Overview 

This standard is about sourcing sound equipment. You will need to agree what items and equipment such as microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, mixing consoles, control equipment and cables are required for the production and confirm the creative requirements and practical constraints that they must meet. You will also need to plan whether they will be hired, bought, made or borrowed and negotiating within budget. In addition, you will need to check incoming equipment against expectations.

This standard is for anyone involved with sourcing and obtaining sound equipment for productions.


Performance Criteria
You must be able to:

  1. draw up specifications for equipment and consumables that meet the requirements of sound designs
  2. obtain information on industry developments relating to equipment and its capabilities
  3. select the most appropriate equipment to meet production requirements, taking account of technical and financial factors and equipment availability
  4. check that planned choices and positions of equipment allow for intended staging of productions
  5. identify sources of equipment according to specifications, schedule and budget
  6. provide suppliers with complete specifications for systems including any special requirements 
  7. source quotes and assess information regarding potential suppliers against pre-agreed criteria
  8. agree terms and conditions for supplying equipment and items with suppliers that are in line with production and budget requirements
  9. comply with organisational procedures for sourcing, receiving and storing equipment
  10. check that the equipment meets agreed specifications
  11. take action to deal with any problems with supply or equipment in line with production processes
  12. monitor expenditure and budget use in line with organisational procedures, providing information to appropriate people when required
  13. work within budget constraints, using information to anticipate, recognise and deal with budget overspend

 

Knowledge and Understanding

You must know and understand:

  1. the importance of having an up-to-date copy of the sound plan and how to interpret this
  2. how to confirm creative requirements and practical constraints including sustainability
  3. types of equipment and what it can do including microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, mixing consoles, control equipment and cables
  4. sources of information on newly available equipment
  5. how to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of hiring, buying, making or borrowing equipment needed for sound designs
  6. where to obtain information about sources of supply, including hire companies
  7. where to obtain information about hirers policies on spares
  8. the importance of agreeing clear specifications for equipment and how to do so
  9. the documentation required for the supply of equipment and consumables
  10. how to negotiate cost effective terms
  11. the available budget and how to monitor its use
  12. the health and safety regulations regarding electricity, hazardous substances and using equipment and when to enforce them
  13. organisational procedures for sourcing, receiving and storing equipment
  14. the importance of checking deliveries against what has been ordered and how to do so
  15. the importance of checking equipment is working when it is received
  16. the problems that could happen with sourcing equipment and how to deal with  these