Help! What's a "Soundboard?"
Help! What's a "Soundboard?"
keen on kean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
#1Help! What's a "Soundboard?"
Posted: 1/13/08 at 2:19pmI've seen this term used a couple of times lately and don't know what it is. Just think of this question as "Broadway Jargon for Dummies," Chapter 2, Definitions. Thanks!
proptart101
Stand-by Joined: 2/26/06
#2re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 2:40pm
In Broadway parlance, the "soundboard" is the generic name for the sound mixing console and associated equipment that is used to mix the levels of the inputs from the actor's microphones, orchestra mics and direct inputs, and whatever playback (taped sound effects, etc.) is used for the show. All this equipment is most often found in the back of the orchestra, as close to center as possible.
The levels of the inputs are mixed as per the direction of the sound designer by the show's sound engineer then the signals are routed through amplifiers and to the speakers spread throughout the theater.
In a more general sense, the term "sound board" refers only to the mixing console itself.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood. "
- Tom Robbins
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#2re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 2:52pm
It that thing in the last row of the orchestra seats where a guy sits behind and fiddles with all those electronic sliders and buttons, etc. All shows have these so you can see it once you walk into orchestra seats level of each theatre.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#3re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 3:00pmSoundboard is also a term used to describe an unreleased (often illegal) audio recording of a show made by connecting a recording device directly to the soundboard.
#5re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 5:29pm
To simplify things even more...
Let us break down the work "soundboard"
It is the BOARD that controls the SOUND.
I thought a concise one sentence explanation would be helpful...
DaneSaw
Stand-by Joined: 5/31/07
#6re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 6:11pmI'm thinking the original poster was looking for morosco's definition. Just a hunch.
keen on kean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
#7re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 7:24pmDaneSaw - you're right. Posters have mentioned "hearing the soundboard" from shows. The console meaning is the one that makes sense to me, but :listening" to it did not. Thanks for everyone's help. There must be a lot of very good (illegal) stuff floating around out there!
LadyRosecoe
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/07
#8re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 7:26pmThe soundboards of yesteryear produced a clearer sounding bootleg than I've ever heard out of a Spring Awakening bootleg from yesterday.
#9re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:03pmI love how we openly post about bootlegs now. A LOT. The mods used to be really strict about it. But now they've moved onto other things.
#10re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:09pmLike it or hate it, the bootleg copies and soundboards are basically the only recordings made of Broadway. Without these surreptitious people (and imagine how hard it must have been back in the day to sneak in bulky film cameras) there would be absolutely no recorded history of many, many, many Broadway shows and stars.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#11re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:10pm
On that note -- I have an excellent soundboard recording of Barbra's final performance in FUNNY GIRL. Its the entire performance and its sensational to actually hear how the score really sounded like at the Winter Garden Theatre. Especially how different "Cornet Man" is actually performed on stage. For the cast recording they arranged it differently -- even Barbra sings it completely different on stage than in the cast recording.
I also have a full performance soundboard recording of Ethel's final performance in GYPSY on Broadway. Sad that Gypsy's strip dialogue didn't exist back then -- it was created and kept since for the 1974 revival with Angela.
Oh, and we can't forget to add the full show soundboard recording of CARRIE. Since technology noticeably improved since the 60's, this CARRIE audio sounds like an actual Original Cast Recording -- the quality is crisp and sharp like a professional recording. Only this recording is the ENTIRE show, so it surpasses a typical cast recording. 
#12re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:12pm
In response to Brody:
I have Ethel's Final Performance, and I have to say, the actual quality is still better than many things released today.
"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"
#13re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:12pm
I also have a full performance soundboard recording of Ethel's final performance in GYPSY on Broadway
- That's a great recording. And surprisingly good quality.
#15re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:14pmLjay, we definitely do.
"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"
#16re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:16pm
In fact, even many composer demo's are better quality than some of the recordings today. The demo for "Bells are Ringing" is very crisp and clear. I think it actually sounds better than the three songs released on the cast recording. Of course they are the same audio's, but I feel the original demo recording sounds better. Or maybe I'm just crazy. (I'm trying to refrain from using the obvious quote.)
"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"
Updated On: 1/13/08 at 08:16 PM
#17re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:17pmI agree with ljay889, thank god for soundboards.
He's a faker, and you've been taken in by his con. And in doing so, you are enabling him. He is doing more damage to aspergers than papa's words ever could. -Chane/Liverpool on me having asperger syndrome.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#18re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:17pm
"I love how we openly post about bootlegs now."
It'll be gone by tomorrow.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#19re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:17pm
Yessiree...and remember -- Ethel was never miked so what we're hearing on that soundboard recording is her audio being picked-up from those floor mics they used back in those days.
On Barbra's final performance soundboard recording, several times we can hear external audio being picked-up by the P.A. system. My special favorite is towards the end of the show when Barbra (Fanny) is having her finale' scene with Nick Arnstein and over the audio you audibly hear "...5 minutes for curtain call!".
Love this! 
#20re: Help! What's a 'Soundboard?'
Posted: 1/13/08 at 8:20pmThe Rent and Wicked soundboards are the only one's I have had (since I quit a while ago and never got offered the rare ones you guys talk about)
He's a faker, and you've been taken in by his con. And in doing so, you are enabling him. He is doing more damage to aspergers than papa's words ever could. -Chane/Liverpool on me having asperger syndrome.
Videos