Sound quality is key to providing an immersive, auditory experience for your audience. By combining artistic vision and the specific needs of our clients, we use innovative strategies to transform spaces into dynamic, engaging atmospheres.
Thinking about Installing or RetrofitTing a Sound System?
Here are a few tips to get you started:
FRONT HOUSE (Main) SPEAKERS
Installing high-quality Professional Sound Reinforcement Speakers is crucial for accurate sound projection and even room coverage. Positioning speakers on sidewalls, 7 ½ to 8 feet above the floor, between the front platform and front seats ensures optimal coverage and gain before feedback. This arrangement also allows for stereo sound, a mixing advantage. Ceiling speaker clusters are recommended for 30ft or higher ceilings, but may not be suitable for areas with less than 800 seats or longer widths. Ceiling mounts reduce gain by 3db, resulting in twice the volume of side-mounted speakers. Additionally, sound will appear from the ceiling above the head, not from the stage.
MIXER
Live music requires separate main and monitor mixes for quality recordings. A separate recording mix is necessary for decent recordings, ensuring higher quality sound and more headroom. A mixer with at least 24 channels with six auxiliary outputs is recommended for quality live mixes. The real estate rule "location is everything" applies to sound, so position controls where everyone hears. Keep the mixer in the seating area of the room, preferably on the main floor, between the middle and back of the room. Positioning the mixer in a separate room is strongly discouraged as it creates a sound trap.
MONITORS
Monitor speakers are essential for musicians, especially those with multiple instruments. They should be placed at the front of the platform, facing back, and controlled by a separate mixer to prevent sound from feeding into other microphones. This ensures independent microphone levels and avoids feedback issues.
AMPLIFIERS
The power rating of your amplifier should match the power rating of your speakers. For a stereo system with 300 watts each, your amplifier should deliver about 300 watts per channel. However, larger amplifiers are recommended. One amplifier channel per speaker channel is necessary for mono sound systems, while three dual channel amplifiers are needed for multi-channel systems. If powered speakers are used, no amplifier is needed.
PROCESSORS (Equalizers, Feedback Suppressor, Compressor/ Limiter, Effects)
A Graphic Equalizer is a crucial component of a sound system, ensuring accurate sound and increasing gain before feedback limit. A Security Cover can be installed over the front to prevent people from touching the controls. A Feedback Suppressor is added to eliminate feedback at specific frequencies, notching out any unwanted feedback. Compressor/Limiter is used to maintain consistent volume levels in noisy environments, such as when miking a speaker or acoustic instrument with a wide dynamic range. A System Processor combines the Graphic Equalizer, Feedback Suppressor, and Compressor/Limiter into one unit. An Effects Processor artificially adds reverberation to individual channels or mixes, providing realistic room reverberation and a wide range of special effects.
MICROPHONES
Choosing the right microphones are dependent on two factors: Application and Budget. In determining what microphones to purchase, make a list of the types of events that typically require the use of a sound system (i.e. speeches, band and choir performances, orchestras, etc.) and make another list of events you would like to produce (i.e. plays, symposiums, etc.). Keep in mind that all microphones are not created equal. Microphones for speeches are typically different than microphones for lead singers. Microphones for drum sets are typically different than microphones for auxiliary percussion, and so on. The key is to know what you need before you make a purchase. Because the development of microphones have come a long way over the years, it is quite possible to find an inexpensive microphone that performs like a high-quality one. However, if you ever have to choose between cost and quality, always choose quality.
PLAYBACK & RECORDING
In order to capture your live performances you will need either a computer with software that interfaces with your mixer or a CDR recorder. A computer recording software is not essential for capturing live performances, a CDR recorder is sufficient. However, if you wish to distribute your recording for commercial use, a computer with recording software is strongly recommended.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Microphone/Monitor Jacks, Microphone/Monitor Cables, Floor Boxes, Snake Cabling from Mixer, and Electrical Supplies. These items are necessary to connect the main speakers, monitors, and all microphones to the mixer located in the control center. The brand and types connectors and cables used depend largely on the scale of the system.
TRAINING & SUPPORT
Once the installation is complete, it is STRONGLY recommended that at least two responsible individuals receive Training in the use of the new system. These individuals should have a basic overview of the system and basic techniques on running the system during a live performance. In addition, there should be a detailed manual outlining the scope of the system. Make sure you factor in the cost of ongoing Support in addition to appointing a lead/full-time sound engineer. Once a system is installed it can take up to a year to calibrate the system to meet the various needs and demands.
LET'S CONNECT
Ready to explore how our services can empower your business communications and events?
Contact us today to get started with a complimentary consultation.
Call: 855-284-5299
E-mail: info@elementsmusicgroup.com