Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[John Roberts {JR}]

many thanks again...

From the above I am beginning to like the idea of a packaged system where the speakers can be housed within the body of the lectern for storage and wheeled out, possibly on stands when required. Just need to identify the right combo.

Should it be a  concern that feedback could be a problem with speakers and microphone being mounted on the same cabinetry or has technology eliminated this?

Yes... be concerned.

You might want to research similar existing systems (anchor? etc).

It depends on how technically capable you are. A few general comments about feedback.

-The path length (loop time delay) defines where feedback can occur. The shorter the distance from speaker to microphone, the higher, the lowest feedback node. There are some monitors that take advantage of this by putting speakers very close to the mic so feedback only occurs at higher frequencies.

-If you have a fixed system, i.e. speakers and mics don't change, you can permanently dial in the system for best GBF (gain before feedback). The known feedback nodes can be EQ'd out or otherwise compensated for. 

JR

[George Friedman-Jimenez]

The sound can be conducted from speaker to mic both through the air and through the wood/metal/plastic structure. Either or both pathways can lead to feedback, frequencies of feedback depend on many factors. Effective isolation of the speaker and/or mic from the sound conducting furniture structure is pretty low tech and should be easily doable with a little thought and experimentation. I think Tim's concern re: is there an unmet need is the central issue here.

[g'bye, Dick Rees]

My experience with lecterns containing sound systems is that the average "modern" cleric can speak/shout/wail louder than the sound system.  Presenters that use a quiet, contemplative voice will benefit only up to the point at which feedback occurs.

How much customer demand is there for such a product and how much is your firm willing to invest to make a product that is functionally competitive with, or exceeds, existing products?  I suggest you find and try the existing models out there and decide if you can do as well or better AND decide if, in fact, such products actually solve a real need.  My guess is that houses of worship and similar facilities are buying aesthetics or convenience... what they do NOT receive is a sound system capable of amplifying voice for an audience of more than 25-50 people.

These are the salient points.

As has been mentioned additionally, the effectiveness of the system and the enhanced intelligibility which is apparently the objective will be best accomplished by outboard speakers which can be driven from the mixer/amp module located in the lectern.  Having the speaker(s) mounted high enough to be above the heads of the listeners is the simplest way to get to your goal.

Besides looking at similar "built-in" or self-contained lectern systems, I'd encourage you to look at small "user-friendly" systems such as the Fender Passport or the Peavey Messenger or Escort packages to get some ideas of small, practical PA's.

[Cosmo]

I wholeheartedly second the motion to incorporate a 19" rack mount provision for the electronics, about 4 or 5 spaces should do.  You can choose one brand of head unit and amp to sell with the lectern to customers who don't know how/want to deal with gear, or sell it empty to those who do. And as someone who has spent a lifetime fixing things, I implore you to PLEASE make the working parts accessible.  Too many time I have had to use destructive methods just to get to the part that needs fixin' and THEN had to repair the destruction.

[Jim Academy]

Many thanks to all for your valuable advice.

What I am taking away from this discussion is to have a system where the amp is a commercially available,  off the shelf,  19” rack-mount model so both accessible/upgradable.

The speaker cabinets can be made by us from commercially available driver kits matched to the power of the chosen amp. The speakers should be separate from the lectern  and if possible have stands to position above the audience’s head’s but housed in the body of the lecterns for storage/ safe keeping when not in use.

And above all find a partner/supplier who can steer us in choosing appropriate equipment –

Finally --  yes, I agree our users typically don’t need amplification but I couldn’t possibly comment!!!

[Glen Kelley]

What I am taking away from this discussion is to have a system where the amp is a commercially available,  off the shelf,  19” rack-mount model so both accessible/upgradable.

Middle Atlantic now makes a half width rack that might work very well for your application. Of course, it will limit your equipment choices quite a bit.

http://www.middleatlantic.com/enclosure/sa/hrf.htm

I think a nice complement of equipment for this would be an Extron DMP-64 audio processor (half-rack), combined with an Extron XPA-1002 power amplifier (half-rack) feeding whatever speaker you can shoe-horn into the cabinet carcass.

This is not an inexpensive system and goes a bit beyond your "on/off + talk" concept, but would provide superior EQ, feedback reduction, and limiting, as well as enough power for a small speaker. 

[Charlie Zureki]

Many thanks to all for your valuable advice.

What I am taking away from this discussion is to have a system where the amp is a commercially available,  off the shelf,  19” rack-mount model so both accessible/upgradable.

The speaker cabinets can be made by us from commercially available driver kits matched to the power of the chosen amp. The speakers should be separate from the lectern  and if possible have stands to position above the audience’s head’s but housed in the body of the lecterns for storage/ safe keeping when not in use.

And above all find a partner/supplier who can steer us in choosing appropriate equipment –

Finally --  yes, I agree our users typically don’t need amplification but I couldn’t possibly comment!!!

  Hello,

   I think many Manufacturers would be happy to steer you, but, I'd look for some practical advice, from someone that specs gear as a consultant.  Depending on where you are located, there's some responsible and qualified people/companies on this board.  Look for someone that has installation business, and a good reputation.   Pay them a fee as a consultant.   Have them help you design the hardware and signal/electrical cabling runs/layout.   Try to make the hardware universal so that gear changes can be made with minimal effort.

   Good Luck,
    Hammer

[Gary Creely]

I would just use a QSC K8 with the remote gain control that can also put the speaker into standby. Problem solved with one product.

[ProSoundWeb Community]