live speaker event engineering/producing 101 - newbie in need of help

[nmitch1]

Hello to All (NOTE: This is a long post but please bare with me) -

I am new here to this forum but really like the quality of the posts and am in need of some SERIOUS help.

I work for training company doing multimedia production (recording voiceovers, video editing, etc) for training dvd's and/or online eLearning courses. I have a working knowledge of audio and video hardware but am more familiar with the software end.

My company has several clients that have speaking engagements (powerpoint/video based) throughout the year at various hotel and conference room venues that usually consist of 100-200 people as well as several on stage speakers. These clients now want my company to actually produce these speaking engagements (ie. setup and run the whole presenation as well as the audio and video equipment).

Consequently, my company is looking to me (instead of hiring someone) to get a pricing list together for equipment (wireless/stick mics, projectors, mixer, speaker monitors, confidence monitors for on stage speaker(s), dvd players, video switchers, rack mounts, cabling, etc) and ultimately produce and run the equipment with a couple other coworkers for each of these presentations.

I will probably have a crew of 3 people including myself (one to run the presentation laptops, one to run the audio, and another person to help do any misc things that may be needed.) We will also have 2 static video cameras to record the events and probably run sound to the cameras from the mixer.

Having never produced any live speaking engagements, I am obviously a little green and need A LOT of advice or tips and tricks from any of you veterans out there who have produced these kind of engagements. Any sure fire equipment recommendations (mixers, mics, projectors, etc) or website/book/tutorial suggestions for producing live events would be GREATLY appreciated.

For the record, I am really interested in this and want to learn as much about the equipment and producing as I can before the first event in Feb. 2007.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Best
NM

[tINY]

Powered sound on a stick (Powered speakers that mount on aluminum tripod poles) are easy and work fine for your app.

Get a multi-channel wireless set-up - also get a FBX or similar automatic feedback eliminator. You won't need much of a mixer for this.




-tINY

[nmitch1]

Thanks tINY -

Any suggestion on a good pair of powered speakers? I was told these were good but they might be overkill for what we are trying to do -

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ART322A/

Not really familiar with "FBX or similar automatic feedback eliminator" and didn't really think of needing something like that. How does it work and how would I set it up. Appreciate the suggestion. I assume these are what you are talking about -

http://www.sabine.com/sabine-profess...-1200-2400.htm

Also, we are probably going to have around 20 audio channels with 6 probably being wireless..........any recommendations for a nice wireless receiver/mic setup?

I was looking at something like this maybe -

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MB806A/

and then using these at the mics

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UWPX1/
and
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UWPX1/

thanks again
nm

[dbbubba]

This is exactly the type of business that I am in.
I can possibly offer some help.

I don't have time to look at the links to the Sweetwater sites right now.
I am presently building a multi-room AV rig for a client right this minute.

Where are you guys based out of?
I'm in Dallas, Texas.

Send me a Private Message and we can discuss it more.

Danny Brown

[dbbubba]

I quickly pulled up the Sweetwater site and looked at the stuff.

The SONY wireless stuff would be fine.
I personally use the Shure equivelent, but I do like that modular rack for the recievers.
SONY makes good stuff, so you'd be happy with those pieces.

The RCF speakers are also fine.
I use Mackie SRM 450s in my breakout rooms.
The Mackies are a bit cheaper ($700.00 ea.) and they hold up fine on the road.
We have shipped ours in Anvil style road cases via freight to at least twenty cities per year for five years and they hold up fine.
We have had a few problems, but we have thirty of them, so that is expected.

RCF is an Italian company that has manufactured speaker components for years and until two years ago they built all of the drivers in the Mackie line. Mackies are now built in China, but they seem fine.

In all of my years (thirty plus) I have never used a feedback eliminator.
I assume that they work to a degree.
Most work I have done with lavalier mics has been in larger rooms on main stage type corporate shows.
I have always had a parametric EQ on a buss that was dedicated to just the lavs.

If the speakers/presenters are going to walk around the room (off of a stage or presentation area) then it is a crap shoot either way. Sometimes it just requires an operator.

PM me if you need any more info.

Danny Brown

[Jeff A. Roberts]

Originally Posted by nmitch1

I will probably have a crew of 3 people including myself (one to run the presentation laptops, one to run the audio, and another person to help do any misc things that may be needed.)

Not that I'm against having a big crew, but isn't 3 bodies for a powerpoint demo with speakers-on-a-stick overkill?

You would be able to do some quick setups and teardowns though.

[nmitch1]

Danny -
Just sent you a private message.

Jeff -
I completely understand why you would think that. Allow me to give you some more details on a very high level. These conferences will have over 25 audio channels (lots of speakers/guest panels talking at the same time, dvd audio, cd player audio, audience QA audio, etc).

In addition, there will be 2 laptops simultaneously operating in case one goes down, we can seamlessy switch to the other one. Also, we will probably now have someone operating the video camera and checking levels there.

Hope that makes a bit more sense.

NM

I'd get 500 - $1k just to do the audio - get yourself a raise! Or sub the audio to me, I'll travel...

<L>

[Thumper]

You owe it to your clients to hire professional live audio guys. There are a lot of companies out there that know what they're doing, and are specialized in corporate events. You need to tell your boss that they either need to sub-hire another company, or to hire some people who know what's up.

There are a lot of problems that will arize that you would never think about. There are a lot of cables that you would have to buy, there's rigging, and the safety that goes along with it... Different feedback scenarios, wireless freq. ranges, proper stage lighting and the expenses with that... ESPECIALLY if you're video taping it. Proper lighting is a MUST.

Hate to be a dick, but it really sounds like you don't know what you're talking about for live production work. Hire someone that does. Your clients will appreciate it, even if they don't say anything.

Where are you located? I think the best advice that we can give you (besides don't do it yourself) would be to recommend a production company.

You wouldn't hire a 15 year old kid with a brand spankin new mbox to make a $100,000 commercial for the new Toyota Land Cruiser, would you?

[Thumper]

Oh... and I hate to advertise for another online forum hangout, but the guys over at the Live Audio Board and the Lab Lounge @ prosoundweb.com will be a lot more help than most of the people here.

Most of the guys here only know how to talk about mic pres and 47 clones. Neither of which will be helpful in your situation.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Thumper

......
Most of the guys here only know how to talk about mic pres and 47 clones. Neither of which will be helpful in your situation.

[Harley-OIART]

Considering I do this for a living I guess I should speak up. =)

JBL EON-15 G2's are common used in this application. (Granted any speaker works but to be honest I see these all the time.)
Electrovoice SX-300's are a good catch too for this application.
There is also a powered version (Electrovoice SXA-360)
Suprisingly the Dynacord/EV Powermate is a great powered mixer that oddly enough sounds fabulous for when used with the SX-300's. Fairly flexible and rugged unit too.

For wireless whatever floats your boat is fine.... However I strongly suggest not cheaping out on a lav mic because you really get what you pay for. The belt pack and transmitter aren't that big a deal for basic podium and presentation work, (just make it offers at least a handfull of frequencies to utilize), but the lav mic itself is really important. Crappy cheap ones are much harder to get respectable gain before feedback out of, and they just plain sound... unnatural for lack of a better explanation. YMMV of course, but i am serious about the gain before feedback so test potential models thoroughly before purchasing.

As for video playback if you really want I can get back to you in the next couple days after I speak to a colleague who is more in tune with that. I personally have only intermediate skillset in video department so I would not be able to recommend a cost effective but usable switcher to you. As for DVD players most any work, Panasonic, Sony, JVC, or Denon are probably a safe bet.

A good sturdy laptop is a good idea for powerpoint presentations, just remeber to turn off the screensaver =)

Feedback Eliminators such as the Shure DFR-11 are commonly used but frankly I don't touch them. Carry an SM-58 for the podium / presentation microphone as a backup. It has saved my ass in a pinch before.

SM-57 is great for high gain before feedback if you just can't get enough juice. I mean if its good enough for the president to speak into, its good enough for joe shmoe at the podium right?

If you have money to just plain blow, a Klark Technik DN360 is a good call for a couple channels of EQ.

Get a Limiter for playback of Music.... Most functions love you to have jazz playing all night long during non-presentation times.... the catch is the damn jazz is so freaking dynamic u end up getting screwed into riding the fader all night. Sorry jazz players but this is the one and only time I will ever nuke your dynamic range. =)

Shure Handhelds Wireless are good, and they allow you to upgrade nicely. For example, if you purchase a Shure U4 Handheld with a SM-58 capsule... you can purchase a Beta-58 or Beta-87 capsule and swap it in.

Sennhieser Wireless has been good to me.
(http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite...p?transid=G2-2)

Sorry man I rambled on here....

Wayy to tired. Good luck though... pop me a PM if you need specific questions. or I'll try and come back with some useful info.

Its really not tough work just different. It has challenges that keep you on your toes so its not completely boring. No rock n' roll monitor mixing gig though =)

[nmitch1]

Harley-OIART -
Sent you a PM with more details (pictures, starting equipment list, etc). Thanks for helping.


Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all of the support and critique. I really appreciate it. This forum is great. And thumper, you definitely make some valid points. And no, you aren't being a di@k. I am a little new at the live stuff but definitely have an interest in it. It may very well be that we end up hiriing a company for the first couple events once this dust settles and we have a better idea of the actual effort it takes to pull these kind of events off.

Right now, I have no doubt that my team could pull this off as long as the equipment worked because we would obviously test it a lot before the event. It's just when it didn't work onsite in the middle of the presentation, which would inevitably happen, we just don't have that experience or wherewithall yet to know how to troubleshoot.............which obviously may be why we end up getting someone here in Raleigh, NC to help.

nm