Welcome to the ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board FAQ

What is the ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board?
ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board offers a threaded discussion group, for subjects related to the application of live audio for concerts and other like events.

Subjects could include local and regional sound reinforment work, audio in worship facilities, concert touring, musical theater, and business audio events. We do not discuss Studio Recording, DJ or musical instrument related topics at ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board.

Is there a charge to view ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board?
No, there is no charge to view, or post to ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board.

Who is behind this thing, anyway?
The ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board site started in 1994 as the live_audio mailing list (live_audio@io.com) by Dave Stevens. In an effort to have more persons partcipate, the list was moved to the Web and renamed live_audioWWWBoard, in early 1995 or late 1994 (can't remember). Dave has been involved in audio for a while, and started this to give something back to audio community. The site was hosted on his vanity domain, roaddog.com, until traffic levels in mid 1996 dictated that a higher capacity server was required.

Carlson Audio Systems in Seattle, WA kindly provided the server space (when the name changed to live-audio.com from mid 1996 until early 1999. At that time, The Moving Parts Media Group, LLC was formed to operate and manage the board. In 2000, the site was purchased by Universal Concept Inc. and officially became The ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board. Most recently, in late 2002, the Universal Concept group of Web sites, including ProSoundWeb.com and Live-Audio.com, were purchased by Huge Universe, Inc., who also own LiveSoundInt.com and publish Live Sound International magazine.

This looks like a good place to sell stuff. Can I post for sale items?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!! The ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board site does not allow for "For Sale", or "Looking to Buy" posts. Any posts offering items for sale, or looking to buy, will be deleted. This includes posts looking for subcontractors or looking to hire gear or posts looking for work or offering a job. Please use the Whitpages directory to find listings, and the Classifieds to solict work, look for a gig or find someone to full a gig.

We now offer classified ads in the "Classifieds" section. Please review the information there, before posting in the Classified section.

I work for or represent a manufacturer or pro audio sales operation, what do I need to know to participate at ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board?
The community at ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board welcomes participation from manufacturers and their representitives. While ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board is primarily intended as a community where sound reinforcment users can interact with other sound reinforcment users, we welcome product manufacturers to become part of the community and share in this resource. There are a few limitations we place on those that represent or market specific products.

One is not allowed to start a thread, if the purpose of the thread is to promote a product which they represent. An example would be press releases, or notices of Web sites or updates to Web sites, or just plain old product announcements or promotions. We do not allow the board to be used for this purpose.

We do not allow manufacturers and their reps to promote or suggest products when an open ended question is asked on the board, except when your product is specifically mentioned. An example would be if a poster asks "what kind of amp should I get", that is not an open invitation for the manufacturer to offer a suggestion. Please do not offer your product in that manner. If, however, the poster asks, "what's the deal with the WhoopinWatts U69 amp used as a perpetual motion machine", and you happen to work for WhoopinWatts, feel free to respond to that post.

If you feel you have an otherwise newsworthy item, such your lab was able to break Ohm's Law, you've found a way around the inverse square rule or find the lost South Park episodes, then by all means contact ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board Mission Control, and if it's worthy, we'll let everyone know. Additionally, if, for example, your paint shop almost burns your entire building down, riot police invade your neighborhood, or an earthquake topples your facility, contact ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board Mission Control, and we'll help get the word out to folks that everything is OK, or not OK, depending on your situation.

Manufacturers are not allowed to use the board to survey or otherwise overtly conduct direct market research with the community at ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board. Examples would be "Hey we're thinking of adding a GeeWizmotron, to our UXN product, what do you guys think?", or "What should we build that you will buy a lot of, I mean, REALLY alot of?". We don't allow it, don't do it. On the other hand, if your engineers (who we all know are the backbone of any real audio company) wish to discuss general and specific engineering practices, free of marketing and other promotional propaganda, then have we got a place for you. Using examples of the engineering of a particular product is cool, and heartily encouraged as long as it's done in a educational or engineering related way. In other words, Marketing Dept, don't use it to plug your stuff. Audio geeks are most welcome.

We encourage manufacturers and their representitives to respond to comments, and issues regarding their respective products that are posted to ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board. If you respond in a timely, truthful manner, without a lot of corporate mumbo jumbo, you'll gain bonus points with the community. Sometimes, someone may post something that is not at all flattering to your product or company. We suggest you engage them in a professional dialog, and discuss the situation. If you don't agree with them, and they are not slanderous or libelous, it would NOT be wise to contact ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board Mission Control to get the post removed. If you can prove they are slanderous and out to get you, contact ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board Mission Control, and we'll discuss it. Note, however, we WILL NOT delete ANY post, just because you, or anyone else, might not like it.

If you are posting on behalf of your employer, and it is "official company doctrine", then please note your affiliation in your post. If, on the other hand, you are posting on your own free will, then feel free to use your personal email account, as well. Be advised, if you do post on your own time, that the above rules regarding how manufacturers start and reply to threads still applies.

Why is this enforced with such a hard line?
Many people feel, that all of the Internet is public domain, hence they are free to do as they wish, without repercussions. The ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board site, is private property, as such, the content is controlled by board moderators, following guidelines developed for busy audio pros to get the most from this resource.

We also offer stage lighting and stage services, can we post about those, too?
No, the board is for live audio related content only.

I noticed banner ads, are you guys selling out?
We wish we were selling out...........Traffic levels at the board increased to the point where outside financial investment was required. Rather than risk "thinning" the boards population by offering subscriptions, we decided that the best way was to get the manufacturers to pay for it, since so many often told us what a valuable resource this is. We figured the user community gives them money, so it was time we turned the tables and had them give the users something back. As a whole, the manufacturer community have been very supportive and positive in our little audio community. Without sponsor support, the board would have closed.

How many people read this thing, anyway?
The ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board serves several million pages per month, to a community of 100,000 plus unique vistors per month. Some of the largest names in pro audio lurk here, on a regular basis.

What should I include in my posts, to help identify me?
Posts submitted, without a valid email address are subject to deletion. Please include your real name somewhere in your post. You can pretty much say what you want, but let other people know who you are, and your email address.

Are transactions logged?
Yes, for security purposes, all transactions are logged. At no time are any log events shared with others, or are email addresses or other personal data provided to others.

Is there a post archive?
There is a post archive. To access the archive, use the search engine located on the main page.

Is there anything else I should read before I participate at the ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board?
Please read the board use tips and guidelines. It was written to help those new to the board. You will also want to read our terms and conditions for use of ProSoundWeb.com Live Audio Board or review our privacy policy.



Contact the Board keeper.