sound operator

“The sound operator (also commonly called production audio engineer, audio engineer, sound board operator, sound technician, sound mixer or A1) is the person responsible for the overall and total execution of all sound-related aspects of a theatrical performance. This job may include operating a mixing console and sound reinforcement system, as well as co-ordinating sound effects and mixing microphones. The sound operator reports to the sound designer, stage manager, and technical director.

The specific duties of the position vary from one production to another, but a sound board operator is generally required to know how to use the various playback media (decks) that pre-recorded sound cues will play from, the sound console that controls the levels and individual channel EQ settings, as well as other sound-related devices, such as graphic equalizers, and various other effects processors. More often than in the case of other theatrical designers, a sound designer may be expected to serve the function of board operator. Since sound execution relies heavily on variables that may change from one performance and the next even within a given production (I.e. the volume at which an actor speaks), sound board operators must be extremely familiar with the sound designer’s intentions.” http://www.funadvice.com/q/sound_operator