Signal To Noise Podcast

Latest Episodes:

284. The “Hows & Whys” Of RF Coordination Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Picking up where they left off in Episode 282, Sean and Andy dig deeper into the “hows and whys” of wireless system frequency coordination, addressing issues such as whether it’s ever OK to just scan on the receiver, an overview of the differences between the Shure Wireless Workbench and SoundBase Coord platforms, the reasons why it’s always a good idea to do your own frequency scan with an analyzer, which inexpensive analyzers you can trust (and which you can’t — and why!), and more. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Be sure to register for Live Sound Nashville on March 11, where you can check out the annual Live Sound International Loudspeaker Demo, hear talks by Jim Yakabuski, Sawyer Dickenson, Wayne Pauley, and much more! Use code “SAVE10” at https://livesound.regfox.com/live-sound-nashville to take $10 off the already low $30 registration!

Episode Links:
Signal to Noise, Episode 282: Focus on Monitoring
Pete Erskine’s “RF Coordination for Roadies” (PDF)
Shure Video: What is Intermodulation?
Shure — All About Wireless: Intermodulation Distortion
Video: Basics of Resolution Bandwidth and Video Bandwidth in a Spectrum Analyzer
Practical Show Tech Videos:
Intro to RF Coordination Using SoundBase
RF Coordination Using SoundBase, Part 2
SoundBase Offline RF Coordination Features, Part 3
WWB RF Coordination Process for a Made-Up Mega Convention Show
IAS RF Coordination Process for a Made-Up Mega Convention Show
Lunch with Pete: A Show RF Coordination Process
Episode 284 Transcript

Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!

Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

283. “All Things Audio” From The 2025 NAMM Show Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Fresh back from the 2025 North American Music Merchants (NAMM) Show in Anaheim, CA, Andy and Sean compare notes on all the cool new audio things they saw there, including loudspeakers, in-ear monitors, plugins, consoles, and everything in between. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.

Episode Links:
Korneff Audio Shure Level-Loc Plugin
Dark Matter Audio Labs IEMs
Allen & Heath SQ Rack
TT+ Audio GTX Line Array System
Sound Devices Astral Wireless Family
Shure Axient Digital PSM & Nexadyne Microphones
d&b CL-Series Compact Cardioid Line Array
Episode 283 Transcript

The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.

Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:

1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”

2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

282. Focus On Monitoring Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 282, Sean and Andy pick up where they left off last time, answering some follow-up questions they’ve received on gain staging for monitor mixes, other tips and tricks for clean and clear in-ear monitors, as well as how to make the most “bang for your buck” improvements to wireless microphones and monitors. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
If you’re going to the NAMM, be sure to find Sean and Andy and say hi! More events will be announced on the Discord and Facebook groups as it gets closer, but if you’re there on Saturday, January 25, they’ll be doing a meet-and-greet and helping give away a CQ mixer at Allen & Heath’s booth at 11 am Pacific!
Episode Links:
Discord Conversation On In-Ear Mixes
Drew Brashler “Monitor Mixing — Making IEM Mixes Better: What is Occlusion?”
Eddie Caipo “Finding the Sweet Spot: Getting the Desired Vocal Sound in IEM Mixes”
Tim Wendelboe Coffee
Episode 282 Transcript
Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

281. Tips & Tricks For A Speedy Mix, Part 2 Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

In the final episode of 2024, Sean and Andy pick up where they left off last time (Episode 280) in rounding out some baseline tips for getting a rocking mix going fast — compressors, effects, and general mixing advice abound as their last holiday gift to everyone out there listening! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Episode Links:
Episode 230: Sean’s Go-To Effects
Episode 236: Pat Brown on Gain Structure
Episode 273: Ben Ivey
Episode 280: Tips & Tricks Part 1
Episode 281 Transcript
Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

280. Tips & Tricks For A Speedy Mix Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 280, Sean and Andy take it back to basics, and offer some advice for folks early in their live sound journey to help speed through sound check and get a band dialed in more quickly. From setting gains to EQ and compressors, the hosts share a bunch of tips and tricks they’ve learned along the way from all sorts of smart folks in both the live audio and recording worlds. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Episode Links:
ProSoundWeb Study Hall: Mixing & Consoles
Episode 280 Transcript
Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

279. Blasting Super Loud Sound At Spacecraft & Satellites! Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 279, the hosts learn all about Direct Field Audio Testing, or as one of this week’s guests put it, “Blasting super loud sound at spacecraft and satellites!” This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Many listeners will be familiar with Maryland Sound International (MSI), the sound company best known for its work on large-scale events like New Year’s Eve in Times Square, the U.S. Presidential Inauguration, and many more. Fewer know of their sister company, Maryland Sound International — Direct Field Audio Testing (MSI-DFAT), which specializes in turning touring and sound reproduction expertise into creating portable, on-demand acoustic testing labs for spaceships, satellites, and other aerospace devices, replacing much more expensive reverberant chamber facility-based testing. If you thought concert PA systems were loud, wait until you hear about pummeling spaceships with 150-plus dB SPL levels to make sure they’re safe for launch and orbit!
Guest Alessandro “Alex” Carrella, VP Strategy & Growth at MSI-DFAT, has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Naples (Italy) and was awarded a PhD in Structural Dynamics at the ISVR (University of Southampton, UK). He’s now completing his EMBA at the Universite Louvain-la-Neuve. Alex was a lecturer in Structural Dynamic at the Dept of Aerospace at the University of Bristol. From 2011 to 2020 he worked in different roles to develop testing solutions for the aerospace industry at Siemens (formerly LMS) in Leuven (Belgium). He has become a referent point for the space industry for vibration and acoustic testing, and has been a leading figure in advancing DFAT practices is an active member of the space testing community. Alex has joined MSI-DFAT to lead its international operations and is now shaping MSI’s future as VP for Strategy & Growth.
Guest Bradley Hope, U.S. Business Development Manager at MSI-DFAT, holds a wealth of experience in acoustic and vibration test engineering and enterprise-level customer relationship management, within the global aerospace industry. Trained under the guidance of vibro-acoustic specialists at Siemens Digital Industries Software, coupled with his passion for business and intrapreneurship, Bradley brings deep commercial expertise to the MSI-DFAT team. Having collaborated closely with clients on a range of complex projects across PLM, CAD, CAE Simulation, and Test Engineering, he possesses a strong understanding of the unique requirements and consistent evolution of the space, aircraft and defense industries. Bradley is enthusiastic about supporting the customer-partners of the Maryland Sound International-Direct Field Acoustic Test (MSI-DFAT) company in its Direct Field Acoustic Noise testing campaigns.
Episode Links:
MSI-DFAT | Direct Field Acoustic Testing
MSI-DFAT on Instagram
“NASA’s Successful Quantifying of Comedy Timing” by Penn Jillette and Teller
Episode 279 Transcript
Connect with the community on the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and th

278. Brian Grahn Of Clear-Com Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

Brian Grahn, joins the show in Episode 278 to talk about all things Clear-Com. He clears up a lot of mysteries about Arcadia, HelixNet, and Freespeak, lets us in on the new cloud-based Gen-IC Virtual Intercom, and sheds some light on common problems and tricks to getting the most out of good ol’ fashioned two-wire partyline intercoms, and more.
Brian started as a musician, which quickly turned into working as a bar/club sound engineer, and then in turn to running his own company and working variously as a mixer, RF coordinator, comms tech, project manager, and technical producer. He eventually joined on with past Signal to Noise guest TC Furlong as sales and marketing manager before moving to the manufacturer side, where he’s been the Southwest US regional sales manager for Clear-Com since 2022.
Episode Links:
Clear-Com Solution Finder
Brian On Instagram
Episode 270, Justin Tyre and Stephen Bailey of ProdCom
Episode 229: Joe Palermo, The Polar Express Ride Experience
Episode 278 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

277. 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

In a bonus Episode 277, the Signal To Noise community presents it’s first-ever holiday gift guide. Join hosts Sean and Andy as well as a parade of past guests, friends, and listeners with gift suggestions for your favorite sound engineer/production tech to meet every budget, from $10s to $1000s. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Episode Links:
Article With Links: The Signal To Noise Podcast 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Episode 277 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

276. Multifaceted Live Audio Professional Jason Waggoner Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

Seattle-based globe-trotting sound engineer Jason Waggoner joins the show in Episode 276 and talks about the many twists and turns of his career in live audio. From e-sport tournaments to Formula 1 racing, theatre to corporate events to concerts, mixing to systems engineering, and even helping to build the U.S. tech support and education branch of a major loudspeaker manufacturer, there’s not much in live audio Jason hasn’t done. This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Jason’s also the founder of HOBER, an entertainment production company focused on immersive technologies for live experiences to enhance storytelling and audience impact. His 25 years in the entertainment industry include extensive experience in theatre, live, corporate, private, and experiential entertainment.

Episode Links:
HOBER
Jason On LinkedIn
Episode 276 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

275. Luke McRitchie & Brian Maddox On Mixing For The 2024 Paris Olympics Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

Luke McRitchie and Brian Maddox join the show in Episode 275 to talk about their experience working together as mixers for the Olympic Broadcasting Service’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. They share what it’s like mixing up to 16 simultaneous broadcast channels at once for one of the largest viewing audiences in the world, as well as insights into making the leap from a full-time staff position to freelance work, and how the Signal to Noise Discord community directly led to Luke flying to join the Olympics team with barely a day’s notice! This episode is sponsored by Allen & Heath and RCF.
Episode Links:
Brian On Previous STN Episodes: 151, 243 and 244
The Infamous Viral Olympic Chocolate Muffins
Brian’s video tour of the public parts of their Olympic Broadcasting Service offices
Episode 275 Transcript
Be sure to check out the Signal To Noise Facebook Group and Discord Server. Both are spaces for listeners to create to generate conversations around the people and topics covered in the podcast — we want your questions and comments!
Also please check out and support The Roadie Clinic, Their mission is simple. “We exist to empower & heal roadies and their families by providing resources & services tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.”
The Signal To Noise Podcast on ProSoundWeb is co-hosted by pro audio veterans Andy Leviss and Sean Walker.
Want to be a part of the show? If you have a quick tip to share, or a question for the hosts, past or future guests, or listeners at home, we’d love to include it in a future episode. You can send it to us one of two ways:
1) If you want to send it in as text and have us read it, or record your own short audio file, send it to signal2noise@prosoundweb.com with the subject “Tips” or “Questions”
2) If you want a quick easy way to do a short (90s or less) audio recording, go to https://www.speakpipe.com/S2N and leave us a voicemail there

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