Buyers guide for today's portable & installed audio systems...
If you are considering a new PA (Audio) system for your place of worship, school or organization, here are some tips from a PA system expert that will help you achieve optimum results and save you a lot of time and money:
Tips you should know...
First, you need to decide what the main objective of your PA system will be. The ideal choice of components such as Bosch, TOA, QSC amplifiers and speakers will vary according to your objectives. Some speakers and amps are suited to speeches, while others are better suited to the typical frequency range of a rock band. If your public address system is primarily for entertainment, make sure that you have the right microphones such as AKG, SHURE, TOA, EV Audio-Technica, MIPRO and Sennheiser to cater to the vocal range(s) and styles of your performers.
Consult a PA and professional audio expert even before you start building your hall or preparing the space, so that you know all the implications before you commence. They will be able to advise you on such things as acoustics, wiring so you can allow for them in advance. In particular, make sure the room or hall has the right acoustics. If the space is to be purpose built, consider the acoustic factor before you start building. If you leave it till after you build, you may have some serious acoustic issues to overcome, which will raise the cost of the project.
Make sure that you have accurate costing before you start. Consult reputable professionals and request quotes or tenders for every aspect of the project before you begin. Many organizations only begin their research after their hall is built and furnished. They then find that they do not have enough money remaining to pay for an adequate PA system.
Make sure all the components are compatible and there are no weak links or limiting factors. For examples if you purchase a strong amplifier and mixer but decide to skimp on the speakers, the quality of the overall sound will be limited by the quality of the speakers. It is important to choose the best possible microphones because microphones are the first component of your PA system.
Testing...
After the PA system is installed, it is important to test every part of the space for “dead spots” or inconsistencies in sound quality. The sound quality should not vary significantly no matter where you are sitting. If it does, it will need to be diagnosed and corrected. Also, make sure that you carry out this testing under the normal conditions of a typical event: when you test, make sure that the space has all the furnishings and is filled with the typical number of people.
Training you need to have...
There is no point in having the best PA system in the world if the people in your organization do not know how to operate it. Training is a very important and part of the process. Make sure that the PA company that you choose to provide your PA system offers effective training as part of the overall package. The amount of training required will depend on the complexity of your PA system.
To get the best combination and price that suits your needs and budget feel free to call Allan on 0407 44 2822 or simply send Morrison’s PA an email with a brief requirement and we will get back to you with our recommendations and quote.