Drama Studio Setup

[golfball54]

HI, I am sorry if this is possibly a repeat of a topic been had before, I did look but nothing obvious sprung up. I am more of a lampy but am organising the tech install in a new drama studio at my school and am curious as to whether anyone has got any suggestions of ideal sound equipment that would be suitable or if anyone else has previously had an install in a drama studio and has any good ideas for it?

 

Many Thanks

[Ben Langfeld]

Do you not have any suggestions of your own? You're the only one on this forum who knows your space, budget and requirements. If you can't translate that into a specification, how on earth do you expect a bunch of strangers to manage it?

[golfball54]

Do you not have any suggestions of your own? You're the only one on this forum who knows your space, budget and requirements. If you can't translate that into a specification, how on earth do you expect a bunch of strangers to manage it?

I know im the one who knows all the specs etc but im only curious as to if anyone prior to me has had to install in a drama studio and whether they went for just a couple of speakers or a rig that surrounded the performers or just something even as simple as to a speaker in a corner? Im looking for ideas at the moment not to come to a final decision.

[Ben Langfeld]

A speaker in a corner? A rig that surrounds the performers? I think maybe you need to let someone else specify the equipment for this one. Without meaning to be rude, I don't think you've quite got a strong enough grasp of the concepts of sound re-enforcement to take on this project by yourself.

[gareth]

SOrry to drag this up again, but your profile says that you're a student at your school. As such, are you really telling us that you've been handed sole responsibility for "organising the tech install in a new drama studio"? I wonder if the tax payers who fund your LEA are aware that the money for fitting out the new drama studio at the local secondary school is being spent by a pupil who knows a bit about lighting and nothing about sound?

 

What you need to do is to get the member of staff who's responsible for looking after the project (and there must be one, because I simply don't believe that someone's just handed the whole thing over to a student) to get in touch with a local audio installation company (and a lighting one, too, for that matter) and get someone who knows what they're doing to come out and take a look at the space, speak to the people who are going to use it, and recommend a system based on their findings. If you tell us whereabouts you are, someone can probably recommend a suitable company close to you.

[StevieR]

Before the fight ensues, why don't we ask a few questions...

 

Firstly, how is the space to be laid out? Is it a traditional proscenium stage-type thing or a completely open space which can be played in multiple ways? Also, is this to be a rehearsal or performance space? Is there a drawn plan available to look at and work from?

 

Next, what specifications have you been given by the department? Music playback, radio mics, etc, etc...

 

What are the rigging options? Is there a grid or will we be fixing stuff to walls?

 

Probably lots more question after that but at least it will give people some basic info to work from...

 

Final thought - have you been asked to purchase and then install the system yourself or are you going to bring in a company to do this? If the latter, it may be much simpler to ask a couple of local companies to come in and spec the space. They should be able to give you a couple of ideas to kick off with.

 

Steve

[MarkPAman]

............. only curious as to if anyone prior to me has had to install in a drama studio and whether they went for just a couple of speakers or a rig that surrounded the performers or just something even as simple as to a speaker in a corner?

 

 

I’m sure that people will have studios set up in all sorts of different ways. A ghetto blaster may be all that’s needed for some applications, while others may need complicated multi speaker rigs, digital mixers etc.

 

To decide what you need, you have to think about what the system is going to be used for. Is it just for sound effects, playing recorded music, amplifying voices, musicals with live bands?

 

You will also need to consider the size and shape of the space, and whether the system is to be fixed or movable.

 

Of course, money comes into it as well. Do you have closer to £100 or £10000.

 

When you’ve thought about these things get back to us and we’ll give you some suggestions.

[golfball54]

Hi guys I apologise for my lack of knowledge here and it may seem like I no nothing according to my profile etc but im 18 in my last year at the school and have been asked to organise some equipment that could go into the studio because I am the person with the most technical knowledge at the school and yes I am more of a lampy but ive never dealt with drama studio rigs only FOH big rigs theatre style sound and band rigs as the tech director for my school and I work all over my local area doing lighting and sound for anyone who needs it with or without pay. Im just tryin to get some ideas, organising was probably not the best word sorry guys

[Ben Langfeld]

But still, getting in a local company to specify some equipment seems like the best option. If you're that stuck for ideas, then it doesn't bode well for getting much for your money.

[mumbles]

That is entirely fair enough, rather like I did in year 12, whihc was to put together a list of suggestions and requirements (and dreams :P ) for a teacher to then approach a local company to discuss this and organise the job. I'm sure that most of the members on here are perfectly willing to help on this basis, but we need to know what the hall is like and what it is used for before they can say anything. This can be done by you answering stevieR's questions above, or preferably coming up with a list of idea and asking for opinions.

[golfball54]

Before the fight ensues, why don't we ask a few questions...

 

Firstly, how is the space to be laid out? Is it a traditional proscenium stage-type thing or a completely open space which can be played in multiple ways? Also, is this to be a rehearsal or performance space? Is there a drawn plan available to look at and work from?

 

Next, what specifications have you been given by the department? Music playback, radio mics, etc, etc...

 

What are the rigging options? Is there a grid or will we be fixing stuff to walls?

 

Probably lots more question after that but at least it will give people some basic info to work from...

 

Final thought - have you been asked to purchase and then install the system yourself or are you going to bring in a company to do this? If the latter, it may be much simpler to ask a couple of local companies to come in and spec the space. They should be able to give you a couple of ideas to kick off with.

 

Steve

Ok basically the space is going to be an open area bout 3 metres high with a surface area around 15 metres square I believe. They will need capabilities of vocal mics, I thought SM58s and some lapel mics (not somethin I work with at all really any suggestions welcome) Music playback for sfx and cds as well as recording facilities. As of yet it appears there will be a grid of sorts but the extent of how much of a grid there is is yet to be decided so either stand mount items or bolt to wall would be a good idea. Ive been asked to provide suggestions of how to install the system and what to include and then they will get back to me on whether they buy the stuff an between myself and the caretakers we install it or whether a compnay will come in to fit it, (dependent of course on budget).

 

Seen as it seems a good idea to provide some thoughts of my own here is ideas ive thought. Bolt brackets in either corner of the space and mount up monitor style speakers powered by a single 2 channel amp fed from a desk something similar to a soundcraft spirit folio with some SM58s and some lapel mics and then cd and minidisk capabilities. However that limits me on if the system requires moving at all. Ive used all this kind of equipment before and find it easy to use so should think other students could manage it.

[Ben Langfeld]

So if you've got speakers in all four corners, what are you doing with mics right in the middle of them all? That's gonna be tricky. Also, I'm assuming that there's a defined stage area? If this is correct, putting speakers in the corners is not really the best way to go I don't think.

[paulears]

Far too small for lav mics really - although a skilled op could do something with them.

 

I'm going to ignor kit. What is important is usability, so a floor mounted rack with castors, single power lead. The ability to play CD, MD an d maybe manage a few microphones. A built in amp, and a couple of plastic box speakers with a pair of stands.

 

It can be loud, is too big to steal, can be padlocked to a pipe or whatever. Only has one mains and two speaker cables and is very simple to use.

 

Select the components to suit budget. Maybe change the CD to a DVD if you want to be able to add an output to a monitor. Give this idea to the teachers/technician and leave them to order the bit - you can always bolt the stuff in. CPC and Studiospares are good sources as schools and colleges often have accounts with them.

 

If you select non-rack eared kit, but proper rack trays for them - worth while every time. Maybe even a front socket panel for the mains and speakons to stop people having to remove the rear door?

[mac.calder]

15m^2 is tiny. My suggestions for a small space like that would be as follows:

 

Forget sound re-enforcement. It will not be needed unless your cast have voices like mice.

 

Two smallish speakers - something similar to the Bose 802s, with brackets put in the grid so that the 'performance area' can be (ie) north or west facing.

 

Small mixer - 8 channels max, you could get away with anything as low as 2. It would not need bells and whistles - however a number of stereo channels would be a bonus.

 

Stereo amplifier. You don't need too much power really because it is only a small venue...

 

Input devices - I would go for two CD players - not cheapies, but not multi-million-dollar numbers either

 

cable wise: you will either need to hard wire the speaker possitions, or have a decent length cable to run over the grid to each speaker, then you will need RCA cables between CD player and mixer (and maybe RCA to 5.25mm mono jack adapters) and a couple of extra cables like stereo 3.5mm to two x RCA etc and a pair of mic leads for between mixer and amp.

 

I would be inclined not to case everything up if you can possibly sort out a position for "sound" to live - ie a balcony or something - as it makes operation a pain, instead I would invest in a sturdy desk with a cabinet on top to hold the amp and CD player, with a place to slot the mixer in underneath which can be locked.

 

Whole setup should not cost too much, and leaves you with a bit of room to move - as far as versatility of the venue.

[gareth]

15m^2 with a height of 3m? That's about the same size as my living room. You're not going to need any sound reinforcement in there. Perhaps just a small portable system for effects and music playback, but nothing more than a couple of speakers on stands and a small wheeled rack with sources, mixing and amplification in it. Plenty of places will sell you an off-the-shelf system that'll do what you need.