Sound and Lighting

[hedman]

hi,

 

we have a primary which has an issue in both of their halls at the moment, whereby during assemblies and performances the kids cant be heard..... they are also wanting to have a better lighting setup in both the halls. What have you guys done in your schools? they don't want to use handheld mics for sound, so I am not sure what options they have, boundry mics? One of the halls has a stage, the other is just a flat hall. In terms of lighting, I am guessing a desk for control and a lighting rig??

 

any ideas welcome!

 

thanks

[dhicks]

during assemblies and performances the kids cant be heard..... they are also wanting to have a better lighting setup in both the halls.

 

Sound: the solution that I've seen for various stage setups seems to be some kind of mic(s) hung from the ceiling. They don't need to be big, or expensive, mics, either, but you probably need to get advice from someone on exactly the kind of thing you want and how to set it up properly. Of course, the proper solution is to teach the children to project their voices properly - that is what school assemblies and productions are for.

[Andrew_C]

Ummm.... How long is a piece of string?

 

You need someone who knows to look at the venue; all else is complete speculation. Where are you? Someone may be able to help / suggest someone who might.

[NB9457]

For a primary school, seeing as their needs for lighting would be much simpler of that of a secondary, I'd look at a few LED Par cans such as https://www.djkit.com/american-dj/american-dj-mega-tripar-profile-plus.html?gclid=CNyutN_NtdICFSEW0wodBAoGIw and a simple controller such asADJ - RGBW4C IR - 32 Channel DMX Controller | CPC UK

 

With around 6-8 of them, you could have either a portable solution using T-Bars or fixed install giving a nice flood of light and choice of colours, all easy to manage, setup and use!

[mikkydoos]

Simple DMX lighting desk, however many PAR/lamps/LED's you need, DMX controllers for the desk --> lamp interface, and a load of DMX & power cabling & mounts/stands.

 

Job done and make it as complicated or simple as you want.

 

12 lamps, brackets and desk shouldn't cost more than 600-700 at the most.

 

Image Size, Throw Distance & Beam Angle Calculator | Enlightened Lighting

 

 

Mics are more difficult - forget boundary mics unless you're in a smallish room - they're usually mounted on the opposite wall to the person speaking or ceiling.

 

I have major trouble trying to mic up stage performances in our gym. Problem is getting the mics close enough to be able to amplify them without driving the gain up resulting in massive feedback... and I've got a collection of expensive mics I've dared to bring in.

Even with wireless handhelds our kids don't understand that the microphone actually needs to be close to your mouth, not held down at the waist!

 

You might get away with two or three condenser mics mounted at knee level (in mic cages to stop foot stamping coming up through the mic stand) but they'll need phantom power from a desk and be gained up pretty high...

... or suspend them from the ceiling in front of the stage (then they spin round the wrong way).

 

Have a look at AKG C1000's or Rode NT1A's. The Rode has amazingly high pick up and can be driven hard. I have 2 and they're brilliant. £150 ish quid each.

 

Add one of these and it might work .... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-FBQ2496-Feedback-Destroyer-Suppressor/dp/B000KIPT26

 

 

Lapel/headset mics are the way to go but they're expensive, you'll no doubt need a good few and you'll need a decent mixing desk for the number of inputs...

 

 

.... then the kids will smash them within a week and no doubt they'll go walkies very quickly.

 

 

:)

Edited March 1, 2017 by mikkydoos

[Andrew_C]

Job done and make it as complicated or simple as you want.

 

12 lamps, brackets and desk shouldn't cost more than 600-700 at the most.

And someone to fit brackets to the structure? Wire sockets in?

 

Mics are more difficult - forget boundary mics unless you're in a smallish room - they're usually mounted on the opposite wall to the person speaking or ceiling.

No... 3 across the front of the stage is where they are normally put. With self evident issues.

Have a look at AKG C1000's

I see why you have problems...

[mikkydoos]

I said

You might get away with two or three condenser mics

 

Now try boundaries in a primary school where you can hardly hear the kids even when you're standing next to them.

 

Quoted from Shure

 

"The drawbacks to these microphones are

some of the same drawbacks we have seen

with overhead mics, primarily the distance

from the sound source and the proximity to the

loudspeakers. Add to this, the pickup of stage

noise from the actors’ feet, scenery movements, etc."

 

 

 

Anyway I actually agree more with @dhicks

Edited March 1, 2017 by mikkydoos

[hedman]

guys, thanks for the replies.

[mikkydoos]

Have a looksy at these guys @hedman.

 

Might give you some ideas... Stage Lighting, School Sound and Vision, School Stage Hire, Audio Visual Installation and Design, Theatrical Suppliers, Stage Curtains, Staging Systems

[mikkydoos]

Have a looksy at these guys @hedman.

 

Might give you some ideas... Stage Lighting, School Sound and Vision, School Stage Hire, Audio Visual Installation and Design, Theatrical Suppliers, Stage Curtains, Staging Systems

[hedman]

apologies for the slow replies everyone, very helpful thank you.