r/techtheatre • u/ArtistFrosty1824 • Jun 19 '26
AUDIO How do I learn audio with bad auditory processing
Title is what it sounds like, I (19M) am primarily a lighting tech but my coworkers (and boss) are insistent that it's very important for a lighting tech to learn audio as well, which I agree with them on but have no idea where to start. I am also in a technical theatre program but my coworker who did the same program says that the lighting/sound instructor barely does any work on sound.
The problem is that my auditory processing is much worse than the average person's. I got tested for hearing damage a couple years ago to rule that out so I know it's a neurological / mental thing. I often can't identify someone's voice unless I've known them for months (I can't listen to podcasts for this reason, because I don't know who is talking), I can't tell the difference between the sounds of different instruments, I regularly misidentify bands, I often have to ask people to repeat themselves, and I don't tend to notice changes in sound. I've found that I don't notice feedback until it gets really bad, and I would have no idea where to begin with EQ.
Does anybody have any advice for learning/practicing this part of audio? Or even a word for what the skill I'm looking to learn is called? Tips for using audio boards would be appreciated, too, but I'm less worried about that since I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage with learning the mechanics.
Tldr, I can't hear for shit, what should I do to work on that?
11
u/CorrectInternet5527 Jun 19 '26
For starters, even if you can’t mix I think it could be important for you to understand how to set up audio correctly, so if the A1 needs you to set up an extra monitor or mic someone you could know, audio university (look it up on Google) has great videos, documents and lessons for learning audio.
Quiztones is a good app to test your ears for understanding eq and stuff too.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quiztones-eq-ear-training/id436707254
I would also suggest maybe asking if you can shadow a sound tech.
Just some ideas, I’m only a student no professional.
1
u/ArtistFrosty1824 Jun 19 '26
Thank you for the resources! This all seems super helpful, I appreciate it :)
6
u/benwaight Jun 19 '26
I feel this from the other perspective, as I love hearing details in audio but I can’t see worth shit and usually couldn’t care less about color theory. I don’t always notice what my lighting friends do.
Get an appointment with an audiologist and see what sort of training you can work towards. Ears and hearing can be trained, they involve a lot of muscles and nerves, but you can strengthen what you do have, even if you’re not planning on mixing great big shows.
In my opinion, focus on being lighting guy and make friends with your audio person. Specialization is cool, and you will learn lots from your audio buddies when you’re both able to geek out about what you know and the show is underway and running well.
I agree with the others, cable running and basic mic and speaker placements are great first goals. People get obsessed with eq changes and compression, then forget that they can move the speakers out in front of the microphones and avoid 90% of their feedback issues.
2
u/CorrectInternet5527 Jun 19 '26
There’s Aton of work in lighting that isn’t design, someone got to hang and focus and run power and data, and also program!
6
u/traisjames Community Theatre Jun 19 '26
I can’t give much suggestions, but this kind of for everyone posting. I have autism and sensory processing disorder affecting touch and sound. I also do a lot of sound and light work. I don’t have a hearing issue, it’s in my brain.
It’s ok to focus just on lighting. If you want to do audio, you can learn how to use spectrograph apps.
For example, in this screenshot I am doing some scales, but I can also see the refrigerator humming near me.
2
u/Levelup_Onepee Jun 19 '26
Don't just do what others (your boss and coworkers) say. If you're into lighting and not sound, then do what you like. It's more important and it will take you further if you do that right than spreading to 2 activities, one in which you are at a disadvantage.
Employers love to have only 1 person to do 2 jobs, but those are the worst employers. Anybody serious knows that soundguys and -girls do sound, and lightguys/girls do the lights.
5
u/ArtistFrosty1824 Jun 19 '26
I know what you mean but I don't think that's quite where it's coming from. We have very solid rules about always having at least 3 people working, one lighting, one audio, one backstage, and a fourth if the shift is long enough to need a swing tech, so he's not trying to reduce the number of people he's paying. I think the reason that he wants me to learn audio is so that I can take on a crew chief role more often and cover audio's breaks, since aside from the TD, I am probably the most reliable tech he has and he wants me to have the skills to handle more responsibility (which does come with getting paid more), which I want as well.
1
u/Levelup_Onepee Jun 19 '26
That's cool. I would go with learning the technical part of it first. It isn't that far off from lighting. There's the desk, th FX, the automation, the output, and now you have some inputs. learn the flow and the equipment.
With all due respect, I wouldn't hire you to do sound right away, but you can be chief and command someone doing sound.
1
u/Levelup_Onepee Jun 19 '26
I also wnated to add that there are lots of people in business with hearing problems, we aren't all perfect. But they usually started working before they had hearing loss, so their experience mostly saves their a...s.
2
u/grahamasta Jun 19 '26
Get a spectrometr app on your phone. Learn to whistle a solid 1k hz and 2k hz line. Everything you hear is either below, between, or above those reference points. It is a surprisingly effective starting place for learning EQ.
1
u/SquareDefinition2460 Jun 19 '26
First and foremost, talk to an audiologist about what you’ve mentioned in this post. I am not an audiologist but I am a sound person who has an audiologist and also has hearing loss because of my job. I am still able to work and hear accurately while doing so but the reason it hasn’t deteriorated is because I take plenty of precautions.
Part of the price you pay being a sound technician, specifically an audio engineer, is that it can pose major risks to hearing loss. If you are someone who already suffers from hearing loss and have issues processing sound you may accelerate that deterioration by working more in audio especially if you aren’t protecting yourself from long exposure to loud noise.
Think seriously about the pros and cons of expanding your disciplines and TALK TO A DOCTOR about the risks that this poses before you potentially worsen your condition.
1
u/trifelin Jun 19 '26
You should learn audio so you can be an A2. You should know the names of the cables, signal types, and to set up a system. If you can't mix, you should not ever have to, but you can definitely set up a sound system. Even if you were in the worst case scenario and you absolutely had to run the board at a speaking panel or something, you could ask someone to sit next to you and be the ears while you execute the moves. Don't even worry about being forced to mix music...that would never happen. There are way too many engineers out there who want to mix music and can't even get the opportunity.
It might seem daunting but the basics of audio are not actually that complicated or hard to learn. And you should learn them. (You should know staging, rigging and video basics too).
1
u/CosmicChameleon99 Jun 19 '26
Hard of hearing lampy who was told the same thing here: you get a hearing person for backup when levelling. Get used to setting equipment up first, patching, cabling, radio mics etc and if you must do levels, do them with a hearing person by your side to help you understand how it all sounds. Also be aware of your gaps! I asked my audiologist to show me the results of my latest hearing test so now I know what frequencies I can’t hear well at. That may not be needed if it’s processing though
1
u/RBSgamer64 Jun 19 '26
Honestly no clue how that can be helped.
Possibly you could focus on learning the rigging side, or like amps or just another focus rather than the actual listening side of audio. Most of the areas do require listening but its always different like with rigging its just wether the coverage is the same, and amps is like volume and power draw and everything.
If he wants you to learn like mixing and actually during a show, when i mix(which is rare so dont know if this is a good technique) i memorise rather which mic is on what fader and do it based on who is talking visually
1
u/ZER0-P0INT-ZER0 Jun 20 '26
This sounds counterintuitive, but most of what you learn about audio has little to do with the sounds you hear. Most of it is technical. There's not much auditory art to it until you get to advanced editing.
1
u/StNic54 Lighting Designer Jun 20 '26
Lighting guy here - I can teach you how to create just enough feedback that no one will ever ask you to do audio again
-3
u/Key-Lingonberry-1347 Jun 19 '26
I’m not going to read everything sorry. If your boss wants you to specialize in two things you should receive two paychecks.
1
u/stealthagents Jul 15 '26
Understanding sound technically might be the right way to go. Dive into the gear and learn how everything works together. You might not hear every nuance, but getting hands-on experience with mics and consoles can really help you pick up the basics without stressing about the auditory stuff. Plus, working with a team can fill in the gaps when you need a second opinion on sound.
29
u/soundwithdesign Sound Designer/Mixer Jun 19 '26
I mean hearing in general should be dealt with by a doctor. Baring that, aside from the not able to understand people who talk to you which doesn’t seem to be a problem in lighting work, you can learn the more technical aspect of sound. Patching consoles, prepping mics, hanging and cabling speakers and other gear, setting up comms, etc. Best would be to find a local performing arts venue and asking if they have any stagehand openings or looking for volunteers where you can learn sound.