Most event professionals tend to concentrate on the visual look of an event. Often looking for detailed 3D renders of what the stage and screens will look like.

Sometime overlooked, audio is one of the most important elements of your event experience. Without the design considerations of your audio system, you will be missing a key element that will affect your attendee’s experience.

When designing audio for events, there are a few elements that need to be considered. Below is a short overview of the elements of your audio system that you should have in your system. Before we get into that, lets look at five main design considerations you should be aware of for your event.

1. Placement of the PA or Speakers – You need to pay close attention to where your speakers are rigged or placed in the room. We often see designs ruined when the large stack of speakers are placed in front of a large video display.
2. Use the right system for the audience and room – Sound is about pressure and volume. How large is the room you are hosting your event? How many people will be in the room? This will greatly affect the size and scale of the system you need.
3. Flexibility – Your system should be able to accommodate all your needs and some additions. When putting together microphone needs for instance, know that in most cases RF Racks (Wireless microphones) are usually in groups of 2-10. Having a 4 channel rack when you need mics for two speakers will always be beneficial. Last minute speakers, Q and A, Karaoke? Make sure you are covered.
4. Power and Signal Flow – Is your PA a large hung line array or a set of passive speakers on speaker stands round the room? Factoring power and signal flow will be an important part of your visual aesthetic. Cable management and signal flow can easily become something that can interrupt you event flow if not though through.
5. Coverage: The design should ensure that the audio is evenly distributed and can be heard clearly by all members of the audience. This includes choosing the right speakers and positioning them correctly.

The basic elements of an event sound system include:

1. Sound sources: These can include microphones, musical instruments, or audio playback devices such as a CD or MP3 player.
2. Mixing console: This is used to control the levels of the different sound sources and to adjust the overall sound of the system.
3. Amplifiers: These increase the strength of the audio signals and are necessary to drive the loudspeakers.
4. Loudspeakers: These convert the electrical signals from the amplifiers into sound that can be heard by the audience.
5. Cables and connectors: These are used to connect the different components of the sound system together.
6. Sound processors: Equalizers, compressors, and reverb effects can be used to enhance and tailor the overall sound of the system.

We create Exceptional Production Experiences by gathering the right people and resources, paired with meaningful design and elevated production value. Because when experienced planners get pulled into the day-to-day of their event production, taking care of their stakeholders and audiences becomes impossible. At Byrne Production Services, we direct the technical production of each event using our Production Framework™ so you can be free to focus on the event experience.

Getting started on an Exceptional Production Experience is easy.

Book an exploration meeting with us, let us create a customized plan, then let’s work on creating something exceptional together.