One..Two..One..Two

[Rob Gallear]

Is there any particular reason that all sound checks seem to consist of one..two..one..two?

[andy hughes]

Indeed there is a reason Rob, and not the popular misconception that roadies (road crew) are too stupid to count any further!
When any band plays a concert hall, the live sound has to be mixed, using a mixing desk, usually placed at the back of the hall - this enables the sound engineer to create the best live sound for that band in that venue. Mixing the vocals is hardest, so to help get a rough guide,a roadie chants the famous "One Two ... One Two" over and over again. The "Waah" sound in "One" gives the engineer a reading for the bass register on the sound mixer, and the "Taah" in "Two" does the same for the treble response. Because the accoustics alter once the audience is in the hall - the people soak up some of the echo - a last-minute adjustment is done before the band come on stage, so audiences everywhere are treated to the evergreen "One Two" checks to ensure the vocals are OK before the show starts.