Tuning for your PA System or Sound System

When setting up a PA system it can be a real challenge to 'tune' your set-up to sound right in any given room.  This particularity applies when you're setting up from scratch with new amps, crossovers, speakers that you've not used previously.  Any given speaker will have a different frequency response, different optimal crossover points, and so on.  Different amps will exhibit different amounts of gain.  And of course, different rooms will have modes, surfaces and reflections to consider.
In these cases it's very hard just to use your ears to set up the system.  After a few minutes of listening, ears can 'adjust' to a particular sound, and your system can end up sounding wrong.  If you have no choice, it's best to take a short break and come and listen again.  But there are other tools out there to help.  One of which is the real time analyser, or RTA.
In basic terms, this is a device, or software application, that splits the sound into different wavelengths, and measures their relative intensity.
The application I tend to use is call True RTA.  It can be installed on a laptop for portable use, but is best used with a good quality condenser or measurement microphone, rather than the built in laptop mic.

True RTA real time analyser

Real time analysers can be used in a live setting for fine tuning a system response.  Playing pink noise through the system provides one method of analysis.  Some programs like True RTA also provide a sweep tone, which can give further insight into the frequency response of the system, and also to some extend the room modes.

True RTA in use on an outdoor festival

If you are interested in fine tuning your PA System, whether in the UK, Africa, or US, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.  I offer Sound System tuning to churches, schools, colleges, and other music venues.