The Editor's 3 Dot Lounge
Is Live Sound strictly a "live sound" magazine?
Our regular readers likely already know the answer to this question...

By Keith Clark

I clearly recall when this publication was founded more than 12 years ago. At the time, I was working for one of the larger pro audio manufacturers, and during a meeting, the prospective publisher floated the idea of creating a media vehicle specifically to serve "concert" audio professionals.

My thoughts ran along the lines of "Well, maybe. It's not too bad an idea." So I tossed in my two cents, and frankly, two cents was probably more than my input was worth at the time.

My support of the concept came from a relatively simple viewpoint: during that period, there really wasn't a publication solely dedicated to this genre of the market. Many of the magazines were covering live-related news, generally larger concert tours, while others offered articles that weren't necessarily written with live folks in mind but were still applicable.

So a few months later, the inaugural issue of Live Sound International arrived on my desk, as a supplement of REP (Recording Engineer Producer) magazine. It was a feasible first effort, and as time passed, the publication strengthened it's process and steadily grew to be a strong self-supporting entity all its own.

The editorial focus, as promised, was strongly slated to the "concert" side of things and that remained the case over many years. But times have changed, and our views with them. It's important to recognize that "live sound" is a huge catchall adjective. What does the word "live" really mean? (I could also ask what "sound" means, but we won't go there...)

When you think about it, the vast majority of professional-caliber audio systems are used primarily for "live" applications. The podium microphone feeding the automixer feeding the powered loudspeaker allowing the pastor to be heard clearly is every bit as much a "live" system as the gear assembled for a tour by Bruce Springsteen. Both have the key ingredient at the front end -- the performance of at least one human being.

So the term "live" does indeed cut quite a wide swath. Stadium PA system? Live. Corporate boardroom system? Live. Club system fronted by a DJ? Live.

What you see now in Live Sound is editorial much more diverse than previous, because there's been realization that many of you might indeed be "concert" sound professionals but you also wear many other hats. Some of you are active with your church system, others do installation work in addition to supplying rental PA, others do recording work... the list could go on and on.

My point is that this magazine is intended to reflect as much of your professional lives as possible. We're proud of our heritage and remain true to it, but our focus has expanded. You'll see that continue as we go, seeking new, interesting and relevant facets of this business we all seem to love so strongly.

So -- are we a "live" magazine? The answer is a resounding yes, in as many of the definitions of the word that time and space allow.

July 2003 Live Sound International