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Music vocabulary · Performance and Practice

Soundcheck

Meaning in music, with examples

/ˈsaʊndtʃek/nounCore term

In music, soundcheck means: A short session before a show, when the band plays on stage so that the sound engineer can set the levels for the audience and the monitors.

In Turkish: ses kontrolü, sound check

How it is used

Part of every gig day schedule: load-in, soundcheck, doors, show. Bands 'do a soundcheck' or 'have soundcheck at five'. Musicians ask for 'more vocals in my monitor' or 'less kick' during soundcheck. Also written 'sound check'.

Example sentences

  1. Soundcheck is at 5 p.m., and doors open at 8, so we have time to eat.

  2. During the soundcheck, the bassist asked for more kick drum in his monitor.

Common collocations

  • do a soundcheck
  • line check
  • soundcheck time
  • after soundcheck
  • soundcheck song
  • gigAn informal word for a live performance by a musician or band, especially a paid one in a bar, club or at an event.
  • microphoneA device that turns sound into an electrical signal so that it can be amplified or recorded. Dynamic and condenser microphones are the most common types.
  • setlistThe list of songs a band or artist plans to play at a show, in order. A 'set' is one continuous block of performance.
  • rehearsalA session in which musicians practise a piece or a show together before performing it for an audience.
  • EQShort for equalisation or equaliser: adjusting the balance of low, mid and high frequencies in a sound, or the tool that does this.

More terms: Performance and Practice

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