1. Make preparations for audio set-up
   • Extract key information from audio installation plans and confirm requirements with supervisor
   • Correctly identify preferred rigging and positioning points for audio equipment
   • Correctly identify cables used to connect different audio components
   • Correctly identify and sort equipment and accessories in preparation for set-up, ensuring appropriate handling and taking account of equipment differences
2. Complete tasks using audio equipment
   • Correctly connect, disconnect and position audio system cables, including microphone, speaker, multicore and power feeds, in accordance with supervisor's instructions and safety requirements
   • Wire the audio system in correct sequence and confirm with supervisor
   • Set start up and operating settings in correct sequence and correctly use features of audio desk in accordance with instructions
   • Identify any problems with equipment promptly, take action within scope of individual responsibility or report to supervisor
   • Use positioning and equalising techniques to create optimum sound quality
   • Communicate appropriately with other technicians, performers or customers during the completion of tasks

Not applicable

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills

the general scope and potential of audio operations within different live production contexts eg theatre music corporate

the relationship between audio operations and other technical and performance areas including lighting vision systems and performance

typical roles and responsibilities of audio technicians in different contexts including different career paths

fundamentals of sound in a circuit including understanding that microphone level is to dB line level

features and meaning of a typical sound system signal flow chart including signal chains gain structure and levels

decibel levels and basic sound pressure level measurement including that frequency is measured in Hertz understanding the differences between Hz and kHz

understanding of phase including phase cancellation and that at degree phase difference signals do cancel each other out

common terminology used in relation to audio

key features purpose and basic operating procedures of major types of audio equipment including different types of loudspeakers audio mixing consoles signal processing equipment input source equipment and common accessories

different types of cable their usage in different situations and how to care for them including

microphone cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

speaker cables how to run safely and neatly and avoid lighting components

multicore cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

power cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

requirements for the storage of audio equipment

Occupational Health and Safety requirements and legislation that relate to audio personnel in particular with regard to working safely with electricity

literacy skills sufficient to extract key information from audio installation plans

numeracy skills sufficient to sort and count equipment

Linkages to other units

This unit underpins and has linkages to general technical units and all other audio units and combined training and assessment with those units may be appropriate eg

CUFSAFB Follow health safety and security procedures

CUFSAF01B - Follow health, safety and security procedures

CUETGEA Handle physical elements safely during bump inbump out

CUETGE11A - Handle physical elements safely during bump in/bump out

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit

recognition of sound equipment including key features and purpose

understanding of signal flow through the audio chain

completion of audiorelated tasks in accordance with health and safety procedures

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for

practical demonstration of skills through the completion of a range of preparatory and setup tasks with industrycurrent audio equipment

project or work activities that allow knowledge to be applied to specific production contexts and situations

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge and might include

direct observation of the candidate completing audiorelated tasks

evaluation of equipment which has been setup by the candidate

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of equipment and audio theory

review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups eg people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English remote communities and those with interrupted schooling

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to

a range of sound equipment as identified in the Range Statement

a sound system

an environment in which an audio system can be run

Key competencies in this unit

Key competencies are built into all workplace competencies The following table describes those applicable to this unit Trainers and assessors should ensure that they are addressed in training and assessment

Level Perform

Level Administer and Manage

Level Design and Evaluate

Collecting organising and analysing information

Reading audio plan to determine equipment required

Communicating ideas and information

Discussing work requirements with supervisor

Planning and organising activities

Positioning and placing equipment appropriately ready for installation

Working with others and in teams

Liaising with other technicians during setup

Using mathematical ideas and techniques

Calculating the number of cables required

Solving problems

Amending positioning of equipment to remove feedback problems

Using technology

Wiring the audio system

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills

the general scope and potential of audio operations within different live production contexts eg theatre music corporate

the relationship between audio operations and other technical and performance areas including lighting vision systems and performance

typical roles and responsibilities of audio technicians in different contexts including different career paths

fundamentals of sound in a circuit including understanding that microphone level is to dB line level

features and meaning of a typical sound system signal flow chart including signal chains gain structure and levels

decibel levels and basic sound pressure level measurement including that frequency is measured in Hertz understanding the differences between Hz and kHz

understanding of phase including phase cancellation and that at degree phase difference signals do cancel each other out

common terminology used in relation to audio

key features purpose and basic operating procedures of major types of audio equipment including different types of loudspeakers audio mixing consoles signal processing equipment input source equipment and common accessories

different types of cable their usage in different situations and how to care for them including

microphone cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

speaker cables how to run safely and neatly and avoid lighting components

multicore cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

power cables how to run safely and neatly and where to store excess

requirements for the storage of audio equipment

Occupational Health and Safety requirements and legislation that relate to audio personnel in particular with regard to working safely with electricity

literacy skills sufficient to extract key information from audio installation plans

numeracy skills sufficient to sort and count equipment

Linkages to other units

This unit underpins and has linkages to general technical units and all other audio units and combined training and assessment with those units may be appropriate eg

CUFSAFB Follow health safety and security procedures

CUFSAF01B - Follow health, safety and security procedures

CUETGEA Handle physical elements safely during bump inbump out

CUETGE11A - Handle physical elements safely during bump in/bump out

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit

recognition of sound equipment including key features and purpose

understanding of signal flow through the audio chain

completion of audiorelated tasks in accordance with health and safety procedures

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for

practical demonstration of skills through the completion of a range of preparatory and setup tasks with industrycurrent audio equipment

project or work activities that allow knowledge to be applied to specific production contexts and situations

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge and might include

direct observation of the candidate completing audiorelated tasks

evaluation of equipment which has been setup by the candidate

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of equipment and audio theory

review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups eg people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English remote communities and those with interrupted schooling

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to

a range of sound equipment as identified in the Range Statement

a sound system

an environment in which an audio system can be run

Key competencies in this unit

Key competencies are built into all workplace competencies The following table describes those applicable to this unit Trainers and assessors should ensure that they are addressed in training and assessment

Level Perform

Level Administer and Manage

Level Design and Evaluate

Collecting organising and analysing information

Reading audio plan to determine equipment required

Communicating ideas and information

Discussing work requirements with supervisor

Planning and organising activities

Positioning and placing equipment appropriately ready for installation

Working with others and in teams

Liaising with other technicians during setup

Using mathematical ideas and techniques

Calculating the number of cables required

Solving problems

Amending positioning of equipment to remove feedback problems

Using technology

Wiring the audio system

The following explanations identify how this unit may be applied in different workplaces, sectors and circumstances.