CEA Live Sound & Event Production Flashcards
6 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CEA Live Sound & Event Production flashcards as text
What is a 'stage plot' in live event production?
Answer: A scale drawing showing the positions of musicians, equipment, and monitors on stage
A stage plot is a diagram provided by the performing act that shows where each performer and piece of equipment will be positioned on stage to guide the crew's setup.
What is 'time alignment' in a multi-speaker PA system?
Answer: Delaying certain speaker clusters so that sound from all sources arrives at the listener simultaneously
Time alignment uses delay to compensate for the physical distance differences between speakers, ensuring that sound from all parts of the system arrives at the listener at the same time to prevent comb filtering and imaging issues.
What is an 'input list' (or 'patch list') in a live sound context?
Answer: A numbered list of every audio source, its microphone or DI type, and its assigned console channel
An input list is a document that catalogs every audio input for a show, specifying the source, microphone/DI type, stand requirements, and console channel assignment.
What is 'subwoofer cardioid configuration' in a live PA system?
Answer: An arrangement of subwoofers using delay and polarity inversion to reduce rear-firing energy
Cardioid subwoofer arrays are created by combining forward-facing and rear-facing delayed subs to cancel low-frequency energy behind the array while reinforcing it in front.
What does 'SPL' stand for and how is it measured in live sound?
Answer: Sound Pressure Level — measured in decibels using a calibrated sound level meter
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is the acoustic pressure of sound relative to a reference, measured in dB using a calibrated SPL meter, often to comply with venue noise ordinances.
What is the purpose of a DI (Direct Injection) box in a live sound setup?
Answer: To convert a high-impedance unbalanced instrument signal to a low-impedance balanced signal suitable for a mixing console
A DI box matches impedance and converts an unbalanced high-impedance source (like a guitar or keyboard) to a balanced low-impedance signal that can travel long cable runs to the console without noise.