A guide to setting up your speakers for live sound
Free Professional Advice
Are you getting the most out of your speakers? Whether you are planning a house party, sound for a college social event or organising a motivational speaker to inspire your staff, it is important to choose the right sound system.
At London Speaker Hire, we have a wide range of speakers if you are in need of a speaker rental service. This is not a decision to take lightly, as choosing a sound system can be the difference between your event being a success or failure.
When you call upon us for your speakers, you can feel confident that what we stock will complement your occasion perfectly. London Speaker Hire provide a range of active (powered) and passive speakers supplied by renowned manufacturers such as QSC, FBT and Martin Audio to name but a few.
Call us on 020 3333 4444 to discuss your individual requirements, and one of our friendly team will be more than happy to help you.
Room Size, Speaker Placement and Location
Once you have chosen the right speaker to suit your requirements, it goes without saying that you will want to get the most out of them. Modern purpose built venues exist, however most venues are not designed for loudspeakers or live music. The room can sometimes be an obstacle for good sound; this is why it is worth considering the placement and position of your speakers, as substantial improvements can be achieved through this.
As music is generally released in stereo, the sound is spread between the left and right of your speakers. When you are locating your speakers in the event space, be sure to position your speakers at a 60-degree angle, as putting your speakers at this angle will give you the best sound possible. Make sure you consider the audiences listening position and work out the best angle possible from their point of view.
Don’t be frugal with space, if you have a large venue to work with then pull the speakers away from the wall. There is a zone of around 2 meters that you should avoid. If the room you are entertaining in is smaller, try to leave as much space as possible between the speaker system and the wall. Imagine dividing the room into three; your speakers will fit within the first third of the room.
Levels, Tone and Feedback
When you are setting up the speakers, get the level and tone as constant as possible. For example, if you require speakers for a live performance, you won’t want your lead singer to sound uncomfortably loud near the stage, but impossible to hear at the back wall. The overall level and frequency content can affect intelligibility.
Your microphones are something that you will have to be aware of, because you don’t want any feedback. Keep direct and reflected sound away from microphones, as even if a sound is below the audio feedback threshold, reflected sound on a microphone will reduce overall coherence.
Tips
Here at London Speaker Hire we have a proven track record with the speakers that we provide. If you follow the tips we’ve suggested above, then we are confident that your event will be a success. In addition to our speakers, we can also provide you with stage and lighting, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.