Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Assisted Listening Devices

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JDHaller
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 4/21/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Assisted Listening Devices
Posted: 2/02/05 at 2:06pm

Our theatre is currently researching the possibilites of installing assisted listening devices.

Does anyone here have experience with this?

We've heard a rumor that if you provide one listening device, you have to be able to provide it for everyone. Is this true?

Thanks, John.

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 2/02/05 at 9:33pm

John investigate an ? Audio Hearing Loop?, this is an audio aid cable, that is installed around the auditorium or in certain seating sections!

Most picture houses & theatres have them - it aint el cheapo, but most audio bods know about them!

The punters switch their own hearing aids to tune in to your audio system.

This is probably what your after?

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Russell E Williams
Guest
Guest

Posted: 2/28/05 at 6:13am

Gaffa is basically right! In its simplest form, just run out several loops of very heavy duty power cord in series (end-to-end) until the impedance measures around 4 Ohms then connected to a big-ish power amplifier (in the order of 250 - 400 Watts into 4 Ohms). That is fed from one of the SUM or MONO outputs from your mixer. As a courtesy to the users of the hearing-aid loop, I strongly recommend installing a dedicated compressor/limiter between the mixer and the amplifier, there-by reducing the dynamic range in the loop which should assist those with restricted hearing ability hear more of the show.

It is not necessary to cover the entire auditorium; just part of it (say 1/5 to 1/3 -- depending on seating capacity). Then you can promote the facility and those requiring it can ask and be so seated.

Cheers...

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dougb
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Joined: 3/30/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 148

Posted: 2/28/05 at 10:48am

Our local big theater uses an infrared hearing impaired system. They use a single mike over the stage, run the signal through a compressor-expander to keep the volume fairly constant then to two IR transmitters at the front of the house. They initially had six hearing sets for 200 seats. These are just IR receivers with headphones. They have those plus new recivers that allow direct connection from the receiver to the persons hearing aid. If the users have the right type of hearing aid, the quality is very good. Using the old headset style does not adjust the frequency response just makes the signal louder.

I have worked box office (which issues the hearing impaired sets) many times and we seldom give out over two or three sets. We hold the persons drivers license to insure we get the set back.

The system was donated by our local Lions Club.

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Author	Message
JDHaller Walk-On Joined: 4/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Assisted Listening Devices Posted: 2/02/05 at 2:06pm
	Our theatre is currently researching the possibilites of installing assisted listening devices. Does anyone here have experience with this? We've heard a rumor that if you provide one listening device, you have to be able to provide it for everyone. Is this true? Thanks, John.

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 2/02/05 at 9:33pm
	John investigate an ? Audio Hearing Loop?, this is an audio aid cable, that is installed around the auditorium or in certain seating sections! Most picture houses & theatres have them - it aint el cheapo, but most audio bods know about them! The punters switch their own hearing aids to tune in to your audio system. This is probably what your after?
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Russell E Williams Guest	Posted: 2/28/05 at 6:13am
	Gaffa is basically right! In its simplest form, just run out several loops of very heavy duty power cord in series (end-to-end) until the impedance measures around 4 Ohms then connected to a big-ish power amplifier (in the order of 250 - 400 Watts into 4 Ohms). That is fed from one of the SUM or MONO outputs from your mixer. As a courtesy to the users of the hearing-aid loop, I strongly recommend installing a dedicated compressor/limiter between the mixer and the amplifier, there-by reducing the dynamic range in the loop which should assist those with restricted hearing ability hear more of the show. It is not necessary to cover the entire auditorium; just part of it (say 1/5 to 1/3 -- depending on seating capacity). Then you can promote the facility and those requiring it can ask and be so seated. Cheers...
	IP Logged

dougb Celebrity Joined: 3/30/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Posted: 2/28/05 at 10:48am
	Our local big theater uses an infrared hearing impaired system. They use a single mike over the stage, run the signal through a compressor-expander to keep the volume fairly constant then to two IR transmitters at the front of the house. They initially had six hearing sets for 200 seats. These are just IR receivers with headphones. They have those plus new recivers that allow direct connection from the receiver to the persons hearing aid. If the users have the right type of hearing aid, the quality is very good. Using the old headset style does not adjust the frequency response just makes the signal louder. I have worked box office (which issues the hearing impaired sets) many times and we seldom give out over two or three sets. We hold the persons drivers license to insure we get the set back. The system was donated by our local Lions Club.
	IP Logged

Topic: Assisted Listening Devices( Topic Closed)