Mystageplan Glossary

Monitor

The speakers on stage directed at the band are called monitors. Through these the band can hear itself. In principle, every amplified instrument can be heard through the monitor. The monitor mixer arranges this per monitor group (usually this consists of two monitors).

DI

DI refers to Direct Input and via this junction box you can connect an instrument directly to the monitor table, without interference of an instrument amplifier.

FOH

FOH means Front Of House and refers to the mixing table in the hall. The accompanying technician is called the house mixer (a.k.a. FOH mixer). The other mixing table (the one on stage next to the small stairs leading to the dressing room) is the monitor mix and is operated by the stage mixer (a.k.a. monitor mixer).

Microphones

In conclusion: the most commonly used microphones are of the brand Shure. The SM 57 is suitable for instruments and the SM 58 is used for vocals.

Insert

An insert is an effect on a specific channel i.e. reverb, compression or gate.

Side fills

Side fills are the monitors that stand at the sides of the stage and are directed at the band. Drum fills are the monitors at eye level next to the drum riser. You have to indicate to the stage mixer what you want to hear on these monitors.

PA

PA refers to Public Address and concerns everything needed to amplify your sound or acoustic sound to the audience.

Backline

The backline consists of all the instruments and the related instrument amplifiers.

Rider

A Rider communicates all the details and particularities of an act to the organisation. Therefore, a stage plan, channel list, catering list, backline specification, etc are all part of a rider. This stack of paper is your rider and its goal is to prevent people from thinking that someone else will supply something or assuming others know things they don’t.

Stage Right, Stage Left

At concerts, the focal point is always from the stage in the direction of the hall. So if the stage manager talks about ‘stage left’ he means the right side of the stage as seen from the audience’s point of view.

Channel list

The list containing all instrument / effect channels. Every channel indicates a number, instrument, the mic (or DI) and which insert.