Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Portable Sound System

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ClintonHammond
Player
Player

Joined: 7/28/08
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 28

Posted: 8/07/08 at 2:14pm

"Sorry. Clinton. My bad. I shouldn't have shortened your name."
Don't sweat it mate.. I'm just takin' the smeg a bit... (Only my mother ever calls me Clint, and I don't much like it then either... (Usually it means I'm about to get a good cuff across the ear! LOL )

Isn't there a page on the Bose web site that talks about the applications of using a pir of sticks in a theatre?? Maybe I read that somewhere else... I'll try to source it a post it....

Without actors, a techie is a person with a list of marketable skills.
Without techies, an actor is just a goof, emoting alone in the dark.

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David McCall
Celebrity

Joined: 1/28/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299

Posted: 2/03/09 at 11:43am

There is one bit of very important information missing. What do you expect to use this system for?

Having a system like the one OP gave a link to is nice in that it doesn't require a lot of set-up and it all packs into a neat little package. However the one shown is more appropriate for selling ShamWows or small seminars. The system shown is too limited for any use for theatrical. There are similar systems that might work, but they will be a lot more money.

For theatrical use you usually need a sound operator. Are you going to be happy with a sound operator standing behind a speaker on the apron? A minimum requirement is to separate the speakers from the mixer. I personally wouldn't want the amplifier to be built into the speakers or the mixer, but I can see how that might be attractive for a person that is not into technical stuff. With so little money available, you might do better to try renting different systems until you find something you like.

Are you just amplifying voices or do you need to get over an orchestra or even a Piano? It matters.

Will it be used for music playback or just voice? You may need bigger speakers to make music sound decent.

Will it have to reproduce sound effects? a ringing telephone doesn't take much, but thunder takes a lot.

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dannysabenada
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 1/03/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 2/15/09 at 2:19pm

I don't know how useful these will be outdoors, but I can tell you that Crown boundary mics are a lifesaver. The PCC-160 costs about the same as a prosumer Shure lavaliere but it can pick up multiple actors onstage (effectively negating the need to mic individual actors). The only downside is that it is wired (but you could probably find a way to patch it into a lavaliere transmitter) and the actors need to be able to project halfway decently, but otherwise it is extremely amazing. I work in children's theater and we use this instead of giving the children, who are anywhere from 4 to 12 years old, $300 lavalieres because it became too much of a liability.

http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/pcc.htm

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LEHCo
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 9/03/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7

Posted: 2/24/09 at 9:44pm

Thanks again, great info! It would be used for small shows (maybe 50 - 100 attendees) and possible small outdoor shows. I'll definitely check out the mics, thanks! We will probably use it for music and also for actors, but possible not at the same time. Thanks all!

Thanks!
LEHCo

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TEPA
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 12/22/08
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 3/15/09 at 7:13am

Have a look at Behringer. They are very cost effective. I have powered desks, heaps of desks and amps and 6 powered speakers.

I swear by the powered speakers. They are quick amd easy

They shouldnt fail unless you over drive them. 15" will give you plenty of head room (400W RMS)

A mixer is cheap and CD's are a dime a dozen

JBL EON are lower power but I am really satisfied with the Behringer (cheap too)

Even mic's are cheap. It is no use buying an expensive mic if you have a cheaper system. It is all relative. If all of you mics are the same, then the quality is the same. If you mix and match different mics, then the quality of your mics also becomes noticible

Good luck

Technical Entertainment Production Academy

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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Topic: Portable Sound System( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
ClintonHammond Player Joined: 7/28/08 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 8/07/08 at 2:14pm
	"Sorry. Clinton. My bad. I shouldn't have shortened your name." Don't sweat it mate.. I'm just takin' the smeg a bit... (Only my mother ever calls me Clint, and I don't much like it then either... (Usually it means I'm about to get a good cuff across the ear! LOL ) Isn't there a page on the Bose web site that talks about the applications of using a pir of sticks in a theatre?? Maybe I read that somewhere else... I'll try to source it a post it....
	Without actors, a techie is a person with a list of marketable skills. Without techies, an actor is just a goof, emoting alone in the dark.
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 2/03/09 at 11:43am
	There is one bit of very important information missing. What do you expect to use this system for? Having a system like the one OP gave a link to is nice in that it doesn't require a lot of set-up and it all packs into a neat little package. However the one shown is more appropriate for selling ShamWows or small seminars. The system shown is too limited for any use for theatrical. There are similar systems that might work, but they will be a lot more money. For theatrical use you usually need a sound operator. Are you going to be happy with a sound operator standing behind a speaker on the apron? A minimum requirement is to separate the speakers from the mixer. I personally wouldn't want the amplifier to be built into the speakers or the mixer, but I can see how that might be attractive for a person that is not into technical stuff. With so little money available, you might do better to try renting different systems until you find something you like. Are you just amplifying voices or do you need to get over an orchestra or even a Piano? It matters. Will it be used for music playback or just voice? You may need bigger speakers to make music sound decent. Will it have to reproduce sound effects? a ringing telephone doesn't take much, but thunder takes a lot.
	IP Logged

dannysabenada Walk-On Joined: 1/03/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 2/15/09 at 2:19pm
	I don't know how useful these will be outdoors, but I can tell you that Crown boundary mics are a lifesaver. The PCC-160 costs about the same as a prosumer Shure lavaliere but it can pick up multiple actors onstage (effectively negating the need to mic individual actors). The only downside is that it is wired (but you could probably find a way to patch it into a lavaliere transmitter) and the actors need to be able to project halfway decently, but otherwise it is extremely amazing. I work in children's theater and we use this instead of giving the children, who are anywhere from 4 to 12 years old, $300 lavalieres because it became too much of a liability. http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/pcc.htm
	IP Logged

LEHCo Walk-On Joined: 9/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 2/24/09 at 9:44pm
	Thanks again, great info! It would be used for small shows (maybe 50 - 100 attendees) and possible small outdoor shows. I'll definitely check out the mics, thanks! We will probably use it for music and also for actors, but possible not at the same time. Thanks all!
	Thanks! LEHCo
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TEPA Walk-On Joined: 12/22/08 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/15/09 at 7:13am
	Have a look at Behringer. They are very cost effective. I have powered desks, heaps of desks and amps and 6 powered speakers. I swear by the powered speakers. They are quick amd easy They shouldnt fail unless you over drive them. 15" will give you plenty of head room (400W RMS) A mixer is cheap and CD's are a dime a dozen JBL EON are lower power but I am really satisfied with the Behringer (cheap too) Even mic's are cheap. It is no use buying an expensive mic if you have a cheaper system. It is all relative. If all of you mics are the same, then the quality is the same. If you mix and match different mics, then the quality of your mics also becomes noticible Good luck
	Technical Entertainment Production Academy
	IP Logged