6 Simple Steps To Keep A/V Equipment Safe At Your Events

One item event planners often overlook on their event planning checklists is whether or not their A/V equipment is walking out their venue’s front door. A/V equipment security is a big deal. Audio and visual equipment can be very expensive, and much of it is small and easily concealed. Items like microphones and laptops are ideal targets for theft and… Read the rest

5 Audio Production Mistakes Every Event Planner Should Avoid

Every event planner juggles a host of details for any event they plan, whether it’s a large conference, board meeting or small speaking engagement. All too often, however, event planners overlook one crucial aspect on their event planning checklist: audio production. Solid audio production is critical to the success of any event, regardless of the event’s size or venue. Audio… Read the rest

Event Planning Checklist: 11 Reminders for Pain-Free Events & Conferences

From cancellations and missed flights to equipment malfunctions and registration issues, there are many potential problems that can derail an otherwise well-planned event. An event planning checklist is the event planner’s best defense against an event gone awry. Here is our event planning checklist with 11 tips and reminders to help keep you event planners on track! 1. Plan Your… Read the rest

5 Reasons to Rent Your Conference Microphone System

The decision to rent or buy a conference microphone system is a big one. There are certainly good reasons to own and build up an impressive microphone collection, or even a complete conference microphone system. But this can be time-consuming and difficult to assemble without specialized knowledge of conference audio. If your business or organization is unsure what to do… Read the rest

Wireless Mic Tips for the Complete Novice

two wireless microphone on the window3 Things You Must Know Before You Buy a Wireless Microphone Those of us in the audio industry often take certain facts for granted. We know that a microphone needs a PA system to plug into, that an amplifier needs a speaker to make a sound, and that different sound systems fit different applications. For audio novices – which can… Read the rest

Mike vs. Mic: Which Abbreviation is Correct?

It’s a familiar dilemma to those of us who write about audio: What’s the abbreviation for microphone, “mike” or “mic”? For years (since roughly 1961, in fact), the former abbreviation – “mic” – has been the preferred choice of the pro audio industry. This does lead to problems, however. When you place a “mic” in front of an amp, is… Read the rest

5 Points to Ponder Before You Buy a Mic for Your Studio

Condenser MicrophoneYou’re putting together your home project recording studio. You’ve cleared out your spare room and plugged in your digital multitrack recorder. There’s only one thing missing- Microphones! What kind of mic should you add  to your home studio recording equipment? With a host of great sounding microphones by manufacturers like AKG, Shure, and Sennheiser, you can get warm sounds out… Read the rest

Dynamic or Condenser? A Tale of 2 Microphones

Dynamic MicrophoneDynamic vs. Condenser Mics Microphones — both dynamic and condenser — are key components of every PA system and recording studio, but even among sound reinforcement pros there can be considerable disagreement as to which mic is best for which task. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an audio school graduate to understand the difference between these two most basic… Read the rest

Are All Wireless Mics Created Equal?

The ins and outs of wireless microphone systems have caused many amateur (and more than a few professional) sound engineers to scratch their heads in confusion. Reception, interference, operating frequencies — not to mention price — can make choosing a wireless mic a daunting business. Wireless microphones operating in the UHF frequency band are often cited as the optimum choice… Read the rest

What’s the Best Mic for Recording High-Pitched Percussion?

Consider this: you’re recording a Merengue ensemble and the microphones are picked out for the marimba, accordion, guitar and tambora. But the güira, with a metallic sound extending well into the high frequencies (and at higher sound pressure levels), demands special attention. How do you address this issue? First, let’s take a look at exactly what a güira is for… Read the rest