Dave Rat is an American live sound engineer, audio equipment designer, and entrepreneur known for founding Rat Sound, a prominent concert sound reinforcement company based in Los Angeles, California. He has been active in the professional audio industry since the late 1980s and is recognized for his contributions to both live sound mixing and the development of custom audio hardware.
Career and Contributions
- Early Work: Rat began his career working on small club shows and touring as a front‑of‑house (FOH) engineer for regional acts.
- Rat Sound: In 1995, he established Rat Sound (originally Rat Sound Studios), which grew to become a leading provider of concert sound systems, mixing services, and equipment rentals for major tours.
- Notable Tours: Rat has served as the FOH engineer for high‑profile artists and bands, including Green Day, The Offspring, Rise Against, and Foo Fighters, among others.
- Equipment Design: He is credited with designing several pieces of audio hardware, such as the “Rat Stage Monitor” speaker system and custom‑built amplifiers tailored for touring applications. These designs emphasize durability, portability, and consistent sonic performance in varied live venues.
- Industry Influence: Rat frequently shares his expertise through workshops, panel discussions, and articles in professional audio publications, contributing to best‑practice standards for live sound reinforcement.
Recognition
- Rat’s work has been cited in industry publications such as Pro Sound News and Live Sound International for innovative mixing techniques and equipment reliability.
- He has been invited to speak at events like the Audio Engineering Society (AES) conventions and the NAMM Show, where he discusses advances in live sound technology.
Personal Background
Publicly available biographical details about Dave Rat are limited. He is known to have been born in the United States and to have pursued a career in audio engineering after developing an early interest in music and sound technology. Specific personal data such as exact birth date and education are not widely documented in reliable encyclopedic sources.
