Free tool for bands
Free input list maker
Type your channels or start from a lineup, then download a clean PDF for the engineer or a CSV for a spreadsheet. No account and no watermark.
Want a blank one instead? Download the input list template (CSV).
Need a stage plot too? The free stage plot maker builds the input list from where your gear sits, so the plot and the list always agree.
What goes in an input list
Engineers ask for the same few columns. A This Tour Life guide by a front of house engineer adds two things bands forget: a date and version number, so the list can be matched to the plot, and at least two crew contacts.
- Ch
- The channel number, in desk order.
- Source
- What it is, named the same way every time: Kick, Snare top, Bass DI, Vocal, Singer.
- Mic or DI
- The mic you'd like, or DI (a small box that plugs an instrument straight into the desk) for anything with a cable. Engineers swap in what they have, so name a common model.
- Stand
- Short boom, tall boom, clip, or none. It tells the venue how many stands to bring.
- 48V
- Mark the channels that need phantom power: condenser mics and active DI boxes.
- Notes
- Anything the engineer should know: stereo pairs, a click that goes to in-ears only, a mic you bring yourself.
An example: a four-piece band
Drums, bass, two guitars and three vocals, with the drummer's tracks on two channels. Drums first, vocals last. See it with its stage plot on the four-piece band template.
Input list
| Ch | Source | Mic or DI | Stand | 48V | Whose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kick, Drummer | Beta 91A | Inside kick | Shared | |
| 2 | Snare top, Drummer | SM57 | Short boom | Shared | |
| 3 | Hi-hat, Drummer | SM81 | Short boom | Yes | Shared |
| 4 | Rack tom, Drummer | e604 | Clip | Shared | |
| 5 | Floor tom, Drummer | e604 | Clip | Shared | |
| 6 | Overhead L, Drummer | KM184 | Tall boom | Yes | Shared |
| 7 | Overhead R, Drummer | KM184 | Tall boom | Yes | Shared |
| 8 | Bass DI, Bassist | Radial J48 | None | Yes | House |
| 9 | Guitar amp, Singer | SM57 | Short boom | Band | |
| 10 | Guitar amp, Guitarist | SM57 | Short boom | Band | |
| 11 | Tracks L | DI | None | Band | |
| 12 | Tracks R | DI | None | Band | |
| 13 | Vocal, Bassist | SM58 | Tall boom | Band | |
| 14 | Vocal, Singer | SM58 | Tall boom | Band | |
| 15 | Vocal, Guitarist | SM58 | Tall boom | Band |
Input list questions
What engineers want to see, in plain words.
What is an input list?
The list of every channel the sound engineer needs at the desk, in order: what it is, the mic or DI it needs, the stand, and whether it needs 48V phantom power. It goes with your stage plot in the advance, so the venue can set up before you arrive.
What order should the channels go in?
Drums first, then bass, guitars, keys, horns and anything electronic, with vocals last. It is the order most engineers lay out their desk, so a list in that order is quicker to patch. Inside the drums the usual order is kick, snare, hi-hat, toms, then overheads.
What does 48V mean?
Phantom power: 48 volts sent down the mic cable to power condenser mics and most active DI boxes. Mark the channels that need it. Dynamic mics like an SM57 or SM58 don't.
How many channels should I ask for?
Only what you need for the room. A small club may have 16 channels for the whole night, and engineers would rather see a short honest list than one that assumes a festival stage. If you can do without the toms or the second guitar mic, say so in the notes.
What is the difference between an input list and a stage plot?
The stage plot shows where everyone and everything stands. The input list shows what plugs into which channel. Engineers want both, on one page if possible, and they want them to agree. The stage plot maker builds the input list from the plot, so they always match.
Is this free? Where is my list saved?
Free, with no account and no watermark. The list is saved in this browser on this device, and nothing is uploaded. Download the PDF or CSV to keep a copy or send it.
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