues and the producers wont let the band engineers touch the consoles anyway
All of the above because it will make the band sound better.


5) When mixing a show you:
Lean over the console constantly turning knobs and must not be disturbed.
Dial up the mix, hit your cues and make minor adjustments during the show.
Drink beer and hang out with your friends.
Watch the band intently because you are a monitor engineer


6) A friend once told me "when mixing, never face an audience of 10,000 people without a beer and a cigarette", his advice means:
You should take up smoking and drinking while you work
Mix with your feet.
Never panic, a relaxed and confident engineer will mix a better show.
May as well enjoy yourself because the band can't hear your mix or see you anyway.


7) Before your show starts you:
Hang with your friends and drink beer.
Do a quick check to make sure all is in order.
Change into your 'Show Clothes'.
Turn everything up a bit, just in case.
All of the above.

8) Feedback from stage:
Usually builds quicker and more aggressively than feedback from the mains.
Is the only place it comes from.
Is the only chance for the monitor engineer to get in a "solo"

9) Studio gear is better than live sound gear because:
It usually costs more, does less and takes up more space in the rack.
Is better designed because live gear manufacturers do not know the "studio secret design techniques".
Is called studio gear because it is big heavy and wastes space, if it was small, light and compact, it would be "live gear"
All of the above.

10) Recent breakthroughs in Bass DI technology has increased the size and cost of the Bass DI fivefold, these advances are:
New electronics designs and technologies
Utilizing the same technology that makes compressors large
Impossible to actually hear but they look cool.
Awesome, who makes them?

11) Having a tall sound riser is important because:
It is my sound stage, baby!
It is easier to scan the audience for a date
It is important to hear the sound way up high above the heads of the people you are mixing for, even if it is totally different that what the audience hears.
It is the way it is done
It actually may not be the best idea.

12) Would you rather have:
A sound system that sounds amazing at mix position but poor everywhere else
A system that sounds mediocre but its coverage is smooth and consistent throughout the audience of the entire venue
The newest revolutionary PA that you saw in a magazine but have yet to hear
The biggest PA you can get

13) The most important characteristics of a world class sound engineer is:
Instilling confidence to the band that every show will sound as good as humanly possible.
Reinvesting a portion of your salary into paying random people $20 to tell the band it sounded great
Quality sound and show to show consistency regardless of system type, venue size or personal issues.
How many companies give you free gear
Hamming it up for pictures in sound magazines

14) The common practice of having the back-line techs play all the instruments through the main sound system, full blast, right before the band plays is necessary:
Because even though the band sound checked 4 hours ago, having the back-line techs play the instruments may offer totally new and critical info to your mix.
Because the audience needs to get mentally prepared for the show by listening to 30 kick drum beats and the beginning of "Freebird" half a dozen times.
For engineers who cant afford headphones and have no idea of how to acoustically compensate for the audience arriving, using house music.
Because it is truly your only chance to demonstrate your amazing sound prowess before the band steals your spotlight.

15) When mixing a show and you really have to take a piss you:
Go take a piss, "when you gotta go, you gotta go"
Act nonchalant as you fill up every empty container in sight
Try and make the mad dash between songs

16) While mixing the show, do you make the time to listen to the sound outside of the mix area?
No, you are always too busy turning all those knobs
Never thought of it
Every time you are in a new venue
You play hide and seek with the band ducking down in the crowd and popping up in various places.
Only when you have to take a piss

17) Your mix sounds amazing because:
You use a lot of expensive outboard gear
You have lots and lots of inputs from stage
You use a really huge mixing board
All of the above

18) There was an imaginary concert that sounded really really bad, the most probable cause was:
Lack of fancy tube compressors with big knobs.
A $10,000 studio effect that was needed was not available on this continent.
One of the 7 high hat mics stopped working right before the show started.
The human standing surrounded by all those lights and knobs.

19) It is important to "limit" those support acts because:
Just in case the support engineer can mix better, at least he/she will not be as loud.
It is easier than asking them to mix at a reasonable level.
Support engineers look cute when they are angry
Only when they suffer from CFC disease (Chronic Fader Creep)

20) Running pink noise through the sound system is important for:
Helping to find some of the hot spots and holes when eq'ing the sound system.
Its calming effect on the lampi's in the truss.
Letting the air out of the sound system and avoiding over-pressurization.
All of the above.

21) The best music to tune a sound system to is:
Steeley Dan.
Dire Straights, 'Money for Nothing' .
Your side project band
Some music that sounds even remotely similar tonally to the show you are mixing
Tenacious D .

22) When an audience member takes it upon themselves to critique your mix and tell you they cant hear the vocals, during the show, you:
Have them thrown out by security
Make excuses blaming the system, the techs, the band and where they were sitting
Listen, smile and say thank you.
Go ahead and un-mute the lead vocal mic and turn it up slowly

23) You are mixing the largest show of the bands' and your own career. The PA company hired for the show, in an attempt to get a jump on load out, inadvertently unplugs your console from the main system after you tested the everything, right as your band walks on stage. To your horror you see what looks like and is one of your band members jumping around but no sound is coming out of the PA. Who is ultimately responsible for the screw up?
You, because you are responsible for the sound no matter what
The PA tech that unplugged the console
The PA company department head for letting it happen
Not sure but that sucks!
The real issue is "who is gonna pay for the console" that you accidentally flipped and began jumping on top of, after it happened.

24) As a sound 'engineer' you share a common title with many other professionals in the highly advanced society we live in. Which of the following other engineering jobs do you feel most qualified to perform, given the experience and knowledge you acquired to earn you the impressive title 'engineer'?
Design a cost effective 5 foot wide wooden bridge that will safely support up to 32 oxen, spanning a 30 foot wide river
Design a simple 8 bit microprocessor capable of doing basic mathematical functions
Do a structural analysis and determine the maximum safe wind velocity upon a 62 story building.
Drive a train
Describe the method of grafting DNA strains to help increase disease tolerance of soybeans.

25) The show was flawless, the audience memorized, spontaneous cheers and standing ovations and you are standing at the sound board and the thought running through your mind is:
Man, my job sucks, cant wait to get to the bus.
Wish I had a 9 to 5 desk job with a suit and tie.
Man, if my mom only bought me guitar, I could be up there.
Wonder if McDonalds is hiring.
If I only had five more inputs!
Well, maybe this sound thing ain't so bad after all