AudioFOH ReferenceSouthern Pines
SP Troubleshooting Guide.
When the weekend goes sideways. The problem is the title; the fix is inside.
No Signal / Dead Channel
Common causes
- Channel muted, gain at zero, DCA down, or signal down at the source (stage box, pedal board, or DI) rather than at FOH
- Bad or unplugged XLR/patch cable
- 48V phantom power not enabled on a condenser mic or active DI that needs it
- Wrong input/patch selected in dLive I/O routing
- Battery-powered device (wireless pack, active DI) dead or off
Quick checks
- Confirm mute/fader state at FOH; ask the musician to check instrument output and stage connection
- Trace the signal path in the dLive I/O & Signal Flow view
- Swap the cable or DI as a fast isolation test
- Check 48V if using an active DI or condenser mic
Feedback / Squeal
Common causes
- PA bleed
- Too much gain before the fader (“gain before feedback” exceeded)
- Too much compression and makeup gain
Quick checks
- Pull the offending channel down first, find the ringing frequency, then notch it
- Check mic placement and aim relative to monitors and PA
- Verify gain staging is at Grace Church’s −12 dBFS average, not hot
- Flip polarity on the channel
- Use a different mic
Hum / Buzz
Common causes
- Ground loop between two pieces of gear
- Unbalanced cable run, or a balanced cable with a bad connector
- Nearby lighting/power interference on an unshielded run
Quick checks
- Isolate by disconnecting and reconnecting one device at a time
- Try a different, known-good cable
- Confirm the run isn’t running parallel to power or lighting cable
- Use a gate to remove hum when the musician isn’t playing
Distortion / Clipping
Common causes
- Gain staged too hot at the preamp (peaks exceed 0 dBFS)
- Signal exceeds 0 dBFS somewhere in the processing chain
- Source itself is overdriving (an amp, DI, or active pickup too hot)
Quick checks
- Check post-preamp metering against the target numbers
- Back off input trim before adjusting anything downstream
- Check output metering at each step in the processing chain
- Ask the musician to decrease any overdrive effects
Wireless Dropout / RF Issues
Common causes
- Frequency coordination conflict with another wireless system in the building
- Low battery in the transmitter or beltpack
- Talent moving out of antenna line of sight or too far from the receiver
Quick checks
- Check the RF signal strength meter on the receiver
- Confirm fresh batteries before every service
- Re-scan and re-coordinate frequencies if interference is recurring (production staff)
- Use a different mic or pack
- Call Grant
Monitor / IEM Issues
Common causes
- ME1 not patched at the floor pocket or not daisy-chained to another ME1
- Musician’s IEM pack muted, an unmuted-but-silent channel, or a dead battery
- Monitor send fader down on the aux/mix bus at FOH
Quick checks
- Confirm the ME1 network port assignment at the floor pocket matches the musician’s position
- Check the aux send level from FOH
- Swap to a spare pack or earpiece to isolate hardware vs. mix issues
Dante / Network Issues Production staff
Common causes
- Dante patch not connected or routed to the wrong device
- Network switch or cable issue between mixrack and stage devices
- Clock sync issue between Dante devices
Quick checks
- Check Dante status/connection indicators in the dLive I/O view
- Power-cycle the affected device if a quick patch check doesn’t resolve it
- Call Grant
Console / Software Issues
Common causes
- Wrong scene/snapshot recalled
- Show file corruption or an unsaved change lost after a restart
- Firmware mismatch after an update
Quick checks
- Recall GCSP Base and rebuild from there if a scene looks wrong
- Confirm you’re on the correct, most recent saved show file
- Restart the console/surface if behavior seems inconsistent with no clear cause
- Load the backup show file on the FOH USB drive
Broadcast / Recording Issues
Common causes
- Broadcast mix bus routed incorrectly or muted separately from the house mix
- Levels hitting the broadcast target inconsistently with the house mix
- Recording device not receiving signal (interface, cable, or software issue)
Quick checks
- Confirm the broadcast mix during RXL, Song 3, per the RXL Procedure
- A/B the house mix vs. the broadcast mix on the same moment
- Check the recording/streaming software’s input meters independently of dLive
FOH Reference
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