Production engineer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The production engineer (also known as an A1 in North America) is the person in theatre who is in charge of keeping the audio integrity of the production. This person may be responsible for anything and everything from the mixing of microphones to the playback of prerecorded sound effects and music to actually applying body mics to the actors, as well as maintaining the communication systems such as intercom and monitors. This position may or may not be filled by the show's sound designer. In smaller shows, this person's title may simply be sound operator.
The production engineer controls the mixing console during a performance. The engineer controls playback of any sound cues and mixes the show in the same way as a studio engineer would mix a band recording. The difference is that in theatre, they only get one chance to get it right for each performance. They also have to take into account differences in the cast, audience and the atmosphere so that the overall sound of the show remains at a near constant even though many variables fluctuate from show to show.
In an ideal situation, on a show large enough to warrant it, an assistant called an A2 helps the engineer in any way necessary. Typically an A2 keeps track of wireless microphones before, during, and after the performance as well as being available backstage to deal with any problems that arise so that the engineer does not have to leave the console to fix a problem. Radio mics or lavalier mics (a common term for microphones worn on the body), are commonly used in modern productions and are the responsibility of the A2. The A2 may also play an integral role in establishing and maintaining communication between all aspects of production using various intercom systems. In many situations, often due to a small show budget, this position does not exist at all, in which case much of the A2's responsibility will fall to the A1.
Shows which are still more complex may warrant more than one A2, or even a number of A3's.
