Stereophonic Effect

[ahoustondj]

What does one have to do to achieve Stereophonic Effect from your system in a Venue (Small, Medium or Large)? For the sake of most users on this board I will say 100, 200 and 400 People or 3000, 6000 and 12,000 square feet. Squared or rectangular shaped.

 

[steve149]

Place the listeners in a position that they can hear both channels cleanly and within a few ms arrival time of each other to maintain the appropriate sound levels and signal phase.

Other than those ideal slots .. others may hear 2 channels, but the signal relationships will be such that it won't be stereo .. just 2 channels (i.e. .. you'll lose the soundstage).

Which is why I choose to run mono for any situation where more than 50% of the listeners will not be within the dispersion triangular areas of the 2 speakers.

 

[jokerswild]

A set if headphones should do the trick.

 

[ahoustondj]

A set if headphones should do the trick.

LOL Damn Hoosier! BTW where is my Sweet Corn? It has been years now by now they should be each 3 feet long!

 

[soundinmotiondj]

Bring an even number of tops....more than two....place them at even intervals on the long wall...about 22-25ft between the speakers....in a "L R L R L R" pattern.

EDIT: To be clear...the length of the long wall will determine the number of tops that are required.

 

[ahoustondj]

How about a Bigger Stereo properly deployed for the Bigger Space? Does it not depend partially on the scale of the project area?

 

[steve149]

How about a "L' shaped space? Or one that is 50' wide and 150' long and you're on the 50' wall. I don't get hung up with stereo too much in an open setting.

 

[soundinmotiondj]

Or one that is 50' wide and 150' long and you're on the 50' wall.

My setup and the speakers do not have to be on the same wall....and they seldom are.

 

[oldschooldj]

If at all possible I always use the long wall with subs centered and tops placed according (spaced) to whatever crossover frequency for that gig. I always try to be centered on one of the short walls, I to try as hard as I can not to be on the wall with my speakers if at all possible. It allows me to hear the sound better and thus EQ , increase or decrease volume as required for dance floor crowd.

 

[ahoustondj]

My setup and the speakers do not have to be on the same wall....and they seldom are.

We are so much alike it ain't funny. Even though the proper placement takes my priority for sound, I actually think everything even blends in better with the Decor when the gear is in a separate place than the speakers.

 

[steve149]

I was going to say maybe it's a Texas thing .. but then I remembered that Theo is from there and he's pretty pragmatic.

 

[Ausumm]

We are so much alike it ain't funny. Even though the proper placement takes my priority for sound, I actually think everything even blends in better with the Decor when the gear is in a separate place than the speakers.

You are correct, sir.:encouragement:
But it drives me nuts when I am not in the proper spot to hear the music well enough
to mix, talk over, or to know if the volume (of the music or the voice) is appropriate.
And in cases where I am addressing someone on the floor,
it's kind of awkward if they hear me in one place, but see me in another.
(and yes, these issues are for MY benefit as well as for those dancing)

 

[ahoustondj]

You are correct, sir.:encouragement:
But it drives me nuts when I am not in the proper spot to hear the music well enough
to mix, talk over, or to know if the volume (of the music or the voice) is appropriate.
And in cases where I am addressing someone on the floor,
it's kind of awkward if they hear me in one place, but see me in another.
(and yes, these issues are for MY benefit as well as for those dancing)

When you go to a Club or at the Airport and hear an announcement do you always look for the Announcer? Is that another Pennsylvania DJ Policy? What the two chaps and I are saying is that being off to the side you can better hear and determine the volume of the sound rather than standing between or behind them. The only loss you will experience with that method is your hearing.

 

[Ausumm]

When you go to a Club or at the Airport and hear an announcement do you always look for the Announcer? Is that another Philadelphia DJ Policy? What the two chaps and I are saying is that being off to the side you can better hear and determine the volume of the sound rather than standing between or behind them. The only loss you will experience with that method is your hearing.

Geez, Canute...do you feel the need to throw ONE "WTF" comment in every post?
Philadelphia DJ Policy? I'm not even IN Philly.

First of all, there's a difference between an airport and and wedding reception.
At times, it is necessary to talk DIRECTLY to someone on the dance floor. Perhaps ask them a question.
It works better to have eye contact when you're talking to someone.
And I realize completely what the "two chaps" are saying.
But any time I have setup off to the side, the speakers have been farther away. (see the Baby in a Corner thread)
And depending on the exact placement of the speakers, being on the side could not only be LOUDER, it can cause more feedback.
I guess it's all what your are accustomed to. I can gauge the volume better from behind.

 

[steve149]

First of all, there's a difference between an airport and and wedding reception.
.

Not sure there is in Houston according to the size of the venues he spreads out in.

 

[ahoustondj]

Geez, Canute...do you feel the need to throw ONE "WTF" comment in every post?
Philadelphia DJ Policy? I'm not even IN Philly.

First of all, there's a difference between an airport and and wedding reception.
At times, it is necessary to talk DIRECTLY to someone on the dance floor. Perhaps ask them a question.
It works better to have eye contact when you're talking to someone.
And I realize completely what the "two chaps" are saying.
But any time I have setup off to the side, the speakers have been farther away. (see the Baby in a Corner thread)
And depending on the exact placement of the speakers, being on the side could not only be LOUDER, it can cause more feedback.
I guess it's all what your are accustomed to. I can gauge the volume better from behind.

Oops my bad, I meant Pennsylvania. It must be the Cruzan typing! LOL (I'll correct it)
When it is necessary to talk to someone and get their attention you can use a Wireless Mike and walk out on the Dance Floor. You can also wait until you have everyone's attention before making the actual announcement. Now that was not too difficult, was it?

 

[soundinmotiondj]

When it is necessary to talk to someone and get their attention you can use a Wireless Mike and walk out on the Dance Floor. You can also wait until you have everyone's attention before making the actual announcement. Now that was not too difficult, was it?

Yes. This. When I have something to say...I will normally start talking with some "filler" (but never with something like "...ladies and gentlemen, at this time, please direct your attention to....ME...."), and perhaps even walk onto the dance floor, or outside my "booth." Then, once I have everyone's attention, I can mention the important thing that I interrupted everyone to say:

There is a reason to have a FOH mixing position for live sound...the sound from live musicians WILL change over the course of a set...and perhaps over the course of a song. Being in a position to make "real time" adjustments is critical.

With pre-recorded music (as in most mobile DJ sets at a wedding)....through a consistent sound system (your PA will sound roughly the same from start to end, right)...that you setup (don't tell me you hired a sound company and didn't have a rider, or do a sound check)....in a "reasonably" sized venue (you're not in Cowboy's stadium again are you?)....it is much less critical to have a FOH mixing position. If you are beatmatching or doing other mixing, and can not do that accurately and consistently with headphones....then some monitors should be included in your booth setup....don't make it harder than it needs to be.

 

[ahoustondj]

Certain songs even though with a Gain Control set, like I have, can "appear" to sound louder. Therefore if one is in a position to hear the music like the audience hears it, then adjustments can immediately be made without someone coming up and saying "Can you turn that down?" or even "We can't hear you from back there". Some suspect songs that come to mind are those from Prince, they tend to get louder as they progress. Start "Do me baby" and you have an acceptable volume. By the time the song ends its a lot of screaming!

 

[rickryan.com]

Oops my bad,

OMG!!! Stop the presses!!!!

He did it. He finally did it!! He admitted to being wrong. Now see Canute, doesn't it feel good? It can be SO cleansing to admit when you're wrong and that you're human. Assuming, of course, that you are in fact human.